Obituaries
Elnora Therien Rojan
Sandpoint
Memorial service for Elnora Adelaide Therien Rojan, 94, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. A reception and wake will follow at the Oden Hall at Sunnyside near Sandpoint.
Mrs. Rojan, who was born in St. Helens, Ore., died Sunday.
She moved to Idaho with her family in 1912, and her parents homesteaded 40 acres in the Denton area.
Mrs. Rojan graduated from the eighth grade at Thornton School before attending high school in Hope, Idaho. She moved to Portland in 1927 to live with an aunt.
She worked as a housekeeper at a boarding house, was a presser at a dry-cleaners. She was a dental assistant and helped make dentures at Enamodent Laboratory.
She stayed with various relatives until marrying Carl Rojan in 1931, and they lived in Portland until purchasing a home in Hope in 1933.
They lived in Clark Fork, Idaho, for one year, and after World War II began, they moved to civilian housing at Farragut Naval Training Station, where her husband worked in construction and maintenance for the Navy.
After the war they returned to Hope, and she was a cook at Hope School and at Hurschell’s Lighthouse.
They moved to Sandpoint in 1965 and she cooked at Sandpoint High School and became known for her cinnamon rolls. After retiring from the high school she worked as a cook for several years at Connie’s Restaurant in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Rojan enjoyed sewing, needlework, ceramics, wildlife, gardening, flowers, and making dolls and stuffed animals.
She was a longtime supporter of local spay and neuter programs.
Her husband died in 1991.
Survivors include four children, Carol Pietsch of Sandpoint, Patsy Patton of Napa, Calif., Nora Nikkola of Veradale and Russell Rojan of Rosamond, Calif.; two sisters, Hope Loftin of Junction City, Ore., and Violet Thornton of Clark Fork; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Panhandle Animal Shelter, 1604 Great Northern Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
James Baker
Metaline Falls, Wash.
Memorial service for James A. Baker, 71, was Tuesday at the Cutter Theater in Metaline Falls.
Mr. Baker, who died Thursday, was born in Casa Grande, Ariz.
He grew up in Arizona, and moved to Sandpoint in 1946 and to Furport, Wash., in 1947.
As a young man he ran a trap line for mink and muskrat along the Pend Oreille River.
He graduated from Newport High School in 1953 and then joined the Air Force. He received a medical discharge after completing basic training.
He then returned to Newport and married Janet Chenevert.
Mr. Baker worked for a short time for the Forest Service and was stationed in the Army Corps of Engineers Housing in Usk, Wash.
He was employed by the Washington State Department of Transportation for 25 years in the Metaline Falls-Ione, Wash., area.
Mr. Baker was a member of the American Legion and the United Church of Christ in Metaline Falls.
He enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Rebecca Martin of Airway Heights, and Kathy Grass and Chris Daley, both of Metaline Falls; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Charles Caton Jr.
Spokane
Memorial service for Charles C. Chuck Caton Jr., 78, will be today at 2 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Caton, who died May 23, was born in Washington, Pa. He was a resident of Spokane for more than 30 years.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania. Immediately out of high school, he volunteered for service in the Navy. He served as a submariner aboard the USS Sea Owl in the Sea of Japan during World War II.
Over the years he worked as a carpenter, contractor, corporate real estate agent, and developer.
He planned and built Caton Business Park in Spokane, an industrial complex for which he won an award from the Spokane Chamber of
Commerce.
He retired from Morrison-Knudsen Co. in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years Juanita.
Survivors include two sons, Kurt and Bill; two daughters, Lori and Linda; three sisters Mary, Florence and Margaret; one brother, Jim; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Luella Taylor
Spokane
Graveside service for Luella Taylor, 79, will be today at 11 a.m. at Fairmount Memorial Park. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Taylor, who was born in Oakesdale, Wash., died May 22.
She graduated in 1942 from Clarkston High School and married Loel Taylor in 1944. In 1951, the couple moved to Spokane.
Mrs. Taylor worked for nearly 30 years as a certified nurses aide for the Bleasners at Mansion House and Lilac City Convalescence Centers.
She served as the Union Shop steward. She later worked as a property manager for Douglas Management until retiring in 1999.
Mrs. Taylor enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting and fishing. She also was involved in bowling leagues.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Taylor of Kennewick, William Taylor of Anatone, Wash., and James Taylor of Spokane Valley; a daughter, Debbie Ingold of Medical Lake; two sisters, Wilma Bly of Asotin, and Betty Taylor of Clarkston; a brother, Bill Greer of Asotin, Wash.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Audry (Dennis) Cowen
Spokane
Memorial service for Audry Gray (Dennis) Cowen, 87, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Covenant Christian Church. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gray, who died May 11, was born in Plaza, Wash.
She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1935, and from Kinman Business University.
She married Nathaniel Cowen in 1942.
She worked for Graham’s and the Big West Oil Co.
She also worked for the city of Spokane Police Department, retiring in 1983.
Mrs. Gray was active in numerous volunteer programs, including reading and participation in a writing class at the Hillyard Center.
Her husband died in 1991.
Survivors include a son, John Cowen of Richland; and two sisters, Ruth Kjack and Helen Jean Dennis, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Covenant Church.
Virginia Vennire
Spokane
Graveside service for Virginia R. Vennire, 85, will be today at 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Vennire, who died Saturday, was a lifelong Spokane resident.
She was employed at a box factory and many years in agriculture.
She played softball for Harmon Park. The team won several championships.
She enjoyed bowling and swimming at the Hillyard Pool.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
William Hutsell
Davenport, Wash.
Funeral for William E. “Bill” Hutsell, 83, will be today at 2 p.m. at the Memorial Hall in Davenport. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hutsell, who was born in Telford, Wash., died last Wednesday.
He graduated from Davenport High School in 1938, and in 1944 he and his father founded the Davenport Auction Co.
In 1951 Mr. Hutsell started another auction yard in Moses Lake. He built and opened the new Davenport Livestock Market in 1962.
He was included in the rodeo production business as a founder and partner in several rodeo companies.
He semi-retired in the late 1970s but remained active in both the cattle and rodeo businesses until his death.
Survivors include four children Don Hutsell of Ritzville, Wash., Tom Hutsell and Sharyn Hutsell, both of Davenport, and Charlett Hutsell of Arizona; four grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Davenport Memorial Hall.
Wilda Cameron
Spokane
Memorial service for Wilda R. Cameron, 69, will be today at 11 a.m. at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cameron, who was born in Pasco, died May 23.
She moved to Spokane at a young age and attended Marycliff High School.
She married Bob Cameron in 1952, and the couple made their home in the Spokane Valley.
Mrs. Cameron was a homemaker and was active with the Camp Fire Girls and numerous school activities.
She later took a job with ABC Office Equipment and worked part-time until she retired last fall due to health reasons.
Her husband died in 1988.
Survivors include a son, Robert Cameron; a daughter, Candy Scoville; her mother, Edith Nickell; and two grandsons.
Westen Johnson
Spokane
Viewing and visitation for Westen Phillip Wes Johnson, 21, will be Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Mr. Johnson, a lifelong resident of Spokane, died last Wednesday.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 2001.
He enjoyed gourmet food, music, video games, fishing and basketball. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Laurie and Larry Miller; his father and stepmother, Clifford and Kayla Johnson; two sisters, Sarah and Brianna; five brothers, Ryan, Andy, Will, Sam and Craig; his grandparents, Judy Webster, Vern and Donamae Johnson, and Melvin and Ellie Stone; and his great-grandparents Maxine and Fred Hollinger.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pioneer Center East, P.O. Box 9838, Spokane, WA 99209-9838 or the Humane Society.
Ruth (Strome) Tofte
Silverton, Idaho
Memorial service for Ruth M. (Strome) Tofte, 85, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Silver Wood Good Samaritan Center in Silverton. Inurnment will be at Nine Mile Cemetery in Wallace. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Tofte, who was born in Billings, died Thursday.
She moved to the Silver Valley with her family at age 16 and in 1939 graduated from Wallace High School.
She married Alfred Tofte in 1937. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include four children, Sherry Henderson of Rancho Murrieta, Calif., Rebecca Curry of Spokane, Gayland Tofte of Coeur d’Alene and Robert Tofte of Boise; a sister, Carrie Greenawalt of Arkansas; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Joan Driscoll
Spokane
Funeral Mass for Joan Kelly Driscoll, 47, will be today at 1 p.m. at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is In charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Driscoll, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.
She was a graduate of Marycliff High School, received a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a master’s from Gonzaga University.
Mrs. Driscoll was a teacher.
Survivors include a son, Jack; two daughters, Shannon and Meaghan; and her mother and stepfather, Helen and Norman Jacobs.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or Make a Wish Foundation.
Erna (Dahlheim) Stillman
Post Falls
Memorial service for Erna L. (Dahlheim) Stillman, 86, will be Saturday at noon at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum, Idaho. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Stillman, who was born in Shelby, Mont., died Nov. 16.
She lived in California and was a banker at Bank of California for 32 years.
She moved to North Idaho in 1979 and married Robert “Bob” Stillman in 1987.
Mrs. Stillman was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her husband; and two stepsons, David and Peter Stillman, both of Deer Park; a niece, Carol Hanson-Hickerson of Honolulu; and a nephew, John Hanson of California.
Memorials may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 13911 W. Highway 53, Rathdrum, ID 83858.
Joyce Fulford
Spokane
Memorial service for Joyce Eleanor (Sinn) Fulford, 80, will be today at 3 p.m. at the Corbin Senior Activity Center. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Fulford, who was born in Alexandria, Neb., died May 22. She was a longtime resident of Spokane.
She graduated from Alexandria High School and attended Hebron Junior College.
She lived in a number of cities including Sacramento, Calif., and Little Rock, Ark., before moving to Spokane.
Mrs. Fulford was an artist, and taught classes at the Hillyard Senior Center through the Spokane Falls Community College Extended Learning Program for a number of years. She 5received a number of awards including a Prestigious Honor Award for Volunteer Service.
She later taught art out of her home.
Survivors include two sisters, Roma Sinn and Carol Ellis.