Obituaries
Brougham Thompson
Spokane
Memorial service for Edward Bly Thompson, 93, will be today at 11 a.m. at the Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah.
Mr. Brougham, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.
He helped his father in his Eagle Drug Store in Spokane, while going to North Central High School and Kinman Business College.
Mr. Brougham worked as a bookkeeper out of college. He later was employed by creameries in Newport, Wash., Colville and managed the Curlew Creamery in Chewelah for 18 years. When it closed in 1956 he went to Spokane and worked for Benewah Creamery and, later, Commercial Creamery.
His wife of 29 years, Frieda Lux, died in 1963.
He married Viola Marshall in 1964, and they lived in Spokane. She died in 2002.
Mr. Thompson was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and president of the PTA in Chewelah. He also was an active member of St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Spokane.
Survivors include three children, Vesta Fonseca, and Donald and Ken Thompson; seven stepsons, Gene, Jerry, George, Donald, Ralph, Kenneth and Larry Marshall; two stepdaughters, Helen Diedrich and Darolyn Erdman; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Steve Turcotte
Coeur d’Alene
No service will be held for Steve Turcotte, 50, at his request. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Turcotte, who was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, died Oct. 29.
He moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1994 from Fallbrook, Calif., and owned Turcotte Construction Inc.
Mr. Turcotte enjoyed Harley-Davidson motorcycles and supported several community charities.
Each Christmas he would fill several shopping carts with toys to support the Toys for Tots program.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Heather; and numerous extended family members.
Zoa ‘Ruth’ Lang
Kootenai, Idaho
Private service for Zoa “Ruth” (Van DeMark) Lang, 85, will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be at Seneacquoteen Cemetery near Priest River, Idaho. Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lang, who was born in Kenmare, N.D., died Oct. 29.
She grew up in Westby, Mont., and Harvard, Idaho, and married Bud Lang Sr. in 1949.
The couple raised three children together and she served as the first woman mayor of the city of Kootenai.
She enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting.
Mrs. Lang was a a writer and poet.
Survivors include her husband; three children, Louise Wheelbarger of Portland, Kathleen Doyle of Laclede, Idaho, and Buddy Lang Jr. of Sagle, Idaho; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Inland Northwest Multiple Sclerosis Society 818 E. Sharp Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.
Helene Von Szankowska
Osburn, Idaho
Memorial service for Helene Friedarika Von Szankowska, 92, will be today at 2 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Wallace. Inurnment will take place in Germany.
Mrs. Szankowska, who was born in Munich, Bavaria, died Tuesday.
She majored in nutrition and graduated from the Munich University of Bavaria, and married Heinrich Urff in 1945.
She immigrated to the United States after World War II and worked as a dietician for Broadway Hospital in Los Angeles.
Her husband died in 1978, and she moved to the Silver Valley in 1990.
Mrs. Von Szankowski was a member of St. Alphonsus Church.
She spoke four languages fluently and enjoyed nature, animals, flowers, art and classical music.
Survivors include a niece, Stephanie Czerny of Kreuth, Bavaria.
Memorials may be made to the Shoshone Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Kellogg, ID 83837.
Blanche Needs
Priest River, Idaho
Private service will be held for Blanche Marie Needs, 83, at a later date. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Needs died Oct. 27. She was born in Caldwell, Idaho.
In 1939 she graduated from Caldwell High School and married George Needs in 1939.
They moved to Priest River in 1957. Her husband died in 1999.
Mrs. Needs enjoyed reading, gardening and cooking.
Survivors include six children, Dennis Needs of Laclede, Idaho, Pat Hansen, Terry Needs, Kathy Spitz and Jeff Needs, all of Priest River, and Larry Needs of Soldotna, Alaska; three sisters, Florence Scott of Winlock, Wash., Ida Dean and Eleanor Barber, both of California; a brother, Paul King of California; 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Mary Honeyman
Coeur d’Alene
A celebration of life for Mary B. Honeyman, 87, will be held at a later date. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Honeyman, who was born in Austin, Ill., died Oct. 30.
She grew up in Austin and later lived in Portland and Pittsfield, Mass., and Santa Rosa, Calif., before moving to Coeur d’Alene to be near family.
Mrs. Honeyman was a volunteer for several community organizations, including the Red Cross.
She enjoyed traveling and took trips to many foreign countries.
Survivors include two children, Patricia Honeyman of Coeur d’Alene and Bruce Honeyman of Halfway, Ore.; four grandchildren and Maitri; and a great-granddaughter.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.
William Gass
Spokane
No service will be held for William H. Gass, 94, at his request. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gass, who was born in Miller, Mo., died Oct. 30.
He made his home in Spokane, after a short stay in Pullman following his service in the 10th Armored Division (Tigers) during World War II.
He worked as a mechanic for Johnson and Bungay Fuel Co., then as a fuel delivery man for Diamond Ice and Fuel.
He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pricilla.
Survivors include a brother, Howard; two sons, Michael and Patrick; three daughters, Patricia, Sandy and Joyce; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jose Romero Jr.
Silverton, Idaho
No service will be held for Jose Rosendo Romero Jr., 79. Inurnment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Romero, who was born in Durango, Colo., died Oct. 26.
He moved to the Silver Valley from Utah in the 1960s and worked as a miner for Sunshine Mining Co. before his retirement.
Mr. Romero enjoyed traveling, the outdoors and watching sports on television, especially baseball, and was a Seattle Mariners fan.
Survivors include special friends and caregivers, Carol and Jim Morgan of Pinehurst, Idaho.
Memorials may be made to Silver Wood Good Samaritan Center of Silverton.
Lucille Corcoran
Spokane
Memorial service for Lucille Corcoran, 98, will be at a later date. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Corcoran, who was born in Dallas County, Iowa., died Oct. 29.
She grew up in Garden Grove, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in nursing.
She moved to Spokane and worked as a nurse at Edgecliff Tuberculosis Hospital. During that time she met and married John Corcoran.
Mrs. Corcoran was a homemaker for 15 years and enjoyed cooking, gardening, home decorating and entertaining.
She returned to nursing in 1952 and worked in the Paulsen Building Hospital for 25 years.
Her husband died in 1977.
Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Uht and Paula Johnson, both of Spokane; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.