Obituaries
Alphonse Romero
Spokane
Memorial service for Alphonse “Al” Romero, 82, will be today at 1 p.m. at the Newport (Wash.) Cemetery. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Romero died Nov. 9.
He was born in Newport, Wash. He attended schools there and then worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps at many area projects including the Sullivan Lake area.
Mr. Romero served in the Army during World War II. After landing in Italy he was captured and spent 15 months as a prisoner of war, spending time in work camps. He served in the Army in Rome, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received five Bronze Stars, three Overseas Service Medals and a Purple Heart.
In the early 1950s he moved to Alaska where he worked construction. He returned to the Newport area and in 1958 married Nina Toll.
Along with his brothers, Mr. Romero operated Newport Concrete for many years.
He enjoyed traveling and wintering in his Yuma, Ariz., home for nearly 30 years. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport and the Hospitality House.
He enjoyed area history and provided information to the Pend Oreille County Historical Society.
He was preceded in death by his wife.
Survivors include a son, Bill Romero of Priest River, Idaho; two brothers, Frank and Joe Romero, both of Newport; a sister, Mary Roush of Spokane; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Newport Hospitality House.
Howard Strick
Spokane
Memorial service for Howard Carl Strick, 73, will be today at 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Strick, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday. He was a lifelong resident of Spokane.
He graduated from North Central High School. Mr. Strick and his father carried on a family bakery business started by his grandfather 86 years ago, later known as Strick’s Donuts, for 43 years.
Mr. Strick had donated doughnuts to Florida after Hurricane Andrew and to Oklahoma City after the bombing of the federal building. He also sent doughnuts with pilots from Fairchild Air Force Base during Desert Storm, and was active with Red Cross.
He was a member of the Shadle Lions Club, holding many offices and serving as district governor, and enjoyed seeing his friends at his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He also sponsored softball teams for several years.
He enjoyed his rose garden, fishing and the outdoors.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Mabel; a son, Howard of Yelm, Wash.; a daughter, Karen Torkelson of Spokane; his mother, Esther Strick; two sisters, Ruth Bolser of Spokane and Margaret Crowley of Yuma, Ariz.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Florence Gruber
Spokane
Graveside service for Florence P. “Flossie” Mathews Gruber, 86, will be today at 1:30 p.m. at Spokane Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Spokane Cremation and Burial Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gruber, who died Wednesday , was born in Colville.
She graduated from Rogers High School and was a homemaker. She was active in her church and enjoyed decorating, arts, crafts, sewing and painting. She also enjoyed traveling in a motor home with her daughter.
Her husband, James Gruber, died in 1989. Survivors include a daughter, LaVonne Ruthruff.
Sidney Pearl
Spokane
Graveside service for Sidney Pearl, 76, was Monday at Mount Nebo Cemetery.
Mr. Pearl, who was born in Detroit, died Saturday. He was a resident of Spokane for 19 years.
He graduated from Wayne State University and spent 32 years as a teacher.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Barbara; two daughters, Ruth Fealk of Spokane and Peggy Bir of Louisville, Colo.; and three grandchildren.
Eva (Ratcliff) Johnson
Hope, Idaho
Private service for Eva Rosamond (Ratcliff) Johnson, 94, was held. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint. Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in New Sharon, Iowa, died Wednesday.
She grew up on the family farm in Peoria, Iowa, and attended school in Montezuma, Iowa.
In 1928 she married Charles Johnson. They moved to La Habra, Calif., in 1946. The couple lived in La Habra for 19 years before moving to Gardnerville, Nev., in 1965. They settled in Sandpoint in 1973 and built a home near Hope in 1977.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include three children, Delores Bobby both of Hope, and Charles Johnson of Sun City, Ariz.; two brothers, Gene Ratcliff of Newton, Iowa, and Roy Ratcliff of Florida; a sister, Betty Collum of Grinelle, Iowa; 21 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
William Rowley
Coeur d’Alene
Visitation for William Michael Rowley, 62, will be Wednesday from 5 p.m. until the vigil service planned for 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas X Roman Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene, with burial at Riverview Cemetery.
Mr. Rowley, who was born in West Redding, Pa., died Wednesday.
He grew up in Shenandoah, Pa., and graduated from high school there in 1960. He served in the Navy until 1964.
Mr. Rowley then moved to San Bernardino, Calif., and worked for Sears and graduated from Valley College with a business degree.
He married Evelyn Anderson in 1973, and the family later moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1992.
In Coeur d’Alene Mr. Rowley had worked for Montgomery Wards, Fred’s Appliance and Sears.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and enjoyed playing Pinochle, bowling, pool and darts.
Survivors include his wife; five children, William Rowley of Coeur d’Alene, Kelly Rowley of Pocatello, Idaho, Amy Adkinson of Post Falls, Jennifer Rowley of Coeur d’Alene and Rachel Wold of Highland, Calif.; and five grandchildren
Lillian Hargrave
Spokane Valley
Funeral for Lillian Lenora Conover Hargrave, 82, will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Dishman Baptist Church, with burial at Pines Cemetery. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hargrave, who was born in Endicott, Wash., died Friday. She was a resident of Spokane Valley for the past 48 years.
She graduated from high school in Ewan, Wash., where she played on the Ewan girls basketball team in the state tournament.
She grew up on the family wheat farm in Ewan and later had managed the farm.
Survivors include four children, Donna Hargrave, Terry Hargrave, Sharon Hargrave Ahern, and Diana Khajavi; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Winnifred Kemnitz
Spokane
Service for Winnifred Kemnitz, 82, was Sunday at Sunset Mausoleum Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Kemnitz, a resident of Spokane for more than 60 years, died Wednesday. She was born in Spokane.
She worked in assembly for several manufacturing companies throughout her life. She enjoyed cooking and gardening.
Her husband, Alvoid, died in 1959.
Survivors include five sons, Lyle, Warren, Glen, Pat and Dan; five daughters, Jan, Shirley, Judy, Kathy and Rennea; two sisters, Erma and Eleanor; 45 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Horizon Hospice or Spokane Guilds’ School.
Kevin Hunter
Kellogg
A celebration of the life of Kevin Paul Hunter, 38, will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of cremation arrangements.
Mr. Hunter, who was born in Wallace, died Wednesday.
In 1985 he graduated from Wallace High School. He was a member of the school’s first debate team to place at state competition. He also served as a page for Gov. John Evans in 1985.
Mr. Hunter then attended college at Colorado Springs and in Lawton, Okla.
He served in the Army during the Gulf War. He also was stationed in Korea and Honduras.
He lived in the Silver Valley most of his life and worked as a general manager for Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg for 12 years.
Mr. Hunter attended Real Life Ministries and enjoyed traveling, football, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, snow-skiing and the outdoors.
He married Sherry Hunter in 1990.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Shane and Cole Hunter, both at home; his parents, Fred “Bear” and Sue Hunter of Pinehurst, Idaho; and a sister, Lori Guzzeti of Bethel, Conn.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Shoshone Humane Society.
Bertha (Campbell) Shubert
Post Falls
Service for Bertha A. (Campbell) Bailey Shubert, 102, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Kellogg Funeral Chapel with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg.
Mrs. Shubert, who was born in Campton, Ky., died Saturday.
In 1942 she moved to the Silver Valley from Wisconsin. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Shubert enjoyed stock car races and bingo.
She married Ermin Bailey in 1925. He died in 1978.
She married Ben Shubert in 1983. He died in 1985.
Survivors include seven children, Claude Bailey and Athlene Bewick, both of Kellogg, Clyde Bailey of Osburn, Idaho, Glen Bailey of Coeur d’Alene, Faye Brumbaugh of Rathdrum, Idaho, Bill Bailey of Post Falls and Donny Bailey of Spokane; 30 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren and 80 great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.
Eve (Smith) Wiedmer
Spokane
Funeral for Eve L. (Smith) Wiedmer, 26, will be today at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 40th and Bowdish. Private burial will be at Marshall Cemetery. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wiedmer died Thursday.
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, she moved to Spokane, when she was a year old. She attended Lewis and Clark High School.
She married Joseph Wiedmer in 1999 and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Wyatt, Chase and Quinton Wiedmer, all at home; her parents, Walt and Susan Smith of Dolan Springs, Ariz.; a brother, Troy Smith of Texas; and a sister, Jaimie Cooper of Florida.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Pacific NW Chapter, 1207 N. 200th St., No. 214, Shoreline, WA 98133.
Gertrude Phetteplace
Spokane
Memorial service for Gertrude L. Phetteplace, 85, will be today at 2:30 p.m. at Sullivan Park Care Center, with inurnment to follow at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Phetteplace, who was born in South Bridge, Mass., died Nov. 6. She was a resident of the Spokane area for 25 years.
She was a homemaker and attended South Hill Bible Church and was a past member of the Navy League and Eastern Star. She loved to travel.
Her husband of 60 years, Wyman, died in 2000.
Survivors include a son, Wyman Phetteplace of Bothell, Wash.; two daughters, Sue Huston and Pat Kremer, both of Spokane; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to SpokAnimal, Horizon Hospice or Union Gospel Mission.