Obituaries
Dr. Ernest ‘Ned’ Gnaedinger
Wallace
A celebration of life for Dr. Ernest Edwin “Ned” Gnaedinger, M.D., 85, was Wednesday at the Wallace Elks Lodge. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gnaedinger, who was born in Wallace, died Saturday.
He graduated from Wallace High School in 1937 and worked for Star Mine and Hecla Mining Co. and for his father at Silver Dollar Mine.
He graduated from the University of Idaho in chemical engineering in 1942 and worked for the Aluminum Co. of America in Vancouver, Wash.
He enlisted in the Navy and served as a radioman for Neptune anti-submarine aicraft patrols flying out of Whidbey Island during World War II.
After his military service he enrolled at Washington State University and began his studies to become a medical doctor.
While attending WSU he met his future wife, Helen Leslie McKay, who was one of his instructors, and they were married in 1947.
Dr. Gnaedinger graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland in 1951 and served an internship at San Bernardino County General Hospital in California.
He then returned to Wallace and opened a private medical practice with Dr. Paul Ellis in 1952 and worked as a general practitioner there for the next 30 years.
During his medical career he had delivered more than 1,300 babies and made house calls into the later years of his career.
Dr. Gnaedinger also would go underground for injured miners in the Silver Valley, including during the Sunshine Mine fire in 1972.
He was the chief administrator at Wallace Hospital until its closure in 1965.
He was a member of the American Medical Society, Wallace Rotary Club, Elks Lodge, Gyro Club, Shoshone Country Club and the Episcopal Church.
He was the Shoshone County coroner for 10 years.
He was a longtime Wallace High School and University of Idaho Vandal booster.
He enjoyed fly fishing, attending high school sporting events, golf, packing with horses, and duck hunting at Killarney Lake.
Survivors include his wife; four children, Mike Gnaedinger of Ephrata, Wash., Bill Gnaedinger of Pullman, Kristi Gnaedinger of Wallace and Leslie Floistrup of Jordlose, Denmark; a sister, Gertrude “Bunny” Turley of Seattle; six grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Memorials may be made to the Wallace Rotary Scholarship Fund, the Wallace Elks Lodge or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
June Kilpatrick
Spokane
Graveside service for June C. Kilpatrick, 88, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Garden of Remembrance at Riverside Memorial Park. Spokane Cremation and Burial is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kilpatrick, a longtime resident of Spokane, died Sunday.
She was born in Evansville, Ind.
She and her husband, Stanley, moved to the Spokane area in the late 1940s, and she became an active member of Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church, Whitworth Grade School Parent-Teacher Association, Girl Scouts and St. George’s School PTA.
She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Kilpatrick attended Asbury College and Whitworth College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in teaching.
Her interests included fashion and interior design, music, sports and education.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include two daughters, Ruth Kilpatrick and Dale O’Key; a sister, Ruth Dickinson; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. George’s School Endowment Fund.
Esther (Monson) Monus
Hayden Lake, Idaho
Visitation for Esther Constance (Monson) Monus, 89, will be today from noon until the service at 1 p.m. at Grace Bible Church in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene with a reception at the church. Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Monus, who was born in Carievale, Saskatchewan, died Tuesday.
She graduated from Ballard High School in Seattle and later graduated from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta.
Mrs. Monus worked as a housekeeper for the governor of Washington before working briefly at a cannery in Alaska.
She married Gordon Monus in 1948, and they served as missionaries in Liberia, West Africa, from 1952 to 1958.
The couple then lived in Bellevue, Wash., near Lake Sammamish, for 26 years, and Mrs. Monus worked at a dry cleaner.
They moved to Ohio in 1986 and then lived in Kalispell and Libby, Mont., before settling in Hayden Lake in 1995.
She was a member of Grace Bible Church.
Survivors include her husband of more than 56 years, Gordon; and two sisters, Sigrid Monson of Portland and Myrtle Knowles of Blaine, Wash.
Memorials may be made to Grace Bible Church, 152 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83835.
Joseph Johnston
St. Maries
No service will be held for Joseph Madison Johnston, 57, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnston, who was born in Moscow, Idaho, died Monday.
He grew up in Coeur d’Alene and graduated from the Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in 1964 and then graduated from the University of Idaho.
Mr. Johnston then served with the Navy before returning to Coeur d’Alene. He moved to St. Maries 30 years ago and worked as a stand examiner for the Forest Service.
He attended Catholic Church and was a member of the Stickney Pickers Band, a local musical group.
Survivors include his girlfriend of 30 years, Bonnie Ireland of St. Maries; a son, Leon Johnston of Seattle; a stepson, Matt Ireland of St. Maries; a daughter, Jennifer Jonquet, and a sister, Sheila Gray, both of Coeur d’Alene; a brother, James Johnston of Troutdale, Ore.; and three grandchildren.
George Mizoguchi
Spokane
Memorial service for George G. Mizoguchi, 82, will be Saturday at 7 p.m. at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Mizoguchi, who was born in Wapato, Wash., died Tuesday. He was a longtime resident of Spokane.
He was a carpenter.
Mr. Mizoguchi was a lifetime member of the Spokane Nisei Golf Club. He also was an avid fisherman and participated in baseball and judo.
His wife, Dorothy, died in 2000.
Survivors include three sons, Duane, Dudley and Dwight ; three sisters, Naoko Takeshita, Jeanne Yamada and Lili Hirata; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ruth Swanson
Spokane
Funeral for Ruth E. Swanson, 73, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Swanson, who was born in Detroit, died Tuesday. She was a resident of Spokane for 33 years.
She was a homemaker and a past member of the Washington State Horsemen’s Association and American Quarter Horse Association.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Alfred; three daughters, Linda Hamp, Sandy Morehouse and Patricia Sams; a son, Mike Swanson; a sister, Virginia Maine; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Caterina (Ruffatto) Heidt
Silverton, Idaho
No service will be held for Caterina “Rena” (Ruffato) Heidt, 95, at her request. Her cremains will be placed with those of her husband. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Heidt, who was born in Roslyn, Wash., died Sunday.
She grew up in the Black Bear area near Burke, Idaho, and married Don Heidt Sr., in 1927. He died in 1980.
Mrs. Heidt worked in the nutrition and dietary field at the Burke School and the hospital in Roseville, Calif.
She pursued a hobby of making miniature metal furniture from cans. She enjoyed crocheting and corresponding with family and friends.
Survivors include three children, Ruth Stephenson of Yuma, Ariz., Jean Pritchett of San Jose, Calif., and Don Heidt of Osburn, Idaho; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Silverwood Good Samaritan Center in Silverton.
Richard ‘Beard’ Rawlings
Pinehurst, Idaho
Celebration of the life of Richard John “Beard” Rawlings, 62, will be Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Lions Community Building in Pinehurst. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg was in charge of cremation.
Mr. Rawlings, who was born in Chicago, died Sunday.
He served with the Navy during the Vietnam War and later lived in Las Vegas and was a boiler engineer for the Teamsters Union before retiring.
He moved to the Silver Valley in 2002 from Washington.
Mr. Rawlings was a member of the Operating Engineers Union Local 501 and the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club. He also enjoyed camping and fishing.
Survivors include three children, Patricia Cox of Pahrump, Nev., John Rawlings of Logandale, Nev., and Charles Rawlings of Boise; two sisters, Diane Evereart of Las Vegas and Donna Metke of Washington; and five grandchildren.
Nancy (Tangen) Weller
Spokane
Memorial service for Nancy (Tangen) Weller, 63, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at her home, 1304 E. 29th Ave. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Weller died Monday.
She was born in Coeur d’Alene and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1959. She attended the University of Washington and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with honors in 1963.
She lived in Michigan and Panama City, Fla., for a time, then moved to Moscow, Idaho, and worked for the University of Idaho. While there she received the Staff Employee of the Year award.
Mrs. Weller then went to work at Washington State University for three years. During that time, she obtained a Master of Arts. She went to work for the Washington Department of Ecology in Lacey, Wash. She then transferred to the Spokane regional office, spending the past nine years working in the water quality program.
She enjoyed camping, fishing, picking huckleberries, hunting, hiking, traveling and antiquing.
Survivors include three sons, Michael Weller of Great Falls, Benjamin Weller of Pullman and Matthew Weller of Spokane; a sister, Kathie Feek of Coeur d’Alene; and seven grandchildren.
Gary Friesen
Spokane
Private service will be held for Gary Dean Friesen, 49. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Friesen, who was born in Rapid City, S.D., died Tuesday. He was a resident of Spokane for 29 years.
He graduated from North Salem (Ore.) High School in 1973, and worked as a self-employed contractor for more than 30 years.
His hobbies included bowling, hunting, movies and traveling.
Survivors include three daughters, Amy Friesen of Beaverton, Ore., and Kristine and Madison Friesen, both of Spokane; his mother, Dorothy Nickerson of Salem, Ore.; and four sisters, Patricia Friesen of Palm Springs, Calif., Donna Royer of Spokane, Beverly Friesen of Evergreen, Colo., and Betty Fellinger of Jefferson, Ore.
Mark Brown
Spokane
Visitation for Mark L. Brown, 85, will be today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Funeral will be Saturday at the funeral home, with committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Brown, who died Monday, was born in Kennewick.
He worked as a commercial Realtor and property manager for James S. Black and Co. for more than 20 years. He also was involved in personal real estate throughout his career.
He enjoyed dancing and playing saxophone and the organ.
Survivors include his companion, Joan O’Brien; a daughter, Diane; three sons, Larry, Jim and Bob; a sister, Mary English; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Caroline (Koch) Rhodes
Spokane
Private service will be held for Caroline Johanna (Koch) Rhodes, 96, in Kent, Wash. Neptune Society handled the arrangements.
Mrs. Rhodes, who was born in Seattle, died Monday. She was a resident of Spokane for 24 years.
She graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1937 and from Business College of Seattle in 1938.
She married Elmer Rhodes in 1940.
In addition to being a homemaker, Mrs. Rhodes co-owned a dress shop with Alice Baehr from 1951 to 1961 and was a secretary for the Credit Bureau of Ellensburg.
She enjoyed making afghans for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her husband died in 1998.
Survivors include two daughters, Judy Ruark of Rockford and Joy Woodward of Snohomish, Wash.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Charles Earnest
Pinehurst, Idaho
Private service for Charles Raymond Earnest, 66, will be held. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Earnest, who was born in Mesa, Ariz., died Monday.
He married Anita Hudson in 1963 and worked as a roofer and truck driver in California.
Mr. Earnest moved to the Silver Valley in 2003 from California.
He enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include his wife; five children, Jim Earnest, Donna Earnest, and Kim Estacio, all of California, Rachel Stice of Kellogg and Darla Gracey of Iowa; a stepson, Carey Campbell of California; a brother, Robert Earnest of Ohio; a sister, Betty Earnest of California; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Adele (Maranto) Musser-Bray
Spokane
Graveside service for Adele A. (Maranto) Musser-Bray, 77, will be today at 2 p.m. at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Musser-Bray, who was born in Brooklyn N.Y., died Monday.
She worked as a bookkeeper from 1969 to 1978 for Rogers and Rogers, later Kiemle and Hagood, and attended TOPS in Spokane.
Her husband, Emory Bray, died in 2003.
Survivors include a son, Vincent Maranto of Loon Lake, Wash.; a daughter, Nancy Wilimek of Honolulu; and four granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or the American Diabetes Association.
Harriette (Lehman) Ray
Kellogg
No service will be held for Harriette Alene (Lehman) Ray, 73, at her request. Shoshone Funeral Service of Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ray, who was born in Fort Benton, Mont., died Tuesday.
She married John Ehnes in 1948, and they later divorced. She married Donald Ray in 1992, and he died in 2002.
Mrs. Ray moved to the Silver Valley in August 2002 from Simms, Mont.
She played as a catcher in the Simms Softball League in Montana and was active in pool and bowling leagues.
She enjoyed fishing, cooking and flower and vegetable gardening.
Survivors include four daughters, Linda Bozley of Rathdrum, Idaho, Mary Holland of Augusta, Mont., Loretta Comer of Kellogg and Jeannie Williams of Great Falls; a brother, Donnie Lehman of Great Falls; three sisters, Betty Bowman and Marjorie Walker, both of Highwood, Mont., and Marriette Moore of Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Donnie Lehman of Great Falls; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Lung Foundation.