Obituaries
Lee Fulton
Fairfield
Memorial service for Lee June Fulton, 86, will be today at 1 p.m. at Fairfield Community Center. Schanzenbach Funeral Home, Rosalia, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Fulton, who was born near Kettle Falls, Wash., died Sept. 8.
As a child she learned to play the piano and banjo. She attended schools in Kettle Falls, graduating from high school in l935, and attended Washington State College.
She married Joe Fulton in l938, and they moved to a farm east of Fairfield that had been homesteaded by his grandparents in l880. This was their home for 66 years, the first nine years without electricity.
The farm was designated one of Washington state’s Centennial Farms in l989.
Mrs. Fulton joined the Fairfield Flower Club and was known throughout the region for her chrysanthemums and irises. Visitors from throughout the Inland Norhwest would come to the farm and tour her flower gardens, leaving with bulbs or starts to plant in their own yards.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Triangle Grange and had been the mother adviser of the Rainbow for Girls. She was also a member of the Southeast Spokane County Historical Society, which supports the Fairfield Museum, and she served as secretary of the Fairfield Cemetery Association for many years.
She enjoyed playing bridge, square dancing and bowling, and in l952 she and her husband built a summer home on Lake Coeur dAlene.
In l971 they began traveling south in the winter, first to California and later to Arizona, where they enjoyed golfing and billiards and distinguished themselves on the shuffleboard courts at the international level.
She also enjoyed crafts, took mountain climbing classes and learned to play the harmonica.
Survivors include her husband; four children, Lynn Wathen and Larry Fulton, both of Fairfield, Cheryl Fischer of San Bernardino, Calif., and Steve Fulton of Bothell, Wash.; a sister, Betty Baxter of Spokane; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairfield Cemetery Fund, Foundation Northwest, Old City Hall, Suite No. 624, 221 N. Wall St., Spokane, WA 99201-0826.
William Malinak
Spokane Valley
Memorial service for William “Bill” Malinak, 80, will be Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Spokane Valley.
Mr. Malinak died Friday.
Born in Missoula, he grew up on the family ranch near Hot Springs, Mont., where he attended a one-room school in Oliver Gulch and graduated from Hot Springs High School.
He served as a Naval aviation machinist’s mate 3rd class aboard the USS Solomons during World War II. He studied engineering at Central Washington State College.
During the 30 years Mr. Malinak worked and traveled for Kaiser Aluminum Chemical Corp., he supervised many departments and developed the Ultrasound Testing Division. He retired in 1983 as superintendent of the rolling mill at the Trentwood plant.
Survivors include his wife, Diane; two sons, Mike of Silvis, Ill., and Steve of Spokane Valley; two stepdaughters, Charlotte Nemec and Andrea Severns, both of Spokane Valley; a stepson, Brynn Schwarz of Billings; a brother, John Malinak of Hot Springs; and 13 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Building Fund or the Spokane Valley Good Samaritan Village Community Center Fund.
David Halseth
Ford, Wash.
Graveside service for David Lee Halseth, 63, will be today at noon at Pleasant View Cemetery in Ford, Wash. Lauer Funeral Home, Deer Park, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Halseth, who was born in Havre, Mont., died Saturday. A four-year resident of Ford, he was a former longtime resident of Deer Park and Spokane.
He had been a hod carrier, brick mason and logger and also had worked for a bedding manufacturing firm in Spokane.
He married Cheryl Miller in 1966.
He enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Darin Halseth of Springdale, Wash., and Bryan and David Halseth, both of Ford; a daughter, Heather Halseth of Ford; three sisters, Shirley Chirgwin of Coeur d’Alene, Rita Webb of Columbia Falls, Mont., and Gayle Stout of Missoula; a stepsister, Kari Lincoln of Lakeside and Kalispell, Mont.; and five grandchildren.
Toni Fanning
Spokane
Memorial service for Toni Paolini Fanning, 54, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Spokane Valley.
Mrs. Fanning, who died Tuesday, was born in Lewiston.
She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1968 and from the University of Idaho in 1972. While at college, she was an active member of the Alpha Phi sorority.
She pursued a career as a medical technologist in Spokane, Honolulu and Denver before joining the staff of the Medlab MEDLAB company in Salt Lake City in 1977.
She married Mark Fanning in 1978, and the couple moved to San Diego, where Mrs. Fanning worked as a manager in computerized health care.
They later moved to Spokane and bought Sun Rental Center. They expanded their business to five locations in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Allison Curtis of Helena; a son, Nathan Fanning of Moscow, Idaho; two sisters, Edith Jensen of Lewiston and Rita Paolini of Clarkston; and a brother, Ted Jensen of Clarkston.
Karl Krogue
Spokane
No service will be held for Karl K. Krogue, 97. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Krogue died Tuesday.
Born in Montpelier, Idaho, he moved to Salt Lake City after high school.
He worked his way through the University of Utah, beginning as a drugstore dishwasher and ending as a pharmacist.
He married his wife, Barbara, in 1934, and the couple moved to Spokane in 1940.
Mr. Krogue had two careers _ life insurance and law _ and he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1938.
He enrolled in Gonzaga University Law School at age 52, resuming a legal education cut short by the Depression. He graduated summa cum laude in 1963 and joined Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport and Toole law firm, where he remained until retirement.
Mr. Krogue was an avid reader, and his interests included music, technology and photography. He also cultivated orchids in the greenhouse attached to his home.
He was the first president of the Greater Spokane Music Festival, second president of the Spokane Philharmonic Orchestra, and chairman of the Westminster Congregational Church committee. He was an early member of what were then called the Spokane Race Relations Council and the Spokane Council of Christians and Jews.
He also enjoyed traveling, and backpacked until he was almost 80. He also day-hiked for another decade.
His wife died in 2001.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Agather of Mercer Island, Wash.; a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Center.
Chester Fiscus
Potlach, Idaho
Memorial service for Chester L. “Chet” Fiscus, 86, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Princeton, Idaho. Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fiscus died Tuesday.
He was born in Potlatch and attended the Upper Crane Creek country school near Potlatch and in 1936 graduated from Potlatch High School.
In 1935, while still in high school, he started working as an outfitter and guide in the Lochsa River area. He continued to work as a guide until 1998.
He married Dorothy Nagle in 1947, and the couple made their home north of Potlatch, where they farmed.
Mr. Fiscus farmed with his brother, Howard Fiscus, from 1933, while still in school, until his retirement in 1976.
He and his wife were hosts and guides at the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station for several years.
Mr. Fiscus was a member of the Silver Spurs Saddle Club, Mountain Home Grange and the Latah County Soil Conservation District and was a past member of the Latah Fair Board. He enjoyed making “hooie” sticks and cooking.
Survivors include two sons, Ron Fiscus of Lewiston and Steve Fiscus of Potlatch; two daughters, Marilyn Crumley of Moscow, Idaho, and Carolyn Gottschalk of Viola, Idaho; a sister, Dorothy Makin of Twin Falls, Idaho; 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one stepgreat-great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Potlatch Athletic Boosters Club, in care of Potlatch High School.
Margaret Schuster
Spokane
Visitation for Margaret Mary Blefgren Schuster, 79, will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Vigil will be Sunday at 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be Monday at 10 a.m. at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Schuster, who was born in Spokane County near Cheney, died Tuesday.
She grew up in Spokane and attended St. Ann’s Elementary and graduated from Marycliff High School in 1945.
She married John Schuster in 1945.
Mrs. Schuster worked at Sacred Heart Medical Center for eight years as a housekeeper, then started her own housekeeping business.
She retired in 1988 and moved to Cathedral Plaza, where she lived for 13 years. In 2002 she moved to Emily Court Assisted Living.
She led Bluebird groups while her children were in school. She was a volunteer at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral and was a member of the Altar Society.
Her hobbies included gardening, tole painting, swimming, crafts, sewing, baking, writing poetry, traveling, and playing pinochle and Scrabble.
Mrs. Schuster was a member of the National Poets Society, and in 1971 a poem she wrote, “Real Wealth” was published by the Historical Poetry Society. It was admitted to the archives of the Library of Congress.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include four children, Frances Schuster Jackson of Modesto, Calif., John Schuster of Spokane, Janet Schuster Brislawn of Olympia and Susan Schuster Aalykke of Tillamook, Ore.; and one grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Emilie Court, 34 E. Eighth Ave., or Hospice of Spokane.
Marie (Louviers) Engebretson
Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Marie E. (Louviers) Engebretson, 84, will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Mullan, Idaho, with inurnment at Mountain View Cemetery in Mullan. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Engebretson, who was born in Tacoma, died Tuesday.
She lived in California before moving to Mullan in 1935 and married don Engebretson in 1958.
She lived in the Silver Valley for many years and worked in the kitchen of the Morning Mine Beanery, was a grocery clerk in Mullan, served as a custodian at the Shoshone County Courthouse and was a clerk at the Mullan Post Office.
The couple moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2001.
Mrs. Engebretson was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Postal Workers Union and Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
She served as a volunteer with the Kootenai Medical Center Auxiliary and Silver Wood Good Samaritan Center.
She enjoyed bowling and being involved in the community.
Survivors include her husband; nine children, Keith Olkonen of Port Orchard, Wash., Mark Olkonen of Bremerton, Wayne Olkonen of Silverton, Idaho, Michael Olkonen, LaVonne Pemble, Kris Garitone and Karol Lindstrom, all of Mullan, Kay Payton of Emmett, Idaho, and Terri Dexter of Coeur d’Alene; 21 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Curtis Lawson
Coeur ‘Alene
Graveside service for Curtis Michael Lawson, 27, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at City Cemetery in Thompson Falls, Mont. A reception will follow at The Rimrock in Thompson Falls. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Lawson died Sept. 4 from injuries suffered in an automobile/motorcycle accident in the vicinity of Thompson Pass near Murray, Idaho.
He was born in Plains, Mont., to Debbie Hensyel and adopted by his mother’s husband, the late Robert Lawson.
Mr. Curtis grew up in Thompson Falls and graduated from high school there.
He moved to Coeur d’Alene several years ago and received an Associate of Science from North Idaho College. At the time of his death he was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science while working in the hospitality industry.
Mr. Lawson was a Microsoft certified specialist.
He enjoyed video games, the Noon Basketball Association at North Idaho College and football. He was a New England Patriots fan.
Survivors include his mother, Debbie Lawson of Thompson Falls; a sister, Amber Lawson of Coeur d’Alene; grandparents Dick Hensyel of Thompson Falls and Pat Lawson of Folsom, Calif.; great-grandparents Grace and Leroy Hensyel of Albany, Ore.; and a niece.
Donald Tolley
Post Falls
Memorial service for Donald Allen Tolley, 69, will be today at 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Tolley, who died Sunday, was born in Bristol, Va.
He was honorably discharged from the Air Force at Fairchild Air Force Base, where he served four years.
He lived in Spokane for many years and worked as a carpenter in construction. He later moved to Post Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Cleo; 10 children, Kevin, Michael and Robert Tolley, all of Post Falls, Denise Swinney of Spokane Valley, Jeff Nutter of Post Falls, Debra McCarroll of Greenacres, Susan Lexa of Hawthorne, Nev., and Sheri and Sheila Halseth and Maureen Farrington, all of Spokane; a sister, Erma Hernandez of Kennewick; numerous grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Association.
Maurine ‘Marty’ Wheat
Coeur d’Alene
Visitation for Maurine Bellamy “Marty” Wheat, 80, will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. Service will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Hayden chapel.
Mrs. Wheat, who was born in Austin, Texas, died Monday.
After childhood she settled in Wendover, Utah, and met her future husband, railroad engineer Albert Benton Wheat. They were married in 1945. He preceded her in death.
She later settled in Coeur d’Alene.
Survivors include three children, Al Biancani, Susie Larson and Larry Larson; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mandella Haufe
Spokane
Funeral for Mandella Marie Haufe, 24, will be today at 11 a.m. at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, with burial at Pines Cemetery.
Miss Haufe, who was born in Knoxville, Tenn., died Monday.
She graduated from Havermale Alternative Center in 1997 and was a manager at the Lady Footlocker in the Spokane Valley Mall.
Survivors include her fiance, Nathan Dishneau; a son, Nathan Dishneau; her mother and stepfather, Sherill Dougall and Vernon Loutzenhiser of Spokane Valley; her father and stepmother, Edward and Connie Haufe of Forksville, Pa.; and her stepfather Tracy Dougall and her brother, Tracy Dougall, both of Post Falls.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Opal Palm
Spokane
Service for Opal M. Palm, 95, will be today at 10 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, with burial at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Palm, who died Wednesday, was born in Harrison, Idaho.
She worked at Long Lake Lumber as a sawmill worker for more than 20 years and retired in 1968.
She enjoyed gardening and attending church.
Survivors include a daughter, Lois Kivett of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, or Morgan Acres Church at 7319 N. Regal St., Spokane, WA 99207.
Carl ‘CV’ Verdal
Sandpoint
Visitation for Carl Edward “CV” Verdal, 80, will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint, withservice at 2 p.m. at Sandpoint First Lutheran Church.
Mr. Verdal, who was born in Sandpoint, died Sunday.
He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1942 and then worked for the Schaffer-Hitchcock Pole Co. before enlisting in the Army later that year.
He served in the European Theater and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
Mr. Verdal returned to Sandpoint and returned to work as a bookkeeper at Schaffer-Hitchcock and later worked for Joslyn Pole Co. until retiring in 1974.
He was a member of Sandpoint Elks Lodge and First Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir and served as a volunteer.
Mr. Verdal was active with several local bowling teams. He did the landscaping for various local public buildings, including the county courthouse, First Lutheran Church and several commercial buildings.
He enjoyed gardening and flowers.
Mr. Verdal enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and also took trips to the Holy Land, Egypt, Europe, Caribbean, Norway, Panama Canal and South Africa.
He is survived by a sister, Olivia Morrow of Sandpoint.
Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint.
Fred Stoumbaugh
Spokane
Service for Fred A. Stoumbaugh, 56, will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Stoumbaugh, who was born in Denver, died Saturday. He was a resident of Spokane for 25 years.
He was a restaurant worker for 15 years, including as a dishwasher at Denny’s restaurant.
His hobbies included genealogy.
Survivors include his wife of two years, Lola; a son, Mathew Stoumbaugh of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Charlotte Johnson of Spokane and Barbara Decker of California; three brothers, Robert Stoumbaugh of Modesto, Calif., Phillip Stoumbaugh of Colorado and Jimmy Stoumbaugh of Denver; and one grandchild.