Obituaries
Janice (Johnson) Walser
Spokane Valley
Memorial service for Janice (Johnson) Walser, 99, will be today at 2:30 p.m. at the Chapel at Good Samaritan, 17117 E. Eighth Ave. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Walser, who died Wednesday, was born in Crookston Minn.
She graduated as valedictorian from Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont., and was a graduate of the University of Montana.
She taught English at West Valley High School for 16 years. She also was a speech and debate coach and an adviser to the paper while at West Valley.
In 1986, Mrs. Walser was honored as Spokane’s Lilac Festival Poet. Her poems were published in local newspapers.
She was a member of the Poetry Scribes, the La Gaite and Orchard Avenue women’s clubs, and was a member of Millwood Presbyterian Church.
Her husband, Martin Walser, died in 1971.
Survivors include four sons, Edward Schusster of Memphis, Tenn., Richard Schusster of Big Sandy, Texas, Roger Walser of Spokane Valley and Philip Walser of Renton, Wash.; one daughter, Judith Ramsey of Tuscon, Ariz.; a brother, Bruce Johnson of Phoenix; three sisters, Dorothy Landreth and Enid Nuechterlein, both of Spokane, and Helene Scott of Olympia.; 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Spokane Valley Good Samaritan Village, 17117 E. Eighth Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99016.
Michael St. Clair
Kellogg
Private service for Michael Frank St. Clair, 59, will be held. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. St. Clair, who was born in Everett, died Sept. 14.
He graduated from high school in Everett in 1962, and attended college while serving with the Navy. His service included two tours of duty during the Vietnam War.
He lived in Kansas City, Kan., before settling in the Silver Valley in 1999.
Mr. St. Clair had worked as a sheriff’s deputy for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department in Washington for several years and also worked in maintenance at Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He enjoyed NASCAR racing, Seattle Mariners baseball and attending garage sales.
Survivors include a daughter, Erin St. Clair of Everett; a sister, Darlene St. Clair of Mount Vernon, Wash.; and a brother, Brad Teeter of Mount Vernon.
Faye ‘Todd’ Steckling
Spokane
Memorial service for Faye “Todd” Steckling,85, was held Monday in the Alwin Chapel at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Steckling, who died Thursday, was a longtime resident of Spokane and operated her own sewing business.
She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of a bridge club for more than 25 years.
Her husband, Norbert, died in 1986.
Survivors include two daughters, Diane DeMers of Tenafly, N.J., and Sandy Steckling of Kingston, Wash.; a sister, Geneva King of Butte; and one granddaughter.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.
Mabel (Thompson) Foss
Coeur d’Alene
Visitation for Mabel T. (Thompson) Foss, 100, will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene, with burial at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Foss, who was born in Osseo, Wis., died Sunday.
She grew up in Churches Ferry, N.D., and married Ted Foss in 1923.
The couple farmed in North Dakota before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1936.
She was a member and Sunday school teacher at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was active in the Ladies Aid for many years.
Mrs. Foss was a seamstress and gardener and enjoyed cooking and baking.
Her husband died in 1981.
Survivors include two children, Jan Johnson of Darby, Mont., and Gary Foss of Salmon, Idaho; a brother, Henry Thompson of Oregon; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.
Vernon Connerley
Maple Valley, Wash.
A memorial service for Vernon A. Connerley, 79, was held Saturday at Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home.
Mr. Connerley, who died on Sept. 8, was born in Polson, Mont., and lived in Spokane for many years.
He was a graduate of Ronan High School in Montana and worked in the silver mines near Wallace. During World War II he served with the Army in Europe. After he returned from the war, he married Edith Shodo in 1946.
The couple moved to Spokane and Mr. Connerley attended Kinman Business School.
He worked at several businesses in Spokane and retired as general manager of a credit union.
During his retirement, Mr. Connerley became a beekeeper and often took his hives to California to pollinate almonds. He also gathered honey from his hives. He also enjoyed fly-fishing, tying his own flies and woodworking.
He was involved in the Spokane East Rotary, Toastmasters, Mica and Moran Prairie granges and the Inland Empire Beekeepers Association.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sondra Jacobson of Chelan, Wash., and Corrine Thomas of Maple Valley; a son, Patrick of Post Falls; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.
Eileen (Pledger) Litzenberger
Coeur d’Alene
Viewing for Eileen L. (Pledger) Litzenberger, 82, will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene, with burial at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mrs. Litzenberger, who was born in Wallace, died Saturday.
She received her early education in Wallace before her family moved to Dalton Gardens, Idaho. She graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School.
She married Otto Litzenberger in 1941, and they settled in Coeur d’Alene. He died in 1977.
Mrs. Litzenberger was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed gardening, roses, animals and sewing.
Survivors include her son, Dan Litzenberger of Post Falls; and two grandsons.
Rose Mary Kendall
Spokane
Burial Mass for Rose Mary Kendall, 77, will be today at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church. Hennessey Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Kendall, a lifetime resident of Spokane, died Wednesday.
She worked as the office manager at St. Vincent DePaul.
She attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church, where she was involved with the Altar Society and was a lay eucharist minister.
Survivors include her children, Rosa Lee Morin, Gerry Kendall and Mary Dever, all of Spokane, Patrick Kendall of Placentia, Calif., and Margaret Batten of McCall, Idaho; two brothers, James Brown of McArthur, Calif., and Daniel Brown of Spokane; and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent DePaul, 2901 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.
Candy Combs
Tensed, Idaho
Service for Candy Marie Combs, 21, will be today at 11 a.m. at Tensed Community Church, with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Plummer, Idaho. Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is handling the arrangements.
Miss Combs, who was born in Medina, Ohio, died Thursday from injuries suffered in a horseback riding accident at her home.
She grew up in Lewisville, Ohio, and graduated from Noble County High School there in 2002.
Miss Combs moved to Tensed with her parents in August and had worked at Coeur d’Alene Tribal Casino.
She was a member of the Barnsville Assembly of God Church in Ohio and enjoyed horseback riding.
Survivors include her parents, Jim and Barbara Combs of Tensed; two brothers, Luke Combs of Jacobsburg, Ohio, and Jamie Combs of Wakeman, Ohio; and her grandfather, Alex Combs of Kentucky.
Lukiah Ellis
Spokane
Funeral Mass for Lukiah Anteres Eldon Travis Ellis, 23, will be today at 3 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 2120 E. First Ave. Cheney Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Ellis, who died Sept. 11, graduated from North Central High School in 1999 and was studying electrical systems distribution at Spokane Community College.
He worked as a forklift operator and enjoyed fishing, playing hockey, watching the Seattle Mariners with his dad and was an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills.
Surviors include his parents, Suzanne and Mark Ellis; a brother, Steven Ellis; two sisters, Aiyana and Nashira Ellis; his grandmother, Patricia Ellis; special companion, Mellissa McComas; and a son, Ayden.
Frances MacGregor
Spokane
Visitation for Frances K. MacGregor, 93, will be today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division St. Graveside service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Riverside Memorial Park, 211 N. Government Way.
Mrs. MacGregor, who died Friday, was a lifelong resident of Spokane.
She was a homemaker and was a member of Valley Methodist Church.
Her husband of 55 years, George, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty Geist of Lompoc, Calif.; two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Cecelia (Nava) Clem
Spokane
Vigil for Cecelia M. (Nava) Clem, 99, will be today at 7 p.m. at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division St. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 2120 E. First Ave. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetary.
Mrs. Clem, a lifelong Spokane resident, died Friday.
She attended Edison and McKinley grade schools and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School.
In 1927 she married Lloyd Clem at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, where she was a member for more than 75 years.
Mrs. Clem worked for several years at Equitable Life Assuance Co. and took pride in balancing the books
She was involved in the St. Anne’s Altar Society and volunteered at the Immaculate Heart Retreat House for many years.
Her husband, Lloyd, died in 1991.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Simpson of Spokane and Jeannie LeBold of Mill Creek, Wash.; five grandchildren and seven grandchildren..
Harry Deininger
Spokane
Vigil for Harry K. Deininger, 81, will be today at 5 p.m. at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division St. Burial Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Deininger, who had been very involved in the Spokane community for more than 50 years, died Saturday.
During World War II, he served as a pilot in the Air Force, and later worked at Seafirst Bank for 32 years.
He was involved with the chamber of commerce, Rotary Club and Kiwanis, and was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
His wife of 55 years, Kathleen, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, Harry Deininger Jr.; five daughters, Kathy Parks, Patty Deininger, Darlene Snapp, Sharon Olp and Margaret McGrew; a sister, Darlene Slater; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur St., Spokane, WA 99202.
Henry ‘Pape’ Savage
Kellogg
No service will be held for Henry “Pape” Savage, 84, at his request. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Savage, who was born in Kellogg, died Saturday.
He was a lifelong North Idaho resident and in 1938 graduated from Rose Lake High School.
Mr. Savage served with the Army during World War II. He later worked at the Bunker Hill Mining Co. smelter until 1982. He also was a bartender at the Corner Club and the Rio Club in Kellogg.
Mr. Savage married Mildred “Millie” Manolovich in 1947.
He was a member of the Osburn Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bunker Hill 20-year Club, Kellogg Elks Lodge and the Serbian Orthodox Church of Butte.
He enjoyed gardening at the family ranch in Cataldo and was a New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners baseball fan.
He is survived by his wife.