Obituaries
Margaret ‘Margo’ Wilks
Wallace
Memorial service for Margaret “Margo” Aileen (Sampont) Wilks, 63, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Wallace. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wilks, who was born in Wallace, died Saturday after a 30-year battle with lupus.
She graduated from high school at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Wallace in 1959 and then attended Lewis-Clark College.
She was a longtime resident of the Silver Valley and had served as the manager of food services at the corporate headquarters of Washington Water Power Co. in Spokane.
She also worked as manager and caterer for a living complex in Denver and as manager of food services for the Travel Lodge/Convention Center in Missoula.
She was a member of the Wallace Lady Elks and volunteered with the Judy Lavergne Christmas Fund for Children and Families.
She enjoyed canning, cooking, hunting and fishing.
She married Richard “Kayo” Wilks Sr. in 1990, and he survives her.
Other survivors include two children, Scott Lee of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Linda Lee of Silverton, Idaho; five stepchildren, Regina Zeilstra of Billings, Ricky Hasbrouck of Longview, Wash., Al Wilks Jr. of Black Bear, Idaho, Jeannette Wilks of Wallace and Kaycee Scott of Coeur d’Alene; her mother, Bernice Sampont of Kellogg; two sisters, Sharon Connors of Delta, Idaho, and Janet Lucas of Kellogg; and 17 grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Care and Rehabilitation of Kellogg.
Clyde Murdock
Spokane Valley
Graveside service for Clyde O. Murdock, 79, will be today at 1 p.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Rockford. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Murdock, who was born in Hiddenite, N.C., died Friday.
He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II, seeing action in Germany and Africa, and received the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
When he returned home, he began working with the Pacific Union Railroad and remained with the company 30 years, retiring as a control tower operator.
Mr. Murdock was involved with the Old Time Fiddlers Association, performing at various functions throughout the area. He also spent many hours entertaining at the senior centers and nursing homes.
He was an artisan in woodworking, designing and building wooden clocks, and also was a fisherman.
Survivors include two sons, Steve Murdock of Spokane Valley and Scott Murdock of Sterling, Alaska; two brothers, Zane and Troy Murdock, and two sisters, Mildred Murdock and Dean Pennel, all of North Carolina; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
E. Dale Pelton
Sandpoint
Memorial service for E. Dale Pelton, 77, will be today at 11 a.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint.
Mr. Pelton, who was born in Elk River, Idaho, died Sunday.
He grew up in Ahsahka, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Orofino, Idaho.
Mr. Pelton later attended the University of Idaho for two years before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War.
After his military service he returned to Ahsahka and worked for B.J. Carney Pole Co. He married Elaine Brandt in 1955.
They moved to Sandpoint in 1964 and raised four children.
He worked as the manager of the pole yard at Joslin Pole Co. until moving to Kalispell, Mont., in 1972.
Mr. Pelton managed Kalispell Pole and Timber and later moved to Seely Lake, Mont., and managed the pole yard there until retiring in 1994.
He then lived in Missoula until returning to Sandpoint in 1997.
Mr. Pelton was a member of the Kalispell Methodist Church and the Lions Club, for which he had served as district governor.
He was active with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts when his children were young and enjoyed playing bridge.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years; three children, Gary Pelton of Kalispell, Dana Pelton of Nowata, Okla., and Mindy Kelley of Sandpoint; a brother, Lewis Pelton of Clarkston; and five grandsons.
Randy Poss
Elmira, Idaho
A celebration of the life of Randy L. Poss, 57, will be Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at PossAbilities Tree Farm, 2411 Elmira Road near Sandpoint. Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Poss, who was born in Denver, died Friday.
He grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and various other towns in the West and graduated from high school in La Crosse, Wis., in 1965.
Mr. Poss married Bette Witt in 1970, and worked in both the skiing and sporting goods industries.
The family settled in the Elmira area of Bonner County in 1977.
He worked as a welder and machinist before establishing an ornamental tree nursery.
Mr. Poss was the current president of the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association and also served on the Bonner County Weed Board.
He enjoyed storytelling, computers, and woodworking.
He will be remembered for his quick humor, compassion and straightforward views on life.
Survivors include his wife, a daughter, Keely Poss, and his father and stepmother, Ralph and Barbara Poss, all of Sandpoint; his mother, Pat Horrell of Tucson, Ariz.; and a sister, Cherie Wolcott of Tucson.
Bernice (Jones) Brannan
Colfax
Funeral for Bernice A. (Jones) Brannan, 74, will be today at 11:30 a.m. at the Colfax Cemetery, with funeral to follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Community Bible Church. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brannan died Saturday.
She was born in Colfax and graduated from Colfax High School 1947. While in school, she met Eugene Brannan, and the couple were married in 1948.
They made their home in the Onecho, Wash., area, where they farmed. Mrs. Brannan was a homemaker, and also helped in her husband’s insurance business.
They moved from the farm into Colfax in 1959.
Mrs. Brannan was an excellent seamstress and made many clothes for her family. She enjoyed decorating her home and bowling and was an avid golfer.
She was a member of the Elks Lodge.
She and her husband wintered in Mesa, Ariz., for 27 years.
Survivors include her husband; three children, Fred Brannan and Sherri Swan, both of Colfax, and Beverlee Brannan of Mountain Home, Idaho; two brothers, Ray and Jon Jones, both of Colfax; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Whitman Home Health or Whitman Hospital Foundation.
Arthur ‘Bud’ Wright
Coulee Dam
Memorial service for Arthur E. “Bud” Wright, 79, will be today at 2 p.m. at A.E. Wright Elementary School in Coulee Dam. Strate Funeral Home, Coulee Dam, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wright, who died Friday, was born in Ione, Wash.
He graduated from Cusick (Wash.) High School in 1943 and joined the Navy that year. He served four years in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged in 1947.
Mr. Wright attended Eastern Washington State College and obtained a teaching certificate in 1951. While attending college, he met his wife of 54 years, Janice Hayfield, and they were married in LaCrosse, Wash., in 1950.
They moved to Coulee Dam, where Mr. Wright taught at Columbia School for three years before becoming the principal at Central School and Columbia Junior High from 1954 until his retirement in 1980.
At that time Central School was renamed A.E. Wright Elementary.
Mr. Wright enjoyed hunting, fishing and attending sporting events.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Vicki Zowada of Electric City, Wash., and Kay Leonard of Post Falls; a sister, Lorna Schultz of Spokane; and two granddaughters.
Tyson Frazier
Coeur dAlene
Memorial service for Tyson Alan Frazier, 21, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Frazier, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Sept. 7.
He attended Lake City High School and was active in football, and also was a soccer coach.
Mr. Tyson had attended North Country Chapel in Post Falls.
He was known for his generosity, quick wit and hard work. He enjoyed telling stories.
Survivors include his companion, Gina Cangelosi of Hayden, and their son, Matyson “Matty” ; his mother, Pam Frazier of Post Falls; his father and his partner, Skip Frazier and Heike Lake, both of Coeur d’Alene; a sister, Mia Paul of Coeur d’Alene; and grandmother, Lola Frazier of North Bend, Wash.
Memorials may be made to River City Fellowship in Post Falls.
Dixie (Salvis) Carbery
Spokane
Private service will be held for Dixie Lee (Salvis) Carbery. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Carbery, who was born in Olympia, died Sept. 7. She was 73.
She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1949 and was a resident of Spokane for 53 years.
She married Gene Carbery in 1951 and spent many years assisting him at the Spokane Country Club Pro Shop.
Mrs. Carbery was president of the Spokane Area Women’s Golf Association and enjoyed collecting antiques and traveling.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Michael and Patrick Carbery, and a daughter, Carrie Emery, all of Spokane; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.
George Tourtellotte
Spokane
Viewing for George Tourtellotte, 76, will be today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Spokane Church of God Seventh-day, 2929 N. Freya St. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Tourtellotte died Saturday.
He served in the Navy for two years and worked for a railroad for 40 years as a car inspector.
His hobbies included fishing, hunting and dancing.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Joanne; two daughters, Renee Ralph and Diana Cottrill, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.