Obituaries

Ralph Nelson

Coeur d’Alene

Memorial service for Ralph Ware Nelson, 90, will be today at 1 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene First Presbyterian Church. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’ Alene was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Nelson, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Wednesday.

He was a lifelong resident of North Idaho and played basketball at Coeur d’Alene High School.

Mr. Nelson attended Stanford University and played tennis. He graduated from the University of Idaho and Gonzaga Law School.

After serving with the Navy during World War II, he returned to the area and worked for Idaho Compensation Co., and later Liberty National Insurance Co., where he was executive vice president. During the last 22 years of his career he worked for Argonautt Insurance Co.

Mr. Nelson began raising Arabian horses in the 1950s, was involved in the Kootenai County Saddle Club and helped organize the Inland Empire Arabian Horse Association.

He married Helen “Parm” Parmley in 1938.

Mr. Nelson was a Boy Scout leader and was an elder and Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Nelson played with the Elks Lodge Band for about 40 years and marched with the Perfection Nots band in the local Fourth of July parade. He was past president and a 63-year member of the Rotary Club. He was a 75-year member of the Hayden Lake Country Club and was the club champion in 1935.

He was past chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and served as chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Library Board for 20 years.

He enjoyed sports and traveled to dozens of high school and college football and basketball games and state tournaments.

Survivors include his wife; five children, Ralph Nelson Jr. of Hayden, Doug Nelson of Walla Walla, Carolyn Antognoli of Lincolnshire, Ill., and Susan Kluksdal and Jean AhFong, both of Boise; a sister, Jean Nelson of Menlo Park, Calif.; a brother, Spencer Nelson of San Diego; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Coeur d’Alene Library Foundation, 201 Harrison Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Neil Shoemaker

Spokane

Memorial service for Neil Leslie Shoemaker, 62, will be today at 10 a.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home in Spokane. Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Shoemaker, who was born in Sandpoint, died Dec. 26.

He attended schools in Bonner County and played football at Sandpoint High School , graduating in 1961.

Mr. Shoemaker then received a Bachelor of Science in forestry from the University of Idaho and joined the Navy through the ROTC program.

He served during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Niagara Falls and later retired from the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant.

Mr. Shoemaker married Genevieve “Ruby” Leonovich in 1968.

He had worked for OSMUS wood-preserving company and lived in Iowa, Texas and California.

He then moved to Bozeman, Mont., and worked for McFarland Pole Co., and later lived in Puyallup, Wash., and worked in the dried floral industry.

Mr. Shoemaker established Sunset Northwest in 1984 and then opened Shoemaker’s Floral in Chattaroy, He retired in 1996.

He and his son both received master’s degrees the same year from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Mr. Shoemaker enjoyed fly-fishing and was a longtime member of the Elks and Moose lodges.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby of Spokane; two sons, David Shoemaker of Spokane and Jonathan Shoemaker of Carrollton, Texas; a brother, Dale Shoemaker of Tacoma; two sisters, Cecelia Kenney of Wilsonville, Ore., and Judy Fosback of Spokane; and two grandchildren.

Patrick Whitman

Spokane

Funeral for Patrick R. Whitman, 30, will be today at noon at St. Peters Catholic Church, with inurnment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Whitman died Dec. 24.

He grew up in Spokane and Sandpoint before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1993. After the Marines, he worked as a systems engineer for several companies in Spokane, including the Heart Institute of Spokane, where he met his wife, Cheryl Dunne. They were married on Nov. 26 in Coeur d’Alene.

Mr. Whitman enjoyed mountain drives, camping, fishing and music.

Survivors include his wife; and a son, Anthony Banks, and his mother, Susan Poppino, both of Sandpoint.

Aaron Braun

Ritzville, Wash.

Funeral for Aaron G. Braun, 88, will be today at 1 p.m. at Zion-Philadelphia Congregational Church in Ritzville. Vault interment will be at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Braun, a lifelong resident of Ritzville, died Wednesday.

He attended Willis Country School and later graduated from Ritzville High School in 1934. After high school he worked at the Richfield and Union service stations in Ritzville, worked as a carpenter at Farragut Naval Base at Bayview, Idaho, and at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake before going into farming.

He married Florence Schafer in 1939 in Ritzville. From 1943 to 1945, he worked for area farmers, but in 1945 he leased farm ground and farmed on his own.

In 1966 the couple purchased the Henry C. Schafer ground, and they purchased the H.P. Braun farm combining both his and his wife’s family farms. In 1971 he incorporated the farm as B and B Farms.

He was a member of Zion Philadelphia Congregational Church, Washington State Grange and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

His wife died in 1989.

Survivors include a daughter, Kae Koch of Chehalis, Wash.; a son, David Braun of Ritzville; a brother, Howard Braun of Deer Park; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Philadelphia Congregational Church, 301 E. Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169.

Ray Mobberley

Coeur d’Alene

Memorial service for Ray C. Mobberley, 80, will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene.

Mr. Mobberley, who was born in Boise, died Saturday.

After graduating from Boise High School, he joined the Army and served in the Signal Corps Division in Australia.

While stationed in Australia he met and married Audrey Gilchrist. They later divorced. He then married Doris Jameson.

Mr. Mobberley also served in the Philippines before receiving a military discharge and returned to Boise, where he served with the Army National Guard.

He worked as a civil service technician and supervised the switchboard during annual training at Gowen Field and later supervised installation of the telephone system and set up the phone directory at Gowen Field.

Mr. Mobberley was involved with the Boise First Congregational Church, Emergency Medical Technicians board, and Boy Scouts of America and was a Sea Scout leader for several years.

He retired from civil service in 1979 but remained with the National Guard until retiring from the military at the age of 60.

After his retirement, he moved to Coeur d’Alene with his wife.

Mr. Mobberley was a North Idaho College booster and served on the Worley Highway Commission for several years.

A skilled bowler, he was named to the Washington state Bowlers Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years; two children, Carol Rivers of Cocolalla, Idaho, and Glenn Mobberley of Boise; three stepchildren, Dee Jameson of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Ginger Stone of Houston and Scott Jameson of Meridian, Idaho; numerous grandchildren and stepgrandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Children’s Village, 1350 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Joseph Lamere

Spokane

Funeral for Joseph L. Lamere, 75, will be Wednesday in Rocky Boy, Mont. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Lamere, who was born in Rocky Boy, died Thursday.

In 1968 he married Margaret Renteria.

He worked in construction for most of his life. He moved to Spokane in 1990 from Yakima.

Survivors include his wife; 11 daughters, Betty Causey of Selah, Wash., Patty Woodward of White Swan, Wash., Debby Paul and Carol McClure, both of Ronan, Mont., Brenda Abrahamson of Worley, Idaho, Deborah and Sandra McJoe, Vickie and Theresa Lamere, and Mary Stilson, all of Spokane, and Selena Lamere of Wapato, Wash.; four sons, Pete Lamere of Rocky Boy, William Lamere of Pocatello, Idaho, Robert Lamere of Great Falls and Joseph Lamere Jr. of Spokane; two sisters, Rose Newton and Patsy Fooks, and a brother, Mike Lamere, all of Great Falls; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Robert ‘Moose’ Gallaher

Spokane

Graveside service and interment for Robert W. Gallaher, 76, will be today at noon at Fairmount Memorial Park. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gallaher, who died last last Tuesday, was born in Lansing, Minn.

He served with the Navy during World War II, the Air National Guard during the Korean War and the Air Force in Vietnam. His last 12 years of service were as a survival instructor, mostly at Fairchild Air Force Base.

He retired from active duty in 1974.

After the military he worked for the city of Spokane and as a heating-ventilation-air conditioning engineer at Holy Family Hospital before retiring in 1992.

He spent his retirement caring for his house, garden, and dogs. He was a member of the American Legion, Eagles Lodge and the National Rifle Association and was an active lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include two daughters, Colleen Mullenix of Spokane and Connie Stuhr of Weston, Fla.; a son, Michael Gallaher of Virginia Beach, Va.; a brother, Richard Gallaher of Brownsdale, Minn.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Matthew Adams

Renton, Wash.

Visitation for Matthew S. Adams, 25, will be today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home. Funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Community Bible Chapel in Spokane.

Mr. Adams, who was born in Spokane, died Dec. 26.

He graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1998 and worked at American Way and Barton body shops. He attended several technical schools related to his profession and moved to Renton in 2002 to work with B&H body shops.

Mr. Adams was an avid sportsman and enjoyed bowfishing, hunting, fishing and playing basketball at Hoopfest. He was a fan of the Detroit Lions, Seattle Mariners and the Spokane Chiefs.

Survivors include his mother, Joan Adams; three brothers, David, Randy and Todd Adams; and a sister, Amy Gibson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.

Zenas Haskins Jr.

Ione, Wash.

Graveside inurnment for Zenas Carey Haskins Jr., 71, will be today at Riverside Cemetery in Ione. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Haskins, who was born in Metaline Falls, Wash., died Wednesday.

After attending Ione High School, he joined the Navy, serving from 1951 to 1954 and received the National Defense ribbon. After he was honorably discharged, he went back to Ione, where he made his home.

He married Roberta Young, and the couple divorced after 17 years of marriage.

Mr. Haskins worked as a hard rock miner from 1954 to 1960, then as a logger until his retirement. He loved to read.

Survivors include a son, Zenas Haskins III of Everett; a daughter, Carri Haskins of Ione; four brothers, Don Haskins of Spokane, Ray and Mike Haskins, both of Montana, and Tom Haskins of Washougal, Wash.; and eight grandchildren.

Marvin Calicoat

Clayton, Wash.

Funeral for Marvin B. Calicoat, 90, will be today at 1 p.m. at the Clayton Community Church, with burial at Zion Hill Cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Calicoat, a longtime resident of Clayton, died Thursday. He was born in Hobson, Mont.

He graduated from Lewistown (Mont.) High School and served in the Army during World War II. After the war he worked as a steamfitter on many of the dams that were constructed in the Northwest and also was the owner of Clayton Welding.

Mr. Calicoat was a member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 44, the Eagles and Moose lodges and the American Legion in Chewelah, Wash. He was an avid fisherman.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma; five children, Thelma Sprenger of North Dakota, and Jim, Dee and Dan Calicoat and Taffy Long, all of Clayton; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Elinor Christopherson

Spokane

Funeral for Elinor Christopherson, 96, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.

Mrs. Christopherson, an 80-year resident of the Spokane area, died Thursday. She was born in Lewiston.

She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Terry Christopherson; a sister, Lucille; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cleo Nyberg

Mead

Funeral for Cleo Harding Nyberg, 87, will be today at 1 p.m. at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Private inurnment will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Mrs. Nyberg, a lifelong resident of Spokane, died Thursday.

She was a member of the first graduating class of Lewis and Clark High School in 1935.

After raising her children, Mrs. Nyberg worked as an outpatient receptionist at Sacred Heart Medical Center for 17 years.

She enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. She also enjoyed big band music and gardening.

Survivors include her husband, Chuck; two sons, John and Tom Harding; three daughters, Sue Welberry, Carol Newcomb and Kris Dailing; a sister, Helen Holman; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or to North Star Senior Center.

Jack Bowman

Spokane

Memorial service for Jack M. Bowman, 89, will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Bowman, who died Thursday, was born in Canada.

He graduated from high school in Odessa, Wash., and served in the Army during World War II.

He and his wife owned A&A Cleaners on West Riverside from 1946 to 1981.

Mr. Bowman attended Central Christian Church and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles, Elks and Moose lodges and Brotherhood of Friends.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Helen; a daughter, Jacquelyne Doane of Bellevue; a son, Barry Bowman of Dublin, Calif.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

Jean Frost

Spokane

Funeral for Jean G. Frost, 92, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home, with burial at Pines Cemetery.

Mrs. Frost, who died Wednesday, was a lifelong resident of Spokane.

She was an active member of Millwood Community Presbyterian Church and also was a member of the Inland Empire Iris Society. She was named Iris Queen for the prize-winning irises she grew.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis.

Survivors include a son, Clyde Frost of North Little Rock, Ark.; a daughter, Bonnie Shwadlenak of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Mabel Goodrich of Spokane Valley; four grandchildren and six great-grandsons.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.

Megan (Cox) Arana

Post Falls

Memorial service for Megan Renee (Cox) Arana, 27, was Monday at Solid Rock Foursquare Church in Post Falls. English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Arana, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.

She was a lifelong area residents and worked as a caregiver for Life Inc. Mrs. Arana attended Solid Rock Foursquare Church.

Survivors include her husband, Esteban; her parents, Daniel Cox and Jane Apple, a brother, Ian Cox, and two sisters, Sarah Burris and Jordan Cox, all of Spokane.

Memorials may be made to Solid Rock Foursquare Church, P.O. Box 1147, Post Falls, ID 83877.

Roy Ishitani

Spokane

Visitation for Roy S. Ishitani, 51, will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home. Funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Mr. Ishitani, who died Dec. 26, was born in Spokane.

After his graduation from Lewis and Clark High School, he enlisted in the Army. He was an auto technician and enjoyed helping people.

Survivors include a son, Roy Ishitani Jr.; a daughter, Tammy LeBlanc; four brothers, Harry, Joe, Jack and Adam Ishitani; and three grandchildren.

Donna Norris

Spokane

Memorial service for Donna M. Norris, 70, will be today at 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.

Mrs. Norris, who was born in Loma, N.D., died last Tuesday. She was a resident of Spokane for 35 years.

She worked as a sales clerk in a jewelry store. She enjoyed dancing, rodeos, camping and fishing.

Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia Knudtson; a son, Ronald Norris; her mother, Zola Freier; a brother, Ronald Solberg; and six grandchildren.