Obituaries
Geraldean Cashatt
Spokane
Memorial Mass for Geraldean P. “Gerri” Cashatt, 89, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cashatt, a lifelong Spokane resident, died Sunday. She was born in Milan, Wash.
She graduated from North Central High School and was president of her 1936 class at Sacred Heart Nursing School. While in nursing school, she was introduced to Leo Cashatt, and they married in 1938.
Mrs. Cashatt was one of the founders of the St. Augustine’s Antique Show and Sale and directed it for 20 years.
She was a member of Morning Star Auxiliary, Philomathea Gonzaga Mothers Club, St. Monica’s Guild, Sacred Heart Service League, Magnuson Club, Limerick Society, Big Deal Investment Club, North Central Reunion Lunch Bunch, Current Events Club, Knife and Fork Club, and the South Hill and Bowdish senior centers.
She enjoyed gardening, traveling and antiques.
Her husband died in 1977.
Survivors include two children, Camille and Richard; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gonzaga Prep.
Fred Holzer
Coeur d’Alene
Vigil service for Fred G. Holzer, 89, will be Friday at 7 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Funeral Mass is planned for Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene with burial to follow at St. Thomas Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Holzer, who was born in St. Ignatius, Mont., died Monday.
He lived on a ranch in Montana until the age of 14 and then moved with his family to a small farm in Hayden, Idaho.
Mr. Holzer graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1933 and Kelsey Baird Business College in 1935.
He married Rita Muller in 1940.
He joined the Coeur d’Alene Police Department in 1944 and served as a sergeant for 18 years, retiring in 1970 after 25 years of service.
After his retirement he began the security department at North Idaho Junior College and later transferred to the athletic department at NIC and served there for 25 years.
He had been named the NIC Employee of the Month and received the Sterling Silver Award in 1992.
Mr. Holzer had coached football and baseball at Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy in Coeur d’Alene from 1953 to 1961 and also served on the Coeur d’Alene Park and Recreation Board from 1978 until 1994.
He enjoyed fishing, being with his bird dogs and hunting, especially birds.
Survivors include his wife; three children, Dick Holzer of Seattle, Tom Holzer of Adams, Mass., and Jo Ellen Nelson of Federal Way, Wash.; a sister, Lillian Boughton of Coeur d’Alene; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic School, 3005 Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, or The Tubbs Hill Foundation, P.O. Box 3061, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-3061.
Reba (Cunningham) Allison
St. Maries, Idaho
Service for Reba M. (Cunningham) Allison, 91, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries.
Mrs. Allison, who was born in Harrison, Idaho, died Monday.
She spent her early years in the Harrison area and worked on the family farm and helped her father log with horse teams.
She married Charlie Jenicek in 1930.
Mrs. Allison later worked in the fruit harvests of Wenatchee and the box factory in Coeur d’Alene and was camp cook for an 18-man logging crew in the Mica Creek area.
In 1952 she and her husband purchased the Oasis Tavern in Harrison, which later became known as One Shot Charlie’s. They ran the business until their divorce in 1959.
She worked as a private housekeeper and cook in the Palouse area in the 1960s and was also a grocery clerk in Gardiner, Mont., and a cook at a cafe in Steptoe, Wash., and Rose’s Cafe in Harrison.
During the 1970s and 1980s she managed The Gateway Motel in Harrison and was a caregiver for numerous elderly folks, including her former husband, Charlie.
Mrs. Allison was a member of the Harrison Senior Citizens and The Wise Old Owls, made up of members age 80 and above.
She enjoyed being a homemaker, canning food, making jam, and baking.
Survivors include two children, Joy Hodge and Roger Jenicek; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83835.
Janice Nelson
Spokane
Memorial service for Janice Darlene Nelson, 74, will be Friday at 1 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Nelson, who was born in Minot, N.D., died Monday.
She grew up in Kalispell, graduated from Flathead High School and graduated from the University of Montana in 1952. She was a member and past president of the Alpha Phi sorority and Phi Gamma Mu honor society.
She married Richard Nelson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell in 1957. They settled in Spokane.
Mrs. Nelson served 30 years with the American Heart Association at the local level and on the Washington state board. For 25 years she was a member of the Sacred Heart Service League.
She was a longtime member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and a member of the Spokane Alpha Phi sorority alumnae chapter. She served on the board of the Inland Empire Girl Scouts Council, was a sustaining member of the Spokane Junior League and a former member of the Spokane Golf and Country Club and was one of the coordinators of the Volunteer Aide Program at Lewis and Clark High School.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Juli Knoebel of Yakima and Linda Watkins of Twin Falls, Idaho; two sons, Mark and Jon Nelson, both of Spokane; a brother, Bob Ludwig of Kalispell; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Lowell Mason
Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Lowell W. Mason, 91, will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Mason, who was born in Wray, Colo., died Tuesday.
He moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1925 and graduated from high school there in 1933.
In 1940 he married Wilda Houchin.
He was serving with the Idaho National Guard when he was called to federal service with the 148th Field Artillery in 1940 and served as a second lieutenant in Italy during World War II.
After his military service he attended Farragut College and Technical Institute near Bayview, Idaho.
He later became the chief deputy assessor of Kootenai County and retired in 1978 after 29 years.
Mr. Mason enjoyed playing cards, dancing, bowling and pool.
He was a past president of the Eagles Lodge and a former member of the Eagles Aerie Drill Team. He was a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife; five children, Shirley Binfield of Hayden, Idaho, Donna Bardesis and Dave Mason, both of Coeur d’Alene, Susan Peoples of Post Falls, and Kenneth Mason of Cornelius, Ore.; a sister, Janette Compton of Coeur d’Alene; a brother, Lewis Mason of Tacoma; 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idahoor the American Cancer Society.
George Hansen
Oldtown, Idaho
No local service will be held for George Alexander Hansen, 80, at his request. He will be inurned next to his wife in Silverdale, Wash., at a later date. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hansen died Jan. 6. Born in Poulsbo, Wash., he graduated from the Pleasant Ridge School there.
He joined the Navy in 1943 and spent the next three years as a Seabee, operating cranes in the Pacific islands.
He returned to Washington and married Arlene Rohrbach in Spokane in 1946. The marriage ended in divorce.
He married Dorothy Freshman in 1955.
They moved around until 1964, when they settled in Pend Oreille County. Mr. Hansen began working with the Washington state Department of Highways as a maintenance technician, where he worked maintaining state highways.
In 1975 he transferred to the Lofall Maintenance Shed in Western Washington, and the couple settled in Silverdale, where he became a lead technician in charge of maintaining local state highways under his jurisdiction. He retired in 1983.
He was preceded in death by his wife and later returned to Oldtown.
Survivors include two daughters, Randa Ahlborn of Bremerton and Ruth Taylor of Spokane; a son, Dan Hansen of Oldtown; three brothers, Henry of Longview, Wash., Richard of Poulsbo, Wash., and James of Illwaco, Wash.; and two grandchildren.
Robert Boyette
Spokane
Memorial service for Robert Anthony “White Buffalo” Boyette, 75, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Boyette, who was born in Bisbee, Ariz., died Sunday. He was a longtime resident of Spokane.
Shortly after completing his service in the 1st Marine Divistion, 5th Marines, during the Korean War, he owned an architectural drafting service. He was the founder of White Buffalo Trading Post in Tyler, Texas, and moved his business to California and Spokane.
Mr. Boyette taught school in Simi Valley, Calif., and was on the Board of Health, Education and Welfare of Indian children and children of Indian descent. He also lectured in museums, colleges, universities and high schools.
He served as head usher and on the church council and enjoyed working on Native American items.
Survivors include his wife, Carole; four children, Harold Boyette of Asheville, N.C., Judith Barnes of Odessa, Texas, Kathleen Boyette of Spokane and Brian Dreis of Cheney; a brother, Doyle Boyette of Lindale, Texas; three stepchildren, Margaret and Thea Davis, and Heidi Roos; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Amos Allen
Washtucna, Wash.
Memorial service for Amos Perry Allen, 85, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Washtucna Community Church. Inurnment will be at Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Washtucna. Danekas Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Allen, who was born in South Mound, Kan., died Jan. 2.
After graduating from Galesburg High School in 1937, he worked his way west, ending up in Thornton, Wash., and then Washtucna, where he worked for area farmers.
He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945.
He married Bessie Sutton in 1947 in Washtucna and was a farmer.
Mr. Allen was active in the Washtucna Community Church and Rimrock Grange. He was a member of the Washtucna Masonic Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He also worked with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Perry Allen of Burbank, Wash., and Byron Allen of Washtucna; a daughter, Jane Fitzgerald of Kodiak, Alaska; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pioneer Cemetery Improvement Fund, c/o Ginger McKenzie, Box 484, Washtucna, WA 99371.
Robert Dittmer
Spokane
Memorial service for Robert Dittmer, 81, will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Dittmer, who died Tuesday, was born and raised in Spokane.
Upon his high school graduation he volunteered for the next four years in the Navy.
After returning to Spokane he began a career in the grocery business. He learned the trade of meat cutting from his Uncle Tony, then went on to manage several Albertsons stores, followed by obtaining his own store in Pendleton, Ore.
After returning to Spokane with his family in the late 1970s, he went to work for United Retail Merchants as the executive director of the Thrift Quality Food Program. Upon retirement from URM, he enjoyed playing golf, fishing and traveling. He enjoyed day trips in the car to unknown destinations via the back roads of surrounding counties.
His wife of 57 years, Betty, died in 2003.
Survivors include a daughter, Tammy Turner; a sister, Patricia Nathaniel; and one grandson.
Clair ‘Bill’ Mackey
Spokane
Memorial service for Clair William “Bill” Mackey, 79, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home.
Mr. Mackey, who died Jan. 4, was born in Naples, Idaho.
He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1943 and joined the Army. He served with the 78th Division in Europe as a combat medic and was awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. After the war he married Leona Cameron.
Mr. Mackey graduated from the University of Idaho in 1951 and moved his family to Spokane. He held jobs with Spokane International Railroad, Pacific Northwest Alloys and Pittsburgh Testing Laboratories, where he retired as a laboratory foreman after 23 years.
He was an avid baseball and football fan.
Survivors include his wife; three children, James Mackey of Prosser, Wash., and Thomas Mackey and Dorothea Bushnell, both of Spokane; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington State Commission for the Blind or the American Cancer Society.
Daniel Gregory
Spokane
Funeral for Daniel W. Gregory, 52, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, with burial to follow at 1 p.m. at Metaline Cemetery.
Born in Spokane, Mr. Gregory died Sunday.
He graduated from Northport (Wash.) High School in 1971 and received an associate’s degree from Spokane Community College.
For more than 27 years he worked in maintenance with the Centennial Mill in Spokane and served as a past board member of the Baker’s Union. For the last five years he had been a machinist for Kinetic Balancing in Spokane.
Mr. Gregory was a member of the Gent’s Auto Club and enjoyed buying, fixing, selling and showing cars. His favorite automobile was his 1950 Chevy pickup. Over the years he won numerous medals and trophies. He also enjoyed music, especially the Beatles.
Survivors include his parents, Leonard and Marlene Gregory; and a sister, Denise Anderson, all of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Ronald McDonald House.
Woodruff Stanley
Spokane
Graveside service for Woodruff R. “Woody” Stanley, 89, will be today at 1 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Stanley, a resident of Spokane for 33 years, died Friday. He was born in Stehekin, Wash.
He served in the Army during World War II and was master sergeant in charge of a motor pool in the Philippines.
He was a master mechanic and operated businesses in Walla Walla. He was a heavy-duty mechanic for the federal government and Park Service in Death Valley, Calif., for seven years.
Mr. Stanley enjoyed hunting and was a gunsmith. He also enjoyed motorcycles and took his wife on a vacation trip to Mexico on his Goldwing when he was nearly 70 years old.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Ruth; a son W.R. Stanley Jr. of Kennewick; two daughters, Tamarra Zimmerman of Kennewick and Cookie Merritt of South Carolina; a stepson, Larry Pond of Airway Heights; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clifford McChesnie
Sandpoint
Service for Clifford Joe McChesnie, 69, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint with burial at Hope Cemetery in Hope, Idaho.
Mr. McChesnie, who was born in Hope, died Monday.
He grew up and attended school in Hope.
He worked in the woods in the Hope and Clark Fork areas.
In 1955 he married Alma Pearson.
Mr. McChesnie began working in construction in 1970 and worked for himself as well as Kermit Keibert, before forming McChesnie and Sons construction in the mid-1970s.
He built his own home and continued working in residential and commercial construction.
Mr. McChesnie enjoyed fishing, hunting, mechanical work and pitching horseshoes.
Survivors include his wife; four children, Terri Simundson of Elk, Dan and Andrew McChesnie, both of Hope, and Becky Jensen of Sandpoint; a sister, Betty Coulthard of Lewiston; seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Martha Christensen
Spokane
Viewing and visitation for Martha Marie Christensen, 98, will be Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mrs. Christensen, who died Saturday, was born in St. Peter, Minn.
When she was 3 months old, her family moved to a homestead in eastern Montana. She taught in the country schools for 10 years, beginning when she was 18 years old.
She married Aage Christensen, and during World War II they moved to Spokane, where she worked for the war effort at Galena Army Air Depot, packing parachutes.
Mrs. Christensen was a homemaker and an accomplished seamstress. She enjoyed arts and crafts.
Her husband died in 1976.
Survivors include a daughter, Norma Gruber of Walla Walla; and a sister, Alice Richeson.
Samual Lidell
Medical Lake
Memorial service for Samual Thomas Lidell, 85, will be today at 6 p.m. at Medical Lake Community Church. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Lidell, who was born in Oxnard, N.Y., died Saturday.
He served in the Air Force during World War II, and took part in the invasion of the Philippines with Gen. Douglas McArthur. He retired from Air Force as a technical sergeant after 24 years.
Mr. Lidell worked for Eastern State Hospital for 21 years until retiring.
He was a longtime member of Medical Lake Community Church and a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. He enjoyed working on cars and was a history buff. He also enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Helen; three sons, Dwight Lidell of San Diego, David Lidell of Vallejo, Calif., and Dennis Lidell of Cheney; two daughters, Rebecca and Deborah Lidell, both of Medical Lake; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Leonard Novak
Spokane
Visitation for Leonard F. Novak, 80, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Novak, who died Saturday, was born in Lankin, N.D.
He was a resident of the Spokane area for 60 years and was a baker for a commercial and retail baking business.
He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, Knights of Columbus and American Bowling Congress.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Mary; three sons, Geary, Mike and Tom Novak, all of Spokane; three daughters, Kathy Wieber of Italy, and MaryAnn Kendal and Doreen Brickner, both of Spokane; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Lila (Hilligoss) Rosholt
Sandpoint
Service for Lila (Hilligoss) Rosholt, 94, will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint, with burial to follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Rosholt, who was born in Sandpoint, died Jan. 5.
She grew up in Kootenai, Idaho. She graduated from Sandpoint High School and then attended business college in Spokane.
In 1933 she married Arthur Rosholt, and they lived in Libby, Mont., before returning to Sandpoint in 1937.
Mrs. Rosholt worked for Neads Variety Store for a few years and then was a homemaker.
She enjoyed gardening.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include four children, Darrell and Art Rosholt Jr., both of Sandpoint, Jan Rosholt of Seattle and Cathy Rosholt of Spokane; a brother, Adair Hilligoss of Vancouver, Wash.; 12 grandchildren and 18-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Churchill
Spokane
Private service will be held for Dorothy T. Churchill, 90. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Mrs. Churchill, who was born in Davenport, Wash., died Dec. 30.
She was a resident of the Spokane area for more than 60 years and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alton.
Survivors include a son, Garry Churchill of Spokane Valley; three sisters, Cecil Smith of Arlington, Wash., Margaret Cox of Yelm, Wash., and Marian Gittel of Haines City, Fla.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.