Obituary: Thoen, Roscoe J. “Buzz”
Age 91
“Buzz” Was born to Erling and Blanche (Dempsey) Thoen in Iowa City, Iowa on January 8, 1924.
He passed away peacefully on May 8, 2015 at 91.
Roscoe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the medical corp.
Following an honorable discharge he returned to the University of Iowa Dental School where he earned both a D.D.S.
in 1948 and an M.S.
in prosthetics in 1952.
He then moved to Lewiston, Idaho where he practiced dentistry until retiring in 1994.
He also served as a dental consultant to Blue Shield of Idaho for twenty-four years and was on staff at St. Joseph Hospital.
He met Marguerite Madden shortly after moving to Lewiston and married in 1956.
They made their home in Lewiston until moving to Spokane in 1999.
He enjoyed the company of many friends in Lewiston, Palm Desert, and Spokane.
Roscoe was a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America having served on Lewis-Clark Council and on the medical staff of the 1969 world jamboree at Farragut State Park.
Professional honors and memberships included OKU Honorary Dental Fraternity, Psi Omega Dental Fraternity, charter member of the American Association of Dental Consultants, Spokane District Dental Society, and the North Idaho District Dental Society.
Other memberships included Sigma Chi fraternity, Phi Chi social fraternity, Manito Country Club, and Odin Club, and Lewiston Country Club.
He spent countless hours in his workshop dismantling, assembling, and fixing all types of projects - out of curiosity or for a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance that “needed” a repaired golf club or his latest invention.
Special projects included building his own sailboat and horse barn.
Roscoe was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Noel A.
“Sam” Thoen.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, his sons James Thoen (Deb) and Thomas Thoen (Trish), and grandchildren, Blair Flahaven (Candice), Patrick Thoen (Rachel), Benjamin Thoen, Samuel Thoen, Stephen Thoen, and Madden Thoen.
Donations in Roscoe’s memory may be made to Hospice of Spokane or Meals on Wheels.
A Vigil will be held at 7pm on Thursday, May 14, St. Augustine Catholic Church, 428 W. 19th Ave. Roscoe’s funeral Mass will be celebrated the following day, Friday, May15, 11:00am, also at St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be expressed at hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.