Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 2, 1942 Adams County, Ritzville, WA ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Gardner sueboo18@hotmail.com ==================================================================== Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 2, 1942, issue Mrs. Brockling's Burial Thursday Homesteaded Near Ritzville In 1887 Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Zion Congregational church for Mrs. Wilhelmina C. Brockling, 77, Adams county pioneer who died at her home here Monday morning. Burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery beside her husband, who died Nov. 18, 1919. The Rev. Peter Ruder will officiate at the funeral. Wilhelmina C. Brockling, nee Von Behren, was born at West Fallen, Germany, July 13, 1864, and came to Peoria, Ill., with her parents when she was 15. On Feb. 28, 1884, at Peoria, she was married to John B. Brockling. In January, 1887, they came to Ritzville and took up a homestead near Tokio, moving to town in 1909. She was a charter member of the Zion Congregational church and also of the Ladies' aid. Mrs. Brockling is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Minnie Buscher of Parkwater; Mrs. Mary Vehrs, Ritzville; Mrs. Sophie Anderson, Lamont; Mrs. Tressa Anderson, Colfax; and L. Elsie Brockling, Ritzville. Ralph K. Gilson Pioneered Here Died June 5th In Los Angeles, Cal. Ralph K. Gilson, 53, one-time Ritzville resident, died on June 5 at his home in Los Angeles, Calif. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Gilson, Adams county pioneers. He received his education in the local schools and worked at the Chittenden grocery while a young man. Later he worked in Spokane and Portland and later went to San Francisco as sales manager of the Wesson Oil and Snowdrift company. For 18 months he was stationed at Ft. Bliss, Tex., on the Mexican border during the World war and after the armistice returned to San Francisco, where he was employed by the Ford Motor company. He was transferred to Columbus, Ohio, in 1927. After five years in the eastern city he returned to Los Angeles and was employed by the S & W company. He was sent to Butte, Mont., for two years and then to Seattle, where he introduced the S & W coffee throughout the state. He called on stores in Ritzville, renewing old friendships. On Aug. 11, 1928, he was married to Miss Grace White of Santa Anna, Calif. Six months ago his health began to fail and he returned to Los Angeles, entering the Veteran's hospital, where he was confined until his death. Besides his widow, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Edith Gilson of Los Angeles; one sister, Mrs. Florence Turner of Los Angeles; four brothers, Dr. Roy, Modesto, Calif.; Byron, Klamath Falls, Ore.; Darvin, Chicago, Ill.; and Ted, San Francisco. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 9, 1942, issue Hold Last Rites For George Kubik Funeral services were held on Monday from the Haight parlors for George Kubik, 89, Ritzville pioneer who died Saturday at the Allen home in Ritzville after a long illness. The Rev. Richard Decker officiated. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery beside his wife who died seven years ago. Mr. Kubik was born in Bystrice, Czechoslovakia, April 24, 1853. In 1880, he was married to Vincencia Dufeck and in 1884, the couple came to the United States, remaining in Minnesota and Nebraska until 1888 when they took up a homestead 4-1/2 miles northwest of Ritzville. He is survived by one son, Matt, Ritzville, and one daughter, Mrs. Joe Telecky, Ritzville; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. His grandsons were pallbearers. R. D. Williams Had Lake Resort 40 Years Funeral services for Robert D. Williams, pioneer proprietor of the Fishtrap lake resort who died July 4, were held Tuesday at the Congregational church in Sprague. Burial was in the Macabee cemetery. Mr. Williams came west from Michigan 40 years ago, started the resort and had been operating it ever since. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 16, 1942, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 23, 1942, issue E. Deking, Sr., Pioneer Farmer Hold Last Rites At Lutheran Church Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at Emanuel Lutheran church for Ernest Deking, Sr., 71, Ritzville pioneer who died Sunday afternoon in a Spokane hospital. Mr. Deking had been in good health until last Tuesday night when he suddenly became ill and was taken to a Spokane hospital. He underwent a major abdominal operation Wednesday morning and appeared to be recovering up to the time of his death Sunday afternoon. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiated at the funeral services, and burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Mr. Deking was born May 2, 1871, at Estorf, Hanover, Germany, and came to the United States in 1899. He homesteaded in Adams county and in 1911, moved to the farm south of Ritzville which he operated at the time of his death. He was married to Miss Minnie Sickman Nov. 30, 1910. Mr. Deking was a member of Emanuel Lutheran church. Besides his widow, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Danny Haight, Walla Walla, and Alice, Ritzville; and two sons, Ted and Ernest, Jr., both of Ritzville, one granddaughter, Jacqueline Haight and one brother, Henry, Ritzville. Wilhelmina Fry Was Lind Pioneer Mrs. Wilhelmina Fry, 85, Lind pioneer, died Sunday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Jansen, near Lind. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Precht funeral home in Lind. Mrs. Fry was born in West Prussia, Germany, Feb. 27, 1857, and was left an orphan when she was nine years old. At the age of 18 she went to Berlin and was married in 1882. Her husband died in 1889 and in 1893 she came to the United States with her two children. In 1898 the family came to Lind, where she lived until 1905, when she moved to Walla Walla. After living in Walla Walla 30 years she returned to Lind, where she has since lived. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Jansen, she is survived by one son, George C. Kelber, of Alameda, Calif., ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, July 30, 1942, issue Hold Last Rites For Gladys Luce Funeral services were held Wednesday from the Haight parlors for Mrs. Gladys Luce, former Ritzville resident who died Monday at a Spokane hospital. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery besides her parents. The Rev. Evert Top of the Spokane Presbyterian church officiated. Gladys Luce, nee Fowler, was born in Kentucky Aug. 14, 1900, and came to Ritzville with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Fowler, as a small girl. In 1920, she was married to Henry Luce. She is survived by Mr. Luce; two daughters, Jean and Geraldine, both of Spokane; a brother, Paul, Portland, Ore.; three sisters, Mrs. Earl Thompson, Pullman; Mrs. Floyd Smith, Lewiston, Ida., and Mrs. Clinton Bennett, Tacoma. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 6, 1942, issue Injuries Fatal To David Sauer Injuries sustanined when he fell off the roof of his home while painting last Friday proved fatal Tuesday to David Sauer, 76, resident of Ritzville since 1916. Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. from the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Sauer was rushed to a Spokane hospital after his accident, but never regained consciousness. He suffered a skull fracture when his head struck the concrete sidewalk alongside his house. David Sauer was born July 4, 1886, in Kolb, Russia. He came to the United States in 1901 and settled on a homestead near Lind. In 1916 he moved to Ritzville. Mr. Sauer was married in 1888 (Note: date can not be right) to Miss Rosina Maedche. Besides his widow, he is survived by six sons, John of Fresno, Calif.; Gotthilf of Walla Walla: N. L. Sauer of Mott, N. D.; Fred of Ritzville; Rudolph of Harrington; and David on the home place at Lind; and two daughters, Mrs. Fred Stueckle of Lacrosse and Martha, at home. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 13, 1942, issue J. W. Sitton, 'Tucna Pioneer, Succumbs J. W. Sitton, 78, pioneer of the Washtucna district, died Wednesday morning at the Bryant clinic in Colfax after a two months' illness, it was learned this morning. Six blood transfusions had been given him in an effort to save his life. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed. Sebastian Ott Died Wednesday Sebastian Ott, 86, Ritzville pioneer, died last night about 9:40 p.m. after a lingering illness. He and his brother, the late Andrew Ott, were founders of the Ritzville Flouring Mills. He was also instrumental in the building of the Ritzville hotel and still had a large interest in it. Mr. Ott also had farming interests. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at the Zion Congregational church with the Rev. P. Ruder officiating. Burial will be in the Ritzville cemetery beside his wife. Sebastian Ott was born Feb. 24, 1856, at Kleinniedesheim, Germany. He was married to Christina Hege on Nov. 10, 1883. He came to the United States in November, 1895, and his family followed in February, 1896. He is survived by three sons, Jacob of Irby, and John and Richard of Ritzville; three daughters, Mrs. Amanda Bier, Mrs. John Kembel, both of Ritzville, and Mrs. F. F. Wollenberg, Edwall; 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Charles Skillman Dies WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for Charles Q. Skillman, 68, were held on Thursday afternoon in Dayton, with burial there. Mr. Skillman passed away Monday of last week, in the Brining hospital, there, from a heart ailment. Charles Q. Skillman was born in St. Claire county, Missouri, Nov. 8, 1873. On March 6, 1896, he was married to Elzira Pruitt, at Roscoe, Mo. To this union were born three children, one of whom died in infancy. With his family, he came to Dayton in July 1900, where, with the exception of a few years spent in the Yakima valley, he had since resided. His wife passed away on June 18, 1913, and later he remarried, Bertha M. Cotton of Bernice, Okla., becoming his wife, October, 1918. In addition to his wife, he leaves to mourn his death, two daughters, Mrs. Frank Epperson and Mrs. Walter Jones of Washtucna; three sisters, Mrs. Archie Collard, Mrs. Tom McLain and Mrs. E. M. Peterson, all of Walla Walla; two brothers, Joe and Sanford Skillman, of Dayton; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as well as a host of friends. Mr. Skillman was well known, locally, as he had visited his daughter, here, many times. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 20, 1942, issue Krause Drowning Comes As Shock Ritzville residents, young and old alike, were shocked by the tragic drowning in Sprague lake Sunday evening of Robert Krause, popular 17-year-old Ritzville high school student and son of Ernest Krause, prominent farmer. Word of the tragedy spread quickly Monday morning but most persons found it hard to believe that such a thing could happen. Robert was swimming with several other boys and had remained in the lake for a few minutes after they left, when he was evidently seized with cramps. If he made a cry for help, no one heard it, since the other boys did not realize anything had happened to him until sometime afterwards. The group was swimming near the dock at Sprague lake resort, and the other boys assumed that Robert had gotten dressed and left the bath house. Not until they missed him and found his clothes still in his locker did they sense something was wrong. It is estimated the drowning occurred shortly after 5 p.m. The body was not recovered until nearly midnight. Although he was an excellent swimmer, having won awards in the former Ritzville water carnivals, he was drowned in water not more than a foot over his head. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Pallbearers were Tom Johnson, Glenn Rehn, Walter Rehn, Burton Williams, Solly Stromberger and Ralph Schafer. Robert Krause was born in Ritzville, June 28, 1925. He attended Ritzville schools and would have been a high school senior next fall. He was well-liked in school and took a prominent part in athletics. Besides his father and stepmother, he is survived by one brother, Norman, at home; two sisters, Mrs. Johnnie Langenheder of Belmont, Ida., and Dorothy Krause of Spokane. Hold Sitton Rites WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for J. W. Sitton, Washtucna pioneer, were held Friday afternoon at the Community church, the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. The Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Sitton had been a charter member for 50 years, held a brief service, and the Rebekah lodge, of which he was also a charter member for many years, paid tribute to its departed member. James William Sitton was born March 15, 1868, at Millwood, Mo., and died at the Bryant clinic in Colfax, Wash., Aug. 12, 1942, at the age of 76 years. He came west in 1888, later returning to Illinois, where in 1891, he was united in marriage to Laura E. Helme, who preceded him in death on Feb. 28, 1936. To this union were born six children, Fey and Ray of Washtucna, Mrs. May Breneman and Irl, of Spokane, Owen of Davenport, and Mrs. Harriet Leonard of Portland, all of whom survive. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, one brother, Mack of Kennewick, one sister, Mrs. Anna Little of Walla Walla. Quentin Ray (Cap) Sitton, the first Adams county boy to be killed in action in the Philippines was also a grandson. Mr. Sitton had resided on a homestead near Washtucna since 1899, when he and his family came here from Illinois. In 1938, he returned to Illinois, where he was married to Hannah Stout of Summer Hill, on May 3. In addition to his charter membership in the Masonic and Rebekah lodges, he was also a charter member of the Odd Fellows for over 40 years. He was also a prominent Granger. This upright and kindly man will be sadly missed by a host of relatives, neighbors and friends. Hold Last Rites For Mrs. Bauer Funeral services were held this afternoon at Philadelphia Congregational church for Mrs. Mary D. Bauer, 85, who died Tuesday morning. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiated. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mary D. Bauer, nee Bauer, was born Feb. 10, 1857, in Frank, Russia, and was married to Jacob Bauer in 1887. They came to the United States in 1899, settling at Roche Harbor, Wash., where they remained five years. They then moved to Ritzville for a time and then back to Olympia, where she remained 16 years. Mrs. Bauer returned to Ritzville in 1938 and has since lived here. She is survived by three sons, Jacob of Tacoma, George of Camas, Karl of Olympia; and four daughters, Mrs. Conrad Schafer and Mrs. Emil Selcho, both of Ritzville; Mrs. Anna Rehn of Rupert, Ida., and Mrs. Katherine Kanzler of Olympia; 39 grandchildren and 13 great-grand- children. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 27, 1942, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 3, 1942, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 10, 1942, issue None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 17, 1942, issue Thomas Winn Dies WASHTUCNA - Russell Winn left Sunday of last week for Salem, Ore., to attend the funeral of his grandfather, Thomas Winn, Sr., who had died the day previous, from a sudden heart attack. Mr. Winn had been a pioneer settler in the Sandhills district, homesteading there in the late 1880s, but the family moved to Oregon in 1903 and 1904, and resided there since. Thomas Winn, Sr., was born in Texana, Tex., on Oct. 2, 1863. Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children, Roy of Marion, Ore., John of Rickreall, Ore., Thos., Jr., of Vancouver, Wash., Mrs. Mary Wooldridge and Mrs. Wenona Calavan, both of Albany, Ore., and Miss Virginia of Salem. One brother, George Mack of Medford, Ore., 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, also survive. Hold Last Rites For H. Deking Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Emanuel Lutheran church for Henry Deking, 77, resident of Adams county since 1895 who died last Thursday in a Spokane hospital following an operation. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiated. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. Mr. Deking was believed to be recovering satisfactorily from a recent operation and was being helped into a wheel chair when he was seized by a heart attack. He was born May 22, 1865, in Esthorf, Germany, and came to the United States in 1893, settling at Colfax. Two years later he moved to Ritzville. On Nov. 25, 1897, he was married to Miss Lena Buscher. Mr. Deking had been a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and was for many years a member of the church council. He operated a farm near Ritzville most of his life. Besides his widow, he is survived by four sons, Henry, Jr., of Paha, Arthur of Davenport, Walter and Edward of Ritzville, two daughters, Elsie at home, and Mrs. Walter Thom of Ritzville. A brother, Ernest, died July 19 of this year. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, September 24, 1942, issue Donald A. Fox Dies Suddenly Funeral services for Donald A. Fox, 35, Lind farmer who died last Friday morning in a Spokane hospital, were held on Tuesday afternoon at the Lind grange hall with the Rev. W. E. Whitlock officiating. The Oddfellows lodge assisted in the services. Large attendance at the funeral and many floral tributes gave evidence of the large friendship he had. Mr. Fox recently underwent an operation in a Spokane hospital and appeared to be rallying, but died suddenly after complications set in. Donald A. Fox was born on Oct. 30, 1906, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Fox. He had lived near Lind all of his life and was engaged in farming with his father west of town. He was married Sept. 29, 1939, to Miss Sylvia Gilmer of Spokane. He was a member of the Oddfellows lodge. Besides his widow, he is survived by his father, J. L. Fox, and one sister, Mrs. Clarence Hagen. Hold Last Rites For Mrs. H. Koch Funeral services were held Friday in Portland, Ore., for Mrs. Henry Koch, Sr., 78, Ritzville pioneer who died Sept. 16 at her home in Portland, where she has lived for the past two years. The Rev. Hagelganz officiated. Burial was in a Portland cemetery. She had been ill several months. Mrs. Katherine Koch, nee Reiber, was born in Kolb, Russia, Aug. 10, 1864. She was married in 1884 to Henry Koch, Sr., and they came to the United States in 1892, settling at Ritzville. She was the mother of Mrs. Joe Schafer and Fred Koch, both of Ritzville. She is survived by five sons, Henry of Valleyford, Alex of Spokane, Harold of Sprague, Carl of Portland, and Fred of Ritzville; two daughters, Mrs. Joe Schafer, Ritzville, and Mrs. Flora Willis, Portland.