Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 4, 1946 Adams County, Ritzville, WA ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ ==================================================================== This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Gardner sueboo18@hotmail.com ==================================================================== Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 4, 1946 Hold Last Rites For Mrs. Schott Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Zion Congregational church for Mrs. Emma Schott, 76, Adams county pioneer who died last Thursday. The Rev. Peter Ruder officiated and burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Emma Schott, nee Pfannekuchen, was born Jan. 28, 1870, at Madison, Wis., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Pfannekuchen. The family came to Adams county in 1889. In 1892, she was married to Thomas Boyd and one child was born to this union. Mr. Boyd died in 1900. Two years later she was married to Jacob Schott and four children, three of who are still living, were born to this union. Mr. Schott died in 1931. She is survived by four children, Mrs. Elizabeth Henne, Mrs. George (Anna) Wagner, William and Jacob; and one brother, Henry Pfannekuchen. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 11, 1946 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 18, 1946 Services Held For J. J. Thiel Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Turnbull-Merager funeral home in Spokane for J. J. Thiel of Spokane, 68, former Ritzville resident, who died Monday evening of a heart attack. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Mr. Thiel was born in Russia and came to the United States with his parents when he was only one year old. They settled in Nebraska for three years and then came to Adams county, landing here in 1883. He grew to manhood here and attended local schools. Mr. Thiel left here to attend Grinnell college in Iowa and went on to college in Berlin, Germany, later teaching at Washington state college. At one time he worked in the old Pioneer National bank of Ritzville. At the time of his death he was employed in the Spokane county assessor's office. Besides his widow, he is survived by three brothers, Michael of Ritzville, Henry and Fred of Astoria, Ore.; one sister, Mrs. Fred Koch, Buhl, Ida.; and six nephews and three nieces. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 25, 1946 Nephew of Chargois Buried Wednesday V. A. Chargois received a wire this morning that the body of his nephew, Jackie Hall, of Cloverdale, Ore., who was drowned last January, has been recovered. Funeral services were held Wednesday. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 2, 1946 Rites Friday In Memory Of Warsinke Funeral serices for R. G. Warsinke, 49, popular Ritzville businessman who died suddenly Tuesday at his home here, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at his home here, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial will be in the city cemetery with graveside services by the American Legion. In a directive issued by Mayor R. E. Edwards this morning, stores will be closed from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday in honor of Mr. Warsinke. Although he had been in poor health, Mr. Warsinke had been able to attend to his business daily and his death came as a great shock to his many friends in Ritzville and throughout the Inland Empire. He died of a heart attack about 1:45 p.m. "Gus," as he was called by his friends, had been Ritzville's fire chief for the past 10 years and was active in volunteer firemen's organizations throughout the Big Bend as well as the local department. He was active in many civic organizations, having served as past commander of the American Legion. He was also a member of the 40 and 8 of Spokane, the Masonic and I.O.O.F. lodges and the Ritzville Lions club. Mr. Warsinke was an ardent sportsman, having followed professional wrestling for a time in his younger days. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and golf. Reinhart Gust Warsinke was born Feb. 3, 1897, at Marshfield, Wis., his parents moving to Spokane when he was a child. He attended Spokane schools and the old South Central high school, now known as Lewis and Clark. He came to Ritzville about 12 years ago from Spokane and has been distributor for Shell Oil company since that time. Besides his widow, Maude, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Everett (Ruth) Hille and Mrs. Owen (Margaret) Wiffin, both of Ritzville; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Warsinke of Spokane; one sister, Mrs. Harold Scheave, Nevada City, Calif.; and three brothers, Norman of Billings, Mont., A. E. and Al. T. of Spokane. Pallbearers will be chosen from the various organizations of which he was a member. Kiehn Infant Passes Saturday Death came suddenly last Saturday afternoon to little Shirley Alice Kieh, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Kiehn of this city. She became critically ill on Wednesday, April 24, and was rushed to the Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane for treatment. Three specialist were called in on the case and on Friday she was thought to be out of danger and her parents returned home hopeful of her recovery. Saturday while being prepared for a blood transfusion, she passed away. Shirley Alice was born at the Ritzville general hospital last Sept. 17. Besides her parents, she leaves her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kiehn; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ott; great-grandfather, H. A. Krueger, and several aunts and uncles, all of Ritzville. Graveside services for the infant girl were held at the cemetery, with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Miller Death Mourned By Many Friends Services Monday Honor Pioneer Civic Leader Funeral services were held Monday at the Trinity Methodist church for W. O. Miller, 71, pioneer Ritzville attorney whose sudden death last Thursday evening shocked his many friends through the county and the Inland Empire. The Rev. Clifford Knight, pastor of Trinity Methodist and the Rev. H. S. Randall of Spokane, retired Methodist minister, officiated at the service. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery beside the body of his son, Richard, who preceded his father in death in 1923. The body of Richard Miller was brought to Ritzville from a mausoleum in Spokane. Mr. Miller had enjoyed good health for many years and did not become ill until less than a day before his death. He died at his home about 6 p.m., apparently from a heart attack. Mr. Miller was a leader in civic affairs, having served as president of the chamber of commerce, and president for several terms of the Snoqualmie-Cross State highway association. This organization carried on a vigorous campaign to build the Cross-State highway from Spokane to Seattle via Ritzville. A representative of Adams county in the state legislature in the 1929 and 1931 terms, Mr. Miller was active in politics and in furthering better government. He took the leadership in the recent revitalization of the Adams county Taxpayers association and was temporary chairman of the organizing group. Mr. Miller served as prosecuting attorney for Adams county for a period of eight years, and was president of the Adams county Bar association for a number of years. He also served on the school board for five years and was a member of that body when an extensive high school remodeling program was undertaken in the 1920s. An active member of the Methodist church, Mr. Miller served in nearly all capacities on the board of trustees and as secretary. He was united with the United Presbyterian church in his boyhood home of Sommerville, Ind., but was transferred to membership in the Methodist church in Ritzville in 1914. Weston Otis Miller was born Feb. 19, 1875, at Sommerville, Ind., where he spent his boyhood and was graduated from high school. When he was 17 years old he began teaching school in the winter time and attended law college during the summer. He was graduated from the Indianapolis college of law and obtained his degree in 1904, passing the bar examination prior to his graduation. On Sept. 19, 1905, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Walters of Fort Branch, Ind., and they moved that fall to Starkville, Miss., where he taught school one year. The young couple then moved to Birmingham, Ala., where he practiced law about nine months and then moved to Princeton, Ind., where he entered law practice in 1906. In 1909, Mr. MIller heard of an opportunity in Ritzville and decided to come west, arriving here in March, 1909. He was a partner of J. Oscar Adams for a time and later took George H. Freese into partnership for a time. Since 1938, he and his son, W. Walters Miller, have been law partners. Mr. Miller is survived by his widow, Elizabeth; one son, W. Walters Miller, Ritzville; one daughter, Miss Myra Miller, Ritzville; and two sisters, Mrs. Edith Mitchell, Gulfport, Miss., and Mrs. Stephen Penix, Western Grove, Ark. Pallbearers at the funeral were Clarence Bauer, John Rowe, Edward G. Cross, Richard Kembel, Rudolph Richter and George Kagele. Honorary pallbearers were W. H. Martin, George N. McCollom, L. R. McKee, V. A. Chargois, Paul Hitchcock, George Freese, R. B. Ott, L. D. Emerson, Henry Thom and E. H. Wyrick. On the Monday preceding his death, Mr. Miller had filed his candidacy for judge of the superior court in this district, embracing Adams, Benton and Franklin counties and was conceded a good chance of election. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 9, 1946 Brother-In-Law Dies Suddenly Bill Wilmot received word Wednesday morning of the sudden death of his brother-in-law, Arthur Dunkle, 55, in a Spokane hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkle lived in Troy, Mont., but little information was available as to the cause of his sudden death. Mr. Wilmot left Wednesday for Spokane to be with his sister, Anne. Rites Held Thursday For Heart Victim Graveside services were held Thurday in the local cemetery for Dean Crawford Payne, 55, Milwaukee section laborer who died of a heart attack Monday afternoon at Othello. He is reported to have been ill for some time. He is survived by four half-sisters, Mrs. Maybelle Leonard of North Bend, Wn., Mrs. Alice Lamkin of Centralia, Wn., Mrs. Florence Iverson of Olympia, Wn., and Mrs. Ellen Fell of Selleck, Wn.; also surviving is a half-brother, Milo Payne of Seattle. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 16, 1946 Grain Operator Passes Away In Spokane Hospital Many of this community will be sorry to learn of the death Monday night of M. J. O'Neill of Spokane, pioneer Inland Empire grain operator and president of the O'Neill Grain company, whose holdings include business property in Ritzville. Mr. O'Neill, 79, passed away at Sacred Heart hospital where he had been a patient for two weeks. For the past 48 years he had made his home in Spokane. He was born in Matterville, Minn., Aug. 1, 1866, and spent his early years there. He went to Montana in 1880 and was there for four years when he moved to Burke, Ida., and conducted a general store for about a year. He returned to Minnesota in 1885 and was associated with a brother at Graceville in a general store for a number of years. In 1889 he went to Mapleton, N.D., where he began his carer in the grain business. There he was married to Miss Mary Jane Higgins, Sept. 16, 1889. They went to Lewiston, Idaho, in July, 1890, and O'Neill was manager of the Northern Pacific Elevator in Walla Walla. After two years he went to Tacoma Warehouse and Elevator company. He was transferred to the company's Spokane office in 1898. He had been a Spokane resident since then. In 1906 he organized his own grain business under the name of the O'Neill Grain company. He was president, H. C. Gemberling was secretary- treasurer. They were the only stockholders. During the years O'Neill owned several wheat rances and a fruit ranch in the Horse Heaven country. His holdings now are wheat ranches near Mabton and Endicott. He has operated a number of grain elevators throughout the Inland Empire. He was one of the best known grain operators in the Pacific Northwest. He was a member of the Spokane City and University club, the Calispel Duck club and of St. Augustine's parish. Survivors are two grandsons, Theodore Huetter, Jr. and Mortimer Huetter, both at the home; a son-in-law, Theordore Huetter, Seattle, and a nephew, Dr. F. W. O'Neill of Spokane. Rosary was said at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the home. Requiem mass will be sung at 9 a.m. Friday at St. Augustine's Catholic church with the Rev. S.P. Buckley as celebrant. Burial will be in the family plot at Fairmount. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 23, 1946 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 30, 1946 Saturday Rites Honor Victim Of Plane Accident Funeral services for Oscar Keehner, 32, who was fatally injured in an airplane crash last Wednesday, were held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery. Oscar Richard William Keehner was born Sept. 7, 1914, at Ritzville, where he spent his entire life. He attended the Ritzville schools and graduted from Ritzville high school with the class of 1933. Three years later he began farming the Keehner ranch, which he farmed up until the time of his death. In 1937 he was married to Iris Haight and to this union were born two children, Terri Ray (sic) and Raymond Oscar. Mr. Keehner is survived by his widow, Jeannie Countryman Keehner, whom he married in January, 1945; one daughter, Terri Rae; one son, Raymond Oscar; two sisters, Mrs. William Ross, Kahlotus, and Mrs. Ella Tiller, Ritzville; his stepfather, Edward Heintz, Grangeville, Ida., and one aunt, Mrs. Carl Hoffman, Sprague. He was a member of the Lutheran church, Marcellus grange and Ritzville High School Alumni association. Long Illness Claims Life Of Mrs. P. Metzner Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Trinity Methodist church for Mrs. Phillip Metzner, 75, who died Sunday afternoon here following a lingering illness. Rev. Clifford Knight officiated and burial was in the Ritzville cemetery. Augusta Caroline Papentheim was born in Geneseo, Ill., May, 17, 1871. On Feb. 18, 1890, she was married to Phillip Metzner at Geneseo. Eight children were born to this union. Two children preceded her in death, Magdalena Parr at the age of 34 years, and Earl Leslie Metzner at the age of 3. Mr. Metzner preceded her in death seven years ago. Surviving Mrs. Metzner are four daughters, Mrs. Anna Ethridge of Pullman, Mrs. Marie Buscher of Hunters, Mrs. Grace Faler of Spokane, and Mrs. Caroline Nissen of Ione; two sons, Fred W. Metzner of Toppenish, and Herbert E. Metzner of San Francisco, Calif.; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Death Calls Former Resident Many of the community will be sorry to hear of the death last week of Frank Faucher, 44, whose home has been at 221 W. 47th in Seattle. He was a former resident of Ritzville, attending both Central school and the Ritzville high school. His father is A. (Pete) Faucher, former county treasurer and also Ritzville postmaster for a number of years. Faucher is survived by his widow, Lillian F. Faucher; five sisters, Catherine Faucher, Walla Walla; Rachel Faucher and Mrs. J. H. Collison, Seattle; Mrs. E. P. Harwood, Platinum, Alaksa, and Mrs. Henry Sheldon, Bay City, Mich. He also leaves two brothers, J. A. Faucher of New York City and Bernard Faucher of Boise, Ida. He formerly resided at Flint, Mich., and the body was shipped Friday to Calument, Mich., for interment. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 6, 1946 Death Calls Haight At Family Home Forrest Haight Passes Suddenly Early Thursday Death claimed Forrest C. Haight, 36, sometime early Thursday morning at the family home, with his sudden taking due to heart disease. He had appeared to be in his usual state of health but he was found lying on the living room floor this morning by his wife, who summoned Dr. Sweet; but was beyond medical aid. Forrest C. Haight was born April 1, 1910, at Kent, Wash., and moved with his parents to Ritzville while a young boy. He attended local schools, graduating from the local high school in 1931. Forrest then attended a mortician school, graduating in 1932 and passing the state board examination the same year. The past few years he has been associated with his brother, Omar, in conducting the Haight funeral home here. He and his wife, Ann, whom he married Nov. 1, 1939, made their home in apartments above the funeral home. Mr. Haight was a life member of the Elks and a member of the Modern Woodman lodge. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and one brother, Omar Haight, also of Ritzville. Funeral services will be held at the Hazen & Jaeger chapel in Spokane Sunday, June 9, at 2 p.m., followed by cremation. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 13, 1946 Sherman Eastman Dies In Montana Word was received by E. L. Starring today of the death of his brother-in-law, Sherman Eastman, of Livingston, Mont. Eastman, a former barber in Ritzville, passed away a week ago. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 20, 1946 Funeral Rites Honor Memory Pioneer Matron Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Letta Holliday, 73, at the Community church, Washtucna, with the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. Mrs. Holliday passed away Saturday evening, June 15, at the Ritzville general hospital. Following final rites, the body was shipped to Vancouver, Wn., for burial in the Parkhill cemetery next to her husband, A. J. Holliday, who preceded her in death. Letta Griffin Holliday was born in Helena, Mont., on Oct. 17, 1872, the daughter of Harrison and Jane Griffin. The following year the family moved west to the Walla Walla country where Mrs. Holliday spent her girlhood. In addition to attending the public schools, she also spent two years as a student in the former Waitsburg academy. On Oct. 22, 1889, she was married to Andrew Jackson HOlliday, who preceded her in death by one year and seven months. The family moved to Lacomb, Alberta, Canada, in 1892, returning to this state in 1904 and settling in what was latter known as Holliday Coulee, four miles east of Washtucna, where they lived for 29 years. The next eight years were spent on their farm near Benge. For the past five years Mrs. Holliday lived in Washtucna, where, as in all other places of residentces, she was highly respected and beloved by a wide circle of friends. She was a member of the Methodist church. Six of her seven children survive their mother. They are Mrs. Mattie Tweedy of Oswego, Ore.; Mrs. Florence Birkhart of Moscow, Idaho; Uhel E. Holliday of Washtucna; Roy A. Holliday of Benge; Kenneth J. Holliday of Portland; and Dale K. Holliday of Benge. Agnes Holliday passed away in 1917. Three sisters, Mrs. Martha Rogers and Mrs. Pearl Raper of Spokane, and Mrs. Sylvia Cameron of Riverside, Calif., also survive. There are 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Dirks Takes Own Life At Family Homestead Mon. David M. Dirks, 49, a resident of Ritzville for many years, was found dead early Monday evening in a vacant house on the farm his parent homesteaded about 33 miles west of here. Deputy sheriff Frank Lucas, who investigated, reported that the deceased had apparently taken his own life by hanging. Since the tragedy occurred just over the line in Grant county, the deputy sheriff notified the prosecutor of that county. No inquest will be necessary it was reported. David M. Dirks worked as a painter and interior decorator here for numerous years. Survivors include his wife and four children, Mrs. Violetta Hille of Ritzville, Harley M. Dirks of the U.S. Navy, and Davida, 16, and Tyrone, 6, who reside at home. Several brothers and sisters also survive. The body was discovered at about 7 p.m. Monday evening by Mrs. Dirks and her eldest daughter who drove to the farm in search of Mr. Dirks after they became concerned over his extended absence. Deputy sheriff Frank Lucas said the tragedy apparently took place early Monday morning, possibly between 9 and 10 a.m. The body was returned to Ritzville by the Haight Funeral Home. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for Sunday but await definite word from a navyman son, Harley Dirks. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 27, 1946 Final Tribute To David Dirks At Sunday Rites Funeral services for David Milton Dirks, 49, a resident of Ritzville for the past 20 years were conducted Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church here with the Rev. Clifford Knight officiating. Mr. Dirks passed away June 17 at the family homestead west of Ritzville. He was a son of Peter and Elizabeth Claassen Dirks and was born in South Russia on July 11, 1897. In 1906 he accompanied his parents to the United States, the family settling about halfway between Ruff and Warden, Wn. He came to Ritzville about 20 years ago and since has been engaged in painting and decorating. He was a member of the Salem Mennonite church of Ruff, having been received into the church in 1915. On Aug. 9, 1924, he was united in marriage to Lydia Kagele, the union being blessed with four children. He is survived by his wife and two daughters and two sons. They are Mrs. Alvin C. Hille of Ritzville; Harley Dirks of the U.S. Navy and now home on leave; Davida and Tyrone, who live at home. Funeral Rites Sunday For Local Pioneer Funeral rites were conducted Sunday morning at the Haight Funeral Home here for Johann Heinrich Koch, 87, a pioneer resident of this community who passed away June 20 following an accident. Mr. Koch fell and sustained a broken elbow on June 14 and after emergency treatment at the Ritzville general hospital he was taken to a Spokane hospital. Johann Heinrich Koch was born Feb. 20, 1859, in Kolb, North Russia. He was married to Kathanna Elisabeth Reiber and in 1893 came to America with his family to homestead 13 miles west of Ritzville. About 40 years ago he retired from active farming and moved to Ritzville. Five sons and two daughters survive. They are Henry of Spokane, Alex of Spokane, Fred Koch of Ritzville, Harold of Sprague, Carl of Portland, Elizabeth Schafer of Ritzville and Flora Willis of Portland. There also are 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Burial was in the Rose City cemetery in Portland. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann of the Philadelphia Congregational church officiated at the local services.