Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, Oct 3, 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, October 3, 1946 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 10, 1946 Former Adams County Clerk Dies At Salem Word has been received of the death of William Ernest Smith, 68, of Salem, Ore., after an illness of several months. Mr. Smith was born in Iowa and was a printer until he came with his sister to Ritzville early in the 1900s, after which he was clerk for Adams county for 10 years. His sister, Grace Elizabeth, was stenographer for the law firm of Zent and Lovell. Later they joined other members of their family in Salem, Ore., where he has since lived. Survivorss are his widow, two brothers, Ray L. of Salem, and Paul R. of Santa Monica, Calif., and a sister, Mrs. Elva Smith Walton of Mont Clair, New Jersey. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 17, 1946 Funeral Rites Honor Mrs. Dirks Family Mourns Loss Of Mother; Funeral Wednesday Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Trinity Methodist church for Mrs. Lydia C. Dirks, 40, with Rev. Clifford Knight officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. Maynard Galbreath and Mrs. Henry Heinemann, accompanied by Mrs. J. C. Kittel at the piano. Five brothers rendered a final service to their sister when they acted as pall bearers, assisted by a nephew, James Kagele. The brothers were Jacob Kagele, jr., Fred, William, John and George Kagele. Interment was in the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Mrs. Dirks passed away Saturday night at the home of her sister, Mrs. James Marisch, in Spokane, from an act caused by despondency over the death of her husband, David Dirks, who died June 17 at the family homestead west of Ritzville. She was a member of the Daughters of Zion and was secretary of the group at the time of her death; and also a member of the Mennonite church near Schragg. Lydia C. Kagele was born on a farm in Adams county May 24, 1906, and received her education in local schools. She was married Aug. 9, 1924, to David M. Dirks in Lind and the union was blessed with four children, all of whom survive. They are Mrs. Alvin C. Hille, Harley Dirks, recently with the U. S. Navy, Tyrone and Davida Dirks, all of Ritzville. She is also survived by her father, Jacob Kagele, ssr., a sister, Mrs. James Marisch of Spokane, and five brothers, Jacob, jr., Fred, William, John and George Kagele, all of the vicinity. Her mother passed away in 1940. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 24, 1946 Mrs. Schrap Rites Held Wednesday Funeral services for Mrs. Pauline Schrap, 74, who died in Spokane Sunday after a lingering illness were held from the Hazen-Jaeger Funeral home Wednesday with Rev. Mason officiating. Graveside services followed at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery with the Rev Clifford Knight in charge. Pauline Zieske was born July 7, 1872, in Nicollet county, Minn. She was married in 1893 to W. C. Schrap and to them were born three grils. They came west in 1922 and settled near Spokane. Two years ago they moved to this city to be near their daughter, Mrs. R. G. Marti. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. R. G. Marti of Walla Walla, Mrs. L. H. Burroughs of Washington, Ill., and Mrs. M.C. Korte of Greenacres, Wash. There are also nine grandchildren and two great-grandchilren. Five brothers, Adolph Zieske of Lamberton, Minn., George of California, Rev. Harry Zieske of Bellingham, Minn., Victor of Duluth, Minn., and two sisters, Mrs. John Souther of Storm Lake, Ia., and Miss Anna Zieske of Spokane also survive. Her husband died Aug. 29, 1945. Services Honor Memory Of Flier Killed In Action Memorial services were held at St. Mark's Episcopal church at three o'clock Oct. 13 in honor of Donald Charles Schwerin. He was a navigator on a B-24 plane when he was reported missing in action the 2nd of April, 1945, while on a flight over Negros Island, Philippines. Don's plane with its crew of 11 men was on an observation mission regarding enemy and American troop movement and disappeared just 45 minutes after it had been contacted by a navy flighter plane. For some time it seemed the crew might have been able to land in an isolated area, since a B-24 with a disabled motor had been seen over that area by ground forces. However, after a month of searching and investigation, the War Department found that the plane belonged to another crew who did not reach their home base safely. Before his death, Don was awarded the Air Medal in "Recognition of meritorious achievement while participating in flights in the southwest Pacific area." Don was born at Ritzville Nov. 14, 1917, and graduated from the Ritzville schools, later attending Washington State college where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He enlisted in the army air forces in 1942 but was not called until February, 1943. He trained as a bombadier-navigator and received his commission of Second Lieutentant at Hondo Field, Texas. Besides his parents, Lieut. Schwerin leaves a sister, Virginia, at the family home, and a brother, Robert Schwerin, of Walla Walla. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, October 31, 1946 Funeral Rites Honor Memory Of Mrs. Schoessler Mother Of Four Passes Monday At Local Hospital Funeral services for Mrs. Henry Schoessler, 59, who passed away Monday at the Ritzville General Hospital after a lingering illness, were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Zion Congregational Church with Rev. Alex Rehn officiating. Interment was in the Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Katherine Elizabeth Yost was born Nov. 20, 1887, at Harvard, Neb. She was married Feb. 9, 1904, to Henry Schoessler and to them were born four sons all of whom survive. Mrs. Schoessler is survived by her widower, four sons, Harold, Walter, Raymond and Marvin, all of this community; her stepmother, Mrs. P.H. Yost of Hastings, Neb.; six sisters, Mrs. C. E. Galbreath of this city, Mrs. Henry Oaks of Omaha, Neb., Mrs. Ben Barth of Lincoln, Neb., Mrs. Earl Hickman of Bushnell, Neb., Miss Elma Yost of Hastings, Neb., and Mrs. Herman Frericks of Omaha, Neb.; and three brothers, Ernest Yost, Chadron, Neb., Leslie of Seattle and Elmer of Hastings, Neb., and five grandchildren. Pallbearers were her nephews, Lynn Rasmussen and Leslie Martin of Portland, Ralph Yost, Seattle, Jack Kine of Spokane, Don Kiehn and Maynard Galbreath of this city. Mrs. Schoessler was a member of the Zion Congregational Church for more than forty years and a member of the Daughters of Zion club. Maxwell rites Held Tuesday Frank Maxwell who died a few days ago at the Ritzville General Hospital was a native of Bangor, Maine, and was born in 1858. He came to Adams county in 1922, and was employed on a farm near Lind. When he came here he is said to have ridden across the United States on a bicycle. Little else is known about him. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial Cemetery Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Clifford Knight conducted graveside services. Accident Fatal To Ex-Resident Of Adams County Edwin S. Presnell Dies Oct. 22 From Fall Off Hay-Load A fall from a load of hay Saturday, Oct. 19, proved fatal to Edwin S. Presnell, who passed away Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Spokane at the age of 82 years, three months and six days. Many early settlers will recall that Mr. Presnell homesteaded about a mile south of the E. C. Phillips ranch between Cunningham and Lind. The family lived on the homestead from February, 1900, until March, 1912, when the family moved to Rockford, Wash., and have lived in that community since. Edwin S. Presnell was born July 16, 1864, at Harrisonville, Ind. His family moved to Christin county, Missouri, when he was a small boy and there he grew to manhood. On Dec. 22, 1889, he married Sarah Elizabeth Adams and the couple had two sons and five daughters. The couple celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary six years ago. He is survived by his widow, Sarah; Edna Rew, Ruth Poirier, Worley, Idaho; Lillie Tuttle, Bessie Franz, Rockford, Wash.; Emmett and Ethel Presnell, Cheney, Wash. He also leaves nine grandsons, six granddaughters, eight great-granddaughters and one brother, N. L. Presnell of Orting, Wash., and several nieces and nephews. Former Resident Of Cow Creek Is Called By Maker Word has been received of the death of a former Resident, Mrs. Emma Moore, whose death occurred Oct. 5 in Seattle. Funeral services were held Oct. 8 at Forners' Chapel with Rev. James P. Wilbourn officiating. Interment was in the cemetery at Nampa, Idaho. Emma Armstrong was born April 17, 1866, came to Ritzville in 1889 and was married to W. C. Moore. The family lived on Cow Creek for 20 years. She is survived by a brother, John Armstrong of Sprague; a daughter, Mrs. Amy West of Seattle, a son, Floyd Moore of Nampa, Idaho. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 7, 1946 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 14, 1946 Former Resident Passes Nov. 10th Samuel W. Knepper, long-time resident of Othello passed away Sunday, Nov. 10th, at 12:10 a.m. in the Ellensburg General Hospital. He had been in poor health for some time and became seriously ill about a week before his death. Mr. Knepper was born at Bosworth, Missouri, Nov. 29, 1873. He came west with his parents at the age of 17. He worded as a carpenter and contractor in Washington, California and Arizona and in later years went into business at Othello, where he and his wife opened a novelty shop in 1926. They sold this business and retired in 1945. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, Telie R. Knepper, a daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Crow of Kirland, Wash., two grandsons, Robert and William Crow of Kirkland, his 93-year-old mother, Mrs. Christena Thurman of Clarkston, Wash., a sister, Mrs. Luella Sondemup of Glendale, Calif., and two brothers, John E. of Avenal, Calif., and Jesse W. of Lewiston, Idaho. Funeral services were held at the Othello Christian Church on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. The Rev. I. M. Nelson was in charge and interment was at the Lind cemetery. Graveside Services Held For Infant Graveside services for Sherry Lynn, infant daughter of Radioman and Mrs. R. N. Humble of Odessa, were held Thursday at the Ritzville cemetery by Rev. H. Nuetzmann. The baby was born dead and the father who is serving with the United States Navy flew from Washington, D.C. Pioneer Dies After Accident Funeral services were held at Kelso, Wash., Nov. 2, for Charles Chambers, a former resident of Othello who homesteaded on Crab Creek some time near the year 1910. Mr. Chambers died Oct. 20 at Longview, Wash., after being struck by a car in West Kelso on Oct. 15, suffering a fractured hip and other injuries. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery at Kelso. Charles Chambers was born in Michigan in 1864 and was 82 years of age at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jennie Chambers and the following step-children: Leon Tiffany, Auburn, Wash., Fred L. Tiffany, Seattle; Steward S. Tiffany, Klamath Falls, Ore.; Gordon W. Tiffany, San Francisco; Mrs. A. B. Robertson, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. Walter Herbert, Spokane and Mrs. Don F. Lydic, Kelso. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 21, 1946 Former Resident Passes In California Word was received here of the death of Mrs. Wm. McConnell of San Francisco, Calif. Mrs. McConnell died in a hospital after a lingering illness on Nov. 12. She was the former Emma Schrenk, and a niece of Mrs. Magdalena Rott. She attended school here and was a graduate of the Ritzville high school. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, November 28, 1946 Funeral Monday Honors Memory Of Rev. Reister Funeral services for Rev. J. F. Reister were held in Walla Walla with the Rev. H. Nuetzmann of this city speaking in German and the Rev. Hoersch of Warden speaking in English. Burial was in Walla Walla. Rev. Reiser is well-known in this area have spent time as a Field Secretary for the Congregational Theological school. Many of his friends from Lind, Odessa, Ritzville and Warden attended the funeral. He was a former minister at Odessa. Walter Motley Funeral Services Held At Pullman Funeral services for Walter Motley were held Thursday, Nov. 21, at Pullman at the Kimball Funeral Home with Rev. John Haupt officiating. Mr. Motley died in a hospital at Cottonwood, Idaho, after a few days' illness. He was born March 14, 1904, at Washtucna and has lived in the Pullman area for 15 years. He had been employed at Craigmont, Idaho, for a month before his illness. Survivors include his wife, Hazel, and three sons, Albert, Billy and Jerry, all of Pullman. His mother, Mrs. Mina Motley, sisters, Mrs. Bert Rinker, Mrs. Chester Phillips, Mrs. Bob Haggerty and Mrs. Godfrey Mielke, all of Lind, and one brother, Arthur Motley, of Pullman. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 5, 1946 Infant Dies Graveside services were held Saturday afternoon for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hart, who was born on Thursday and lived 4-1/2 hours. Other survivors are her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Rinker. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 12, 1946 Mrs. Beckley's Father Passes Away Nov. 19th James H. Fudge, 81, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Spokane and funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Friday, Nov. 22, at the Bailey Chapel in Waitsburg. Officating at the rites was Rev. A. M. Winson. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery with graveside services in charge of the Knight of Pythias Lodge. For the past several years Mr. Fudge had made his home with his daughter, Mrs. H. F. Beckley, in the Benge area. He was born at Huntsville, Wash., Columbia county, on April 5, 1865, on the place homesteaded by his father in 1858. He lived on the old family homestead until the death of his wife in 1934. He had served as treasurer and also as commissioner of Columbia County. He was a member of Delta Lodge No. 701, Knights of Pythias and also Modern Woodmen of the World Camp No. 93. Survivors are three children, Tracy Fudge of Walla Walla, Mrs. Edith Hales of Pasco, and Mrs. H. F. (Ethel) Beckley, now of Spokane. There are also five grandchildren and two great-grandchilren to mourn his loss. Rites Tuesday For Moses Lake Lady Funeral services for Mrs. Thomas Slaughter of Moses Lake were held from the Haight Mortuary Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 2 o'clock with Rev. Clifford Knight officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Mrs. Rebecca Slaughter was born Aug. 27, 1856, in Marion county, Kentucky. She was married to Thomas Slaughter in 1877. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. John Norman of Weed, Calif., Mrs. R. E. Banks of Baker, Ore., and Mrs. L. B. French of Moses Lake, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Pioneer Lawyer Passes At Pasco Friends here were sorry to hear of the death of Edward A. Davis, 73, at his home in Pasco early Sunday morning after a heart attack. Mr. Davis was an attorney in Ritzville for several years leaving here in 1913. He had been in poor health the past few weeks and had gone to his office only twice in the past two weeks. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from Drake university law school and practiced law at Des Moines until 1906, when he came to Ritzville. While here he was the partner of G. E. Lovell, now of Spokane. He has practiced law in Pasco since leaving here in 1913. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge for 50 years, and was grand Chancellor for the state of Washington in 1926. He is survived by his widow, Florence, a daughter, Dorothy Hull of Richland, two grandsons, Lloyd E. Hull, Seattle, and Ward Davis Hull, Richland; one great-grandson; two sisters and one brother. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Pasco. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 19, 1946 Funeral Rites Held For Father Of Local Woman Funeral services for Arthur Guidroz, 81, who died recently at the home of his daughter in New Orleans, La., were held at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The remains were accompanied to the Cathedral by Rev. Michael Benedict, assistant pastor and at the Cathedral, Right Reverend Monsignor A. G. Isenberg, pastor, assisted by Rev. Roy Edwards, assistant pastor, conducted the services. The cortege moved to Jeanerette where interment took place in the Catholic cemetery. Delhommis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Guidroz was a native of Lafourche parish but had resided in this city for the past 25 years with a daughter, Mrs. James Carson. Survivors include two sons, Felix of Jeanerette and Camille of Texas; five daughters, Mrs. Felicia Garic of New Orleans, Mrs. Camilla Breaux of California, Mrs. A. D. Judd of Ritzville, Mrs. Murvel Schrock of Texas and Mrs. James Carson of Lafayette. Twenty-one grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren also survive. Mrs. Gray's Mother Passes Away Dec. 10 In Seattle Hospital Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine Ide, 88, were held Thursday in Seattle at the Bonney-Watson Funeral Parlors. Chaplain Loren Lindquist, U.S.N. of Seattle read the Episcopal burial service. The body was cremated and the ashes taken to Colville, where on Saturday, after a memorial service, they were consigned to Highland Cemetery. Mrs. Ide passed away Tuesday evening in the Maynard hospital in Seattle. Her family was at her bedside when the end came. A native of Portland, Mrs. Ide was associated in her early live with pioneer Cavalry posts at Colville, Vancouver, Wash., and Walla Walla. She also had lived in Spokane, Tacoma and Seattle and was well-known in Washtucna as she had made extended visits here at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John S. Gray. Her father, the late Jacob Stitzel, was appointed U.S. commissioner at Fort Colville in the old Washington Territory in 1874. After her marriage to her first husband, Lt. George B. Backus, she resided at Fort Vancouver and Fort Walla Walla. In 1910, when her father was ill, she was appointed U.S. commissioner and U.S. marshal for eastern Washington, resigning 15 years later. In addition to her daughter, Mrs. John S. Gray, she is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. J. A. Russell, Berkeley, Calif., Mrs. John J. Ingle, Colville, and Mrs. David J. Fraser, Oswego, Ore.; two sons, George F. Backus, Oakland, and Fred S. Ide, Walla Walla; a brother, James H. Stitzel, Tacoma, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, December 26, 1946 Pioneer Dies In California Many friends of Hatton, Lind and Ritzville communities will be sorry to learn of the death of Samuel L. Thomas, 88, who passed away Nov. 15 at Atascadero, Calif., from injuries received in an automobile accident. The news was recently received by Mrs. D. A. Daughtery, Millwood, Wash., in a letter from Mrs. Norman Thomas, and endorsing an obituary notice from a Michigan newspaper. Samuel L. Thomas was a native of Cascade township, Michigan, but went to California when he was 22 years old. He then moved to Adams county, Wash., (which was Washington Territory at that time) where he took up a homestead on government land and lived in Washington for 30 years. He later returned to California and has made his home there the past 20 years. Mr. Thomas was a member of the Elks lodge, Spokane. He is survived by two brothers, William of Cascade, Michigan, and Norman of Caledonia, Michigan, and by several nieces and nephews. Services were held at the Cross Funeral Home, Cascade, Nov. 23, with the Rev. Chin officiating. Burial was in the Whitneyville cemetery.