Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 6, 1950 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 6, 1950 Funeral Services for MacMiller Held Saturday WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for John MacMiller, 81, who died Wednesday evening in a Sprague hospital were held Saturday afternoon at the Washtucna Community church with the Rev. A. K. Walborn officiating. The Rev. D. A. Russell of Spokane, preached the funeral service. Pallbearers were Joe W. Gray, Clavin Moesle, Floyd Cameron, C.R. Morrison, W. Earl Snyder and A. L. Crouse. Burial was in the local cemetery. Mr. MacMiller was born in Invernesalshire, Scotland, on June 15, 1868. He came to the United States when he was 19 years old and lived in Philadelphia and New York before coming to Washtucna about 1900. He was married to Mary Caroline Whitall in Ritzville, Feb. 24, 1904. Since that time they made their home in Washtucna, where Mr. MacMiller worked as a blacksmith. Some months ago, both Mr. and Mrs. MacMiller were removed to the Sprague hospital. She has been bedridden for 40 years or more. In addition to his widow, Mr. MacMiller is survived by a brother, Duncan MacMiller, in Scotland, and by several nephews and nieces in Scotland. Mr. MacMiller was a charter member of the Presbyterian church in Scotland. Funeral Is Held for Joel Kinsey, Warden Resident KENNEWICK - Funeral services were held at the Mueller funeral home here Wednesday for Joel Jacob Kinsey, 63, Warden carpenter who died at his home March 23. Born in 1887 in Hot Springs, Ark., and married in 1916 to Norabille Carpenter, Kinsey lived in Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, California and Richland, Wash., before moving to Warden in April of 1949. Survivors include the widow, at the home; two sons, Sgt. Bobby G., stationed in Japan, and Joe Mack of Whittier, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Ruby Wolfington of Edmond, Okla., Mrs. Walarie Rossette of Richland, and Martha Neriessa at the home; two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Echoles of Compton, Calif., and Mrs. S. P. Sted of Phoenix, Ariz. The Rev. C. Huber of the Warden Congregational church officiated at the funeral. Interment was in Riverview Heights cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 13, 1950 Rites To Be Held in Pennsylvania for Mrs. Pavlik Mrs. John U. Pavlik, wife of the assistant publisher of the Journal-Times, died early Tuesday morning at the Ritzville General hospital. Rosary was spoken Tuesday evening at the Danekas and Duncan funeral home parlors in Ritzville. Funeral services will be held in Mrs. Pavlik's hometown of Freeland, Pa. Mr. Pavlik departed for Freeland Wednesday morning. The Pavliks lived in Williston, N.D., before coming to Ritzville in 1948. Besides her husband, Mrs. Pavlik is survived by her mother, Mrs. John Spire of Freeland; a sister, Anne Spire, also of Freeland; and a brother, Jack Spire of Miami, Fla. In Ritzville, Mrs. Pavlik was a member of St. Agnes Catholic church, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors of America and the Catholic Altar Society. She was organist at the church. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of local arrangements. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 20, 1950 Funeral Rites for Hans Vehrs, Ritzville Pioneer Funeral services for Hans Vehrs, Ritzville old-timer who died April 5 in Miami, Fla., were held Tuesday afternoon in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel. The Rev. Clifford Knight and Rev. L. E. Gratton officiated. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Mr. Vehrs passed away while he and his wife were staying in Miami for his health. Born in 1882 in Germany, he had come to the United States 56 years ago. He lived in Nebraska for five years, until 1891, when he moved to the Ritzville area. He operated a farm which his son, Richard, is now occupying. Besides the widow and son, survivors include six daughters, Mrs. Alice Olson, Mrs. Rosa Russell and Mrs. Mamie Jacobs, all of Spokane; Mrs. Clara Jacobs of Opportunity; Mrs. Virginia Gier of Portland, Ore., and Mrs. Joan Geschke of Ritzville. A sister, Mrs. Marie Hazlitt of Whittier, Calif., also survives as do 13 grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 27, 1950 Funeral Services Held for Schmidt ODESSA - Funeral services were held for Jacob J. Schmidt Friday at the United Congregational church in Odessa. He died in a Spokane hospital after being ill for six days, but he had been in failing health for the past year. He was born in Russia in 1890 and was married in 1913 to Eleanor Green, who survives. Other survivors are Mrs. Eleanon Roth of Puyallup, a daughter; two sons, William and Virgil of Odessa, four grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Joe Herman and Mrs. Phil Herman, both of Opportunity; a brother, Harry Schmidt of Ritzville. Kagele Funeral Conducted Here Funeral services for Jacob Kagele, 81, were held Tuesday afternoon at the Zion Congregational church with the Rev. P. Ruder officiating. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Kagele, a retired farmer who moved to Spokane about 1-1/2 years ago, was found hanged in his garage Monday. Spokane police said he had taken his own life. Kagele was born in Odessa, Russia, and came to the Ritzville area 48 years ago. He homesteaded west of town, retiring about 1928. Survivors include five sons, Geroge, Jake and Fred of Ritzville; John of Odessa, and William of Cheney; a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Marish of Spokane; a brother, Fred, of Palouse; a sister, Mrs. Christine Kraft of Canby, Ore.; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Weber Funeral Services Held Here on Monday Funeral services for Fred Henry Weber were held Monday afternoon at Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville Lutheran cemetery. The son of Frederick and Wilhelmina Weber, Fred Weber was born April 11, 1869, in Estorf, province of Hanover, Germany. He came to the United States at the age of 15 and worked near Peoria, Ill., until 1890. That year he came to Ritzville and took up a homestead 7 miles east of town where he farmed until retiring in Ritzville about 20 years ago. Weber was married on Dec. 7, 1894, to Johanna Rutz. To this union seven children were born, three of whom died in infancy. Weber was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church and was treasurer of Emanuel Lutheran church here for about 16 years. He had been in increasingly ill health for the past few years and died in the Ritzville General hospital after a short illness. Survivors include the widow, Johanna; two sons, Henry of Spokane and Fred, jr., of Ritzville; two daughters, Mrs. Sophie Koehler of Mabton, Wash., and Mrs. Hannah Gale of Pasco; two brothers, Henry of Golden, B. C., and Ernest of Moscow, Idaho; a sister, Mrs. Sophie Weigel of San Diego, Calif., a grandson and six great-grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 4, 1950 Funeral Service is Conducted for Rev. Wellsandt WALLA WALLA - Funeral services for the Rev. Carl Lewis Wellsandt, who died April 22, were held last Thursday at the Emanuel Lutheran church in Walla Walla with the Rev. H. L. Daugs officiating and the Rev. George Koehler assisting. Born in 1857 in Germany, Rev. Wellsandt came to the United States in 1892. He entered the ministry in Aitkin, Minn., and later served as pastor of the Christ Lutheran church of Walla Walla. He retired in 1920 and in 1942 moved to Turlock, Calif., to live with a daughter, Mrs. Carl Bunting. Burial was in Mountain View cemetery with the Rev. S. Martyn officiating. Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Stanley Eakin of Portland, and Mrs. Dan Dayton of San Francisco; a son, John Wellsandt of Desart, N.D., and a brother, August Wellsandt, sr., of Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 11, 1950 Vern Pierce Dies Wednesday Evening Vern Pierce, long-time resident of Ritzville, died suddenly at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Ritzville General hospital. Pierce has been taken to the hospital about 10 p.m. Tuesday after he suffered a stroke. He was the husband of County School Superintendent Mary Pierce. Funeral Is Set for John Lee, Ex-Othello Man OTHELLO - Funeral services for John L. Lee, 89, former Othello farmer who died May 6 in Modesto, Calif., will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian church here with the Rev. Don Fitzsimmons officiating. Burial will be in the Othello cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Ethel Grein of Cheney and Mrs. Gertrude Keyes of Modesto; two sons, John E. Lee of Goldendale and Marion Lee of Sprague; a sister, Mrs. Ada Fuqua of Othello; three brothers, A. O. Lee of Yakima, Sam of Portland and William of Spokane; 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Danekas and Duncan funeral home is in charge of arrangements. Hatton Pioneer Dies In Canada HATTON - Word was received here of the passing of Elmer Woodward, early day Hatton resident who has been residing in Grand Forks, B.C. Mr. Woodward and R. L. Mays moved to Grand Forks in 1910, but after seven years of Canadian life, Mr. Mays and family returned to the Hatton community. Mr. Woodward remained in Grand Forks where he was engaged in ranching. He was for nine years bailiff of the irrigation district. For many years he was director of the Grand Forks Co-operative Growers' Exchange and was also a member of the Interior Vegetable Marketing board. Since the inauguration of the better farm competition in the valley, Mr. Woodward was first prize winner in the "over 50 acre" class. He engaged in various types of seed growing, particularly certified seed potatoes. The last two or three years, he had also gone into cattle production and was one of the large shippers of the district. Surviving are his wife, Jessie, and one daughter, Mary; a brother, James L., and as sister, Mrs. J. M. Higgs. For several years after Mr. Woodward left Hatton, he and R. L. Mays returned during the wheat harvest season to work as combine operators. Mrs. Schaefer Funeral Is Held COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - Funeral services for Mrs. Julia Schaefer, 43, who died May 2 in the hospital here following an illness of several days, were held Friday at the English Yates chapel with the Rev. E. C. Knautz officiating. Burial was in the Forest cemetery. Survivors include the husband, Cyril J. Schaefer; two sons, Robert and Ralph; and a daughter, Helen. The husband is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Schaefer of Post Falls, Idaho, former residents of Ritzville. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 18, 1950 Funeral Is Held for Vern Pierce Last Saturday Funeral services for Vernon Pierce, who died May 10 in the Ritzville General hospital, were held Saturday afternoon in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt and the Rev. Clifford Knight officiated. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Mr. Pierce, 64, had lived in Ritzville 47 years. He was a former manager of the White River Lumber company. Survivors include his widow, Mary, at the home; two daughters, Mrs. James W. Elder of Seattle, and Mrs. Stanford Telecky of Ritzville; a son, Bert P. Pierce of Spokane, and five grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 25, 1950 Youth Killed, Five Injured as Car Rolls Funeral Held Here Monday for Holloway "Generally defective equipment" was the cause of Ritzville's first fatal traffic accident in many years, State Highway Patrolman Dave Mhyre said this week following the death last Friday of 16-year-old Harold Leroy Holloway of Ritzville. Holloway was killed and five other youths were injured when a 1929 Marquette convertible they were riding in overturned about 6 p.m. Friday approximately 600 feet west of the east city limits on Highway 10. The driver of the car, Adolph Sauer, 18, who suffered a broken collar bone, told law officers that "something locked" on the left side of the car, causing the vehicle to swerve towards the left side of the road. The car slid sideways about 15 feet with its front wheels on the shoulder of the road and its rear wheels struck some rocks. The car turned over. Holloway was pinned under the car and killed instantly. Bob Werner, 17, received severe scalp lacerations; Gene Kosanke, 15, cuts and bruises; his brother, Sherman, 12, servere scalp lacerations. Funeral services for Holloway were held Monday afternoon in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel with the Rev. E. A. Ammundsen officiating. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Holloways' father is a partner with Gilbert Evenson, his brother-in-law in the Hi-Way garage in Ritzville. The Holloways came to Ritzville six years ago from Pendleton, Ore., where Harold, jr., was born. A junior in Ritzville high school, Harold was survived by two younger brothers, Gerald, 14, and Randolph, one. Survivors also include a grandfather, W. B. Holloway of Waitsburg, and a grandmother, Mrs. Mary Evensen of LaGrande, Ore. Kahlotus Farmer Killed By Plane KAHLOTUS - A Kahlotus rancher was fatally injured Monday when he was struck on the head by one of two Yakima air company spray planes at his wheat farm two miles south of Kahlotus on the Pasco-Kahlotus highway. The farmer was Glenn Peot, 36, who died in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital at Pasco. Doctors said a fractured skull was the cause of death. The accident occurred when Peot was working in his field moving markers to direct the two spray planes. Witnesses said he was running out of the way of one plane and failed to see the second in the low pass over the field. He was struck and hurled face down into the ground. Survivors include his widow at Kahlotus; his mother, Mrs. P. M. Peot, Pasco, two brothers, Reuben Peot, Kahlotus; and Elmer V. Peot, Pasco; and a sister, Mrs. Hal Worth of Grandview. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 1, 1950 Funeral Is Held for Joe Kembel, Retired Farmer Funeral services were held Wednesday for Joseph Kembel, 61, who had farmed a lifetime in the Ritzville area and only this year had moved into town to retire. Born in Bickelton, Wash., Kembel had lived in the Ritzville area for 58 years, farming southwest of town. He moved into a new home on Knob hill only this year to retire, leaving his farm in the hands of his brother-in-law, Carl Rehn. Kembel was stricken suddenly and died Saturday in Deaconess hospital in Spokane. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann presided over the funeral in the Philadelphia Congregational church, of which Kembel was a member. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Survivors are the widow, Marie, at the home, and a brother, William, of Naples, Idaho. Funeral Friday For Landreth, Top Machinist W. H. Landreth, the skilled machinist who reportedly filled top secret war contracts in his precision-equipped machine shop in Ritzville, died Wednesday in the Ritzville General hospital. Landreth is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Flora M. Lundstrom, Airway Heights, Wash., and a son, Harry James Landreth of Seattle. Two grandsons, Jay and Jim Landreth, also live in Seattle. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 8, 1950 Landreth's Machine Shop Was Geared to Precision When Wade Hampton Landreth died last week at the age of 77, it marked the end of a career extending over half a century which had made the Ritzville man one of the finest skilled machinists in the Pacific Northwest. Landreth's one-man machine shop on Broadway avenue was equipped with an array of precision machinery not to be found in plants many times the size. During the second world war, "Wade" Landreth filled defense plant orders from all over the nation, turning out lathes and rebuilding heavy machinery used elsewhere to manufacture shafts, gears, wheels, propellers and other parts for Uncle Sam's war machinery. During an interview with the Journal-Times in 1941, Landreth was asked if he ever hoped to retired. "No, I don't," he replied. "This work never grows monotonous. I always try to make each piece of work a little better than the last, and I try to make a little better time in producing it. "I haven't a thought of retiring. I plan to keep one working until my days are over." And that's what Landreth did...until he was stricken with a heart attack during the afternoon of May 26 and died last Wednesday at the Ritzville General hospital. Landreth was born Sept. 12, 1872, in North Carolina. both his parents died before he was eight years old. At the age of nine he came west with the Linnell family settling on Crab creek to herd sheep. Later he worked in a livery stable that stood on the site now occupied by the Carey Thomson Chevrolet company. After a few years the young Landreth went into the well-drilling business, making the first acquaintanceship with machinery. He and a partner drilled the first city well in the coulee northeast of Ritzville, and are believed to have sunk more than 150 of the early-day farm wells in Adams county. Landreth became so proficient at repairing well-drilling tools, according to an article published in the Journal-Times in 1921, that he soon found drillers in Idaho, Montana and Washington shipping him their tools for repair. Opens Shop This encouraged him to open his first small machinery shop in Ritzville. When the well-drilling business slackened off, Landreth converted to repairing gasoline engines in early-day automobiles and tractors. By the mid-20s, he was turning to more difficult and complicated problems. One of the achievements he took unusual pride in was the construction of a precision crankshaft grinder in the late 20s. He used it himself for eight years before selling it to a Chehalis firm. It was one of the most delicate pieces of machinery he ever turned out, and also one of the largest, weighing 11,000 pounds. In filling his top-secret World War II defense orders, Landreth started with rough castings from a Spokane foundry and turned out finished lathes and other machinery geared to adjustments to the ten-thousandth of an inch. Makes Drawings Even the original castings from Spokane were made from Landreth's own patterns and drawings. Many types of metal were employed, ranging from cast iron to vanudium chrome nickel and Landreth had equipped his small Ritzville shop to produce and assemble every part of the finished product. Landreth always believed that the machine work be loved offered great opportunities to young men, and he frequently wondered aloud why more young men didn't enter the trade. "Good machinists are always in demand," he once told the Journal- Times, "and I don't know of any job in the world that offered the personal satisfaction of a well-done piece of machine work." In machinists circles throughout the west, Landreth was rated as a master craftsman and his shop on Broadway avenue in Ritzville was spoken of with respect and admiration. Landreth's wife died in 1945. His survivors include a daughter, Mrs. FLora M. Lundstrom of Airway Heights, Wash., a son, Harry J. Landreth of Seattle; two grandsons Jay and Jim Landreth, both of Seattle. Funeral Friday for Mrs. Cross, Former Teacher Funeral services for Mrs. Mary R. Cross, longtime Ritzville resident who died June 5 at her home in Kirkland, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel with the Rev. Clifford Knight officiating. Burial will be in the Ritzville Memorial cemetery with the Zenith chapter of order of Eastern Star in charge. Mary R. Maybury was born Nov. 10, 1876, in Saint Cloud, Minn. She received her education in Saint Cloud schools and the Saint Cloud Teachers' college, after which she taught in schools at Hibbing and Duluth, Minn. She was married to James L. Cross on July 25, 1906. The couple lived in Ritzville from then until 1936, when they moved to Seattle for a year and then to Spokane when Mr. Cross died in 1942. In February, 1947, Mrs. Cross moved to Kirkland to live with her son, Harry. During her residence in Ritzville, Mrs. Cross taught in the grade school from 1923 to 1932. She was a charter member of chapter AR, PEO Sisterhood, and was a former worthy matron of Eastern Star here. Survivors are three sons, Edward of Ritzville, Robert of Eugene, Ore., and Harry of Kirkland; 10 grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Walter Burroughs of Helena, Mont., and Mrs. Arthur Causamel of Saint Paul, Minn. Funeral Held for Mrs. Kate Rogers WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for Mrs. Kate Rogers, who died in Berkely, Calif., on May 27, were held there privately. Kate Frances Rogers was born in Pike County, Ill., on June 19, 1860. Prior to her marriage to Charles Franklin Rogers, she was a school teacher. In 1881 she came west with her husband and settled on a wheat farm in Adams county, where they lived for 20 years. They then moved to Ventura, Calif., again to farm in the valley between Ventura and Ojai. After her husband's death in 1928 she went to Berkeley to be near two of her sons in her later years. Surviving her are three sons, Roy V. Rogers, Washtucna; Lloyd E. Rogers, San Francisco, and Leslie C. Rogers, Berkeley. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 16, 1950 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 22, 1950 Two Residents Die Wednesday in Town Miss Julia Wellsandt, 65, a longtime resident, died at the home of her sister, Wilhelminia Wellsandt, about 3 p.m. George Schelly, a resident here 33 years, suffered a fatal heart attack about 5:45 p.m. in front of the Ritzville Public market. No funeral arrangments have been announced. Rites Held for Ex-'Tucna Man WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for William Ross Pence, 43, former Washtucna resident and nephew of Mrs. B. M. Sitton, were held Thursday in Seattle at Forkner's Chapel with cremation following. Mr. Pence died Wednesday after an illness of two and a half years. However, he was able to continue his work as counselor and assistant principal at the Bryant elementary school until about a month before his death in a Seattle hospital. Mr. Pence was born in Washtucna, moving shortly afterward to Spokane where he spent the early part of his life. He was a graduate of the Eastern College of Education at Cheney and later received his bachelor of arts and master's degree from the University of Washington. Prior to going to Seattle 12 years ago, Mr. Pence taught in the public schools at Anacortes. Surviving are his wife Coralyn, a son Peter, a student at Roosevelt high school in Seattle, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Pence of Spokane. Graveside Rites Held For Koch Graveside services for John Jacob Koch, 81, of Ritzville were held last Saturday morning at Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Koch, who lived alone, was found dead Friday morning in his small home on East Birch in the "flats." It is believed he had died of natural causes about two days previous. Koch was born in the Lobe area of Russia. His father died there, and the son came to the United States with his uncle, who was the father of J.P. and Fred Koch, both of Ritzville. Survivors are a son, Moritz, of Eugene, Ore., and a daughter, Elsie, whose last name and present whereabouts are unknown. Koch was preceded in death by another son, Harry, who was an employee of the county engineer's office. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiated at the graveside rites. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 29, 1950 None