Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 3, 1952 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 3, 1952 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 10, 1952 Farmhand Found Dead of Gunshot Ray C. Well, 50, who had been employed on the Sol Bauer ranch near Paha for the past year, was found dead Wednesday afternoon in his house on the Bauer ranch. The county prosecutor's office labeled the death, caused by a .22 rifle gunshot in the head, as "apparently a suicide." The body was discovered about 5:30 p.m. Death apparently had occurred in the middle of the afternoon. Well's survivors include his wife, and three sons and a daughter. All the children live in the general vicinity of Spokane. Funeral Is Set For Mrs. Kramer Funeral services were scheduled for this Thursday afternoon for Marie Christine Kramer, 76, who died Sunday at Ritzville General hospital after living in the Ritzville area for 52 years. Burial will be in the Lutheran cemetery. Mrs. Kramer was a member of the Emanuel Lutheran church and the church ladies aid. The services were to be held in the church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Survivors include the husband, Peter, at the home; two daughters, Mrs. Lydia Billesbach of Ritzville and Mrs. Ella Harms of Davenport; and six sons, Henry of Portland, Otto of Chewelah, Conrad of Corvallis, Ore., Martin of Odessa, Harold of Ewan and Victor of Ritzville. Also surviving were 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 17, 1952 Harris Funeral This Saturday Jared Henry Harris, veteran Ritzville post office employee, died early Wednesday afternoon at Adams County Memorial hospital after suffering a heart attack shortly after coming on duty at 8 o'clock that morning. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Danekas and Duncan funeral home with the Rev. R. Kirschenmann officiating. Burial will be in the Ritzville Memorial cemetery. A post office employee since 1924, Harris was a member of the National Federation of Postal Clerks, a veteran of World War I and secretary of the local civil service board. Surviving are the widow, Sophronia, and a son, Jesse, both at the home. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 24, 1952 Funeral Is Held For Mrs. Watkins LIND - Funeral services were held Wednesday for Emma Watkins, 84, a former Lind resident who died the previous Sunday in Tacoma. Rites were conducted at the Lind Methodist church with the Rev. W. H. Ritchey officiating. Burial was in the Lind cemetery. Mrs. Watkins had lived in Lind for 38 years. She was a member of the Lind Methodist church and the Lind Rebekah lodge. Survivors include four sons, Paul and Wilbert, both of Tacoma, Ellis of Yelm and Everett of Spokane; and a brother, Harry Tapman of Pomeroy. Funeral Saturday for Lidgate, 74 Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday for William D. Lidgate, 74, who died Wednesday in an IOOF home in Walla Walla. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt will conduct the rites in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel with burial in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. A resident of Ritzville for 31 years, Lidgate was a longtime employee of Maynard Galbreath, local rancher. Lidgate has several survivors living in British Columbia in Canada. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 1, 1952 Funeral Friday for Bill Stark, Retired Farmer WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for Henry William (Bill) Stark, 73, retired Washtucna rancher, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel in Ritzville with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial will be in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Stark took his own life last Monday, according to the county prosecutor's office, by shooting himself after driving into the country a few miles from Washtucna. When he failed to return home for supper a large-scale search was launched with deputy sheriff Clint Rowe taking part and his body was found about 10:30 p.m. Born in 1879 in Storm Lake, Iowa, Stark came to Washington in 1891 and homesteaded near Hay in 1904. He moved to the Washtucna area in 1922, where he farmed until retiring in town in 1944. He was a member of Rimrock Grange and the Washington Grain Growers. Survivors include his widow, Tresa; two children, George and Sophie; a sister, Mrs. Laura Semler of Colton; and three brothers, Fred of Hay, L. R. of Washtucna, and George of Spokane. Rites Held For Mrs. Hubbs, 70 LOVELAND, Colo. - Funeral services for Mrs. Emmett Hubbs, 70, former Ritzville resident who died April 3, were held here April 7 at the First Christian church. Mrs. Hubbs and her husband, Emmett, who died in 1938, lived in Ritzville from their marriage in 1901 until moving to Loveland in 1917. The Rev. Albert Jones and the Rev. R. E. Kinsell both officiated at the funeral. Burial was in the Loveland burial park. Members of the Royal Neighbors, Rebekahs, Neighbors of Woodcraft and American War Mothers attended the rites in a body. Mrs. Hubbs was born near Mercer, Mo., Sept. 13, 1881, the daughter of Milton and China Taylor. She was married to Emmett Hubbs, Feb. 13, 1900. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 8, 1952 Rites Held For Mrs. Sweeney Funeral services for Agnes Ellen Sweeney, 73, of Lind were held Wednesday morning in the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel with the Rev. E. B. Malvaney of Lind officiating. Burial was in the Riverside Park cemetery in Spokane. A resident of Lind for 38 years, Mrs. Sweeney died last Saturday in the Adams County Memorial hospital. She had been a member of the Hebron Rebekah Lodge No. 6 in Canyon City, Ore., for 52 years and a member of the Julia Chapter of Order of Eastern Star, also in Canyon City, for 48 years. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Jeannette McKee of Milbroe, Calif., and three sons, Donald Campbell of Richmond Beach, Charles J. Campbell of Seattle, and Robert K. Newton of Fairchild air base. George Rogel Dies Funeral services for George Rogel of Ritzville, who died Wednesday night, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran cemetery. Rogel died the previous Wednesday at Ritzville Memorial hospital. Born in Kolb, Russia, he had come to the Ritzville area 50 years ago. He was survived by two sisters, Mary Rogel and Mrs. Henry Adler, both of Ritzville; four nephews and three nieces. Funeral Held For Young Teacher, Vern Fink, 27 Vern Virgil Fink, young Ritzville school teacher and Scoutmaster, died last Friday, about three months after an illness of increasing seriousness forced him to leave the Ritzville high school faculty. The entire junior class and many teachers, school administrators and board members attended Fink's funeral Tuesday afternoon at Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial was in the Odessa cemetery. The 27-year-old was a native of Odessa and was graduated from high school there. Fink was a World War II veteran and has been an extremely active student leader at Pacific Lutheran college, where he was presidnent of the student body in 1948-49 and a member of Alpha Psi Omega, national honorary dramatic fraternity. Receiving his bachelor of arts degree in education in 1949, Fink came to Ritzville for his first teaching position. This year, in his second year at Ritzville, he was teaching eleventh grade English and a class in German as well as serving as librarian. Fink left his teaching position last Feb. 18 to enter Baxter Veterans hospital in Spokane. He returned home, apparently recovering, in mid-April but shortly thereafter was taken to Ritzville Memorial hospital where he died May 9. Survivors include his widow, Grace; a daughter, Beth; and two sons, Wesley and Gary, all at the home. Also surviving are his father, Conrad Fink of Odessa; three brothers, Reuben of Odessa, Sam of Spangle, and Harry of Worley, Idaho; and four sisters, Mrs. Joe Gering of Ritzville, Mrs. R. J. Kuest and Miss Viola Fink, both of Odessa, and Mrs. Arnold Biermann of Tekoa. Fink was a member of the Emanuel Lutheran church. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Funeral Is Held for John Harder, Pioneer Farmer CONNELL - Funeral services for John Harder, pioneer farmer of the Kahlotus area, were held May 6 at the Connell Lutheran church. Burial was in the Kahlotus plot on the ranch at Kahlotus. Harder died suddenly May 2 from a heart attack while visiting his son, Hans, at Kahlotus. For the past five years he had resided at Portland, dividing his time between there and Kahlotus. Harder was the eldest son of the late Hans Harder, and was a nephew of the late Jacob Harder. He had served two terms as a commissioner of Franklin County. Harder was married in 1917 to the former Leonora Reitz of Connell, who survives him. Also surviving are six children, Hans of Kahlotus; Dr. John Harder of Anchorage, Alaska; Miss Dorothea Harder, Miss Leonora Harder and George Harder, all of New York City; and Miss Gertrude Harder at the home. Other survivors include a brother, Harry of Lamont; a sisters, Mrs. Catherine Peot of Washtucna; a sister-in-law, Mrs. George Harder of Kahlotus; two aunts, Mrs. Annine Harder of Ritzville and Mrs. Mary Schlomer of Spokane; and a granddaughter, Barbara Anne of Kahlotus; and cousins in the Ritzville area. John's brother, George, died five years ago. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 22, 1952 Funeral Service Conducted Here For Mrs. Weber Funeral services for Johannah Dorothy Weber were conducted Tuesday at Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. The daughter of Henry Rutz and Dorthy Steinke Rutz, Mrs. Weber was born on June 7, 1894, in West Prussia in Germany. She was 17 when she came to the United States. After living a short time in Illinois, she moved to the Ritzville area with her father. She was married on Dec. 7, to Fred Weber. They lived on a farm east of Ritzville until about 23 years ago when she moved to town. Mrs. Weber had been in poor health for some time and was taken to Adams County Memorial hospital about 10 days before her death last Friday, May 16. Four children survive - Hannah Gale of Pasco, Sophia Kramer of Mabton, Henry of Spokane, and Fred of Ritzville. Three sons died in infancy. Mrs. Weber also was survived by four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mrs. Weber was a member of Emanuel Lutheran church. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Funeral Slated for Mrs. Lucy Bemis RALSTON - Funeral servics for Mrs. Lucy Bemis, who died this week in Spokane, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 23, at the Ralston church. For many years Mrs. Bemis lived on a ranch four miles south of Ralston. Mrs. Thordarson Dies In Bellevue WASHTUCNA - Word came Monday of the death of Mrs. Roy (Vera) Thordarson of Bellevue, Wash., after a prolonged illness. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for Friday in Seattle, with burial in Walla Walla. Mrs. Thordarson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rogers of Washtucna, spent her girlhood here. Among the immediate survivors are her husband, Superintendent of the Bellevue schools; one son, Roger, a student at Whitman college, Walla Walla; two brothers, Howard and Louis, of Washtucna; her grandfather, Henry Lucy of Walla Walla, and two aunts, an uncle and several nieces and nephews. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 29, 1952 Mrs. Cherrier Funeral Is Held WASHTUCNA - Mrs. Joseph Cherrier, 76, of Walla Walla, former long time resident, died Monday in Walla Walla, according to word received here. Funeral plans were incomplete at this time. Angeline Noel Cherrier was born Dec. 31, 1875, in Quebec, Canada. After coming to Walla Walla she was married to her late husband, who died April 21, 1949. Survivors include a son, Frederick Cherrier, of Portland; two daughters, Mrs. Wilbur (Juliette( Robinette of Klammath Falls, Ore., and Mrs. Nicholas (Lillian) Korunyeh of Maplewood, La.; and two sisters, Mrs. Demerise Jaussaud of Walla Walla and Mrs. Amanda Gordon of Lacrosse. Funeral Services Are Held At Bellevue WASHTUCNA - Funeral services for Mrs. Roy (Vera) Thordarson of Bellevue, were held there Friday at 2 p.m. Burial was in the Mountain View cemetery in Walla Walla, Saturday at 1 p.m. Funeral Is Held For Mrs. Bemis RALSTON - Funeral services for Mrs. Lucy Bemis, 78, who died May 20 in Spokane, were held at the Ralston church last Friday. Lucy Mays was born Feb. 19, 1874, in Pittsfield, Pike county, Illinois, the youngest child of James and Sarah Petty Mays. She came to Washington in 1893 at the age of 19, and for several years lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Laing of Washtucna. Mr. Laing operated a general store. In 1897 Mrs. Bemis moved to Seattle for a year, then returned to become a deputy in the Adams county treasurer's office. She remained there until her marriage to Oshea Bemis on Oct. 7, 1899. The couple proved up a homestead north of Washtucna, then moved to the place now owned by the family. Five years ago Mrs. Bemis rented the farm and moved to the Spokane valley. Survivors include three daughters, Muriel, at the home; Mrs. Mildred Unbewust of Edwall; and Claire of Centralia; a brother, Charles Mays of St. Helena, Ore.; a granddaughter, Mrs. W. R. Saunders of Spokane; and two great-grandchildren. Rites Held For Prewitt, Pioneer. Funeral services for Joseph Edward Prewitt, 68, widely-known Adams county pioneer who died at his home May 23, were held Monday at the Danekas and Duncan funeral home chapel with the Rev. Alfred Carter officiating. Burial was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Prewitt was born on Oct. 6, 1883, in Elsbury, Mo. He was married to Ellen Irene Bartges in 1904 and came to Ritzville that same year. He was engaged in farming here until 1946 when he retired to Ritzville. Survivors include his widow, at the home; a daughter, Mrs. Roy Langenheder of Ritzville; a son, Joseph R. Prewitt, of San Francisco; a grandson, Robert R. Langenheder, serving in Korea; and three brothers, Claude of Olympia, Harvey of St. Louis, and Robert of Elsbury, Mo. Prewitt was a member of the Trinity Methodist church. Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 5, 1952 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 12, 1952 None Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 19, 1952 Howard Dies In Spokane WASHTUCNA - Word came of the death of Hamilton Scott Howard, longtime Washtucna resident, Sunday in Spokane, where he had lived the past year or two, since becoming ill. Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Washtucna Community church with burial in the Washtucna cemetery. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Phoebe Jane Howard of Spokane; two nieces, Lillie May Pearson and Althea Feree, both of Spokane; three nephews, Emmett Howard, Farmington, Wash., Alonzo T. Howard of Washtucna, and Floyd F. Howard, Sunnyside. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Smith funeral home, Spokane. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 26, 1952 None