Ritzville Journal-Times, April - June 1966 Ritzville, Adams County, 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. ************************************************ 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 7, 1966 No obituaries were printed this week. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 14, 1966 Treichel Rites Held Wednesday Funeral services for Doug Treichel were held yesterday from the Mountain View Funeral home in Tacoma. Treichel died Sunday in a Tacoma hospital. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children, all at home. He formerly was a trooper with the Washington State Patrol in Ritzville, and departed for the Tacoma area about five years ago. Two Former Pastors Die Two former pastors of Trinity Methodist church here died recently in Tacoma and Seattle. Dr. Richard Decker died at the age of 77 April 8 at a Tacoma hospital after a short illness. The Rev. William G. R. Dann died in the Seattle suburb of Des Moines April 1 following a long illness. Dr. Decker was pastor of the Methodist church here from 1935 through 1943. He then preached for several years in Nome, Alaska, and was a representative to the Alaska legislature. His active career closed in 1958 with a six-year service as superintendent of the Spokane district of the Methodist church. The Rev. Mr. Dann was Methodist minister at Ritzville from 1926 to 1929. He retired in 1947, having preached at Lacrosse, Prosser, Oak Harbor and Sequim after leaving Ritzville. Rites Held Monday for Miss Bassett Miss Georgia Bassett died at Hillcrest manor on Friday. She had been a resident there for the past four and a half months, and had been ill. Graveside services were held Monday at Mountain View cemetery at Walla Walla. She was born October 23, 1890. She had lived in the Ritzville area for about 20 years and was formerly a resident of Washtucna. Nieces and nephews, none of them living in this county, survive her. Ella Peterson Dies Following Pullman Crash Miss Ellen Peterson, a sister of Mrs. Robert Newland, died of injuries in an auto crash Sunday night at Pullman. Miss Ellen was 77 years of age. A younger sister, Miss. Agnes Peterson, 65 years of age, was still unconscious Wednesday in the Deaconess hospital in Spokane. She drove the car which crashed into a dirt embankment. She suffered a concussion and a serious break of one of her legs. Miss Agnes underwent surgery on her leg. She had remained conscious for several hours after the accident, her sister said. The two sisters lived in Moscow. Miss Ellen Peterson had been a teacher and for about 10 years the county superintendent of schools in Latah county. At another period she was a member of the faculty at Lewiston (Ida.) Normal school. Miss Agnes Peterson was a librarian at the University of Idaho. Funeral services for Miss Ellen Peterson are to be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the Lutheran church in Moscow. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 21, 1966 Irl Sitton Laid to Rest Irl "Smiley" Sitton died Saturday night at his home in Washtucna. Graveside services were conducted at the Washtucna cemetery Tuesday. The Rev. Ralph Smith of the Washtucna Community church conducted the service. Mr. Sitton was 64 years of age. He lived alone at his home next to the Grange hall at Washtucna. He had been a farm laborer much of his life. Survivors include two brothers, Roy and Owen Sitton of Spokane; and two sisters, Harriet Leonard of Portland and Mae Branemann of Spokane. A son and a daughter, Howard and Joyce, live at Clarkston. There are also surviving nieces and nephews. Dora Smith rites Will Be Saturday Mrs. John T. A. (Dora) Smith died Tuesday evening at a Spokane hospital. Services are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Danekas Funeral home. C. J. Newland Post of the American Legion will take part in the services. Cremation will follow. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, April 28, 1966 Funeral Services of Nixon Leifer Held April 27 Funeral services for Nixon Leifer were held Wednesday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at the high school gymnasium in Kahlotus. He died Sunday at the age of 61. He was principal and teacher of the seventh and eighth grades in the Kahlotus schools. The Rev. Lawrence Randall conducted the funeral service. Interment was in the Kahlotus cemetery. Mr. Leifer was a member of the Kahlotus Sports club and of the Kahlotus Grange. He is survived by his wife, Penelope, and daughters, Mrs. Marjorie Bunch, Martinez, Calif.; and Mrs. Carolyn Beckner, Kahlotus. Also surviving are three brothers, Irvin of Cheney, Clarence of Marysville and Sidney of Seattle. Surviving sisters are Mrs. Laura Burcham of Thornton, and Mrs. Vera Sheahan of Rosalia. There are four grandchildren who survive. Mrs. Goodnight's Death Reported HATTON - Word was received here that Mrs. Mollie (Francis) Goodnight of Monett, Mo., had recently passed away in her sleep while spending the night with friends. The same evening she had attended Thursday evening church services. She was the mother of Mrs. Gladys (John) Cowley of Monett, Mo., formerly of Hatton, and an aunt of Joe E. Campbell of Lind. Funeral services were held from the New Salem church where her husband, the Rev. Francis Goodnight, preached before his retirement and death. Funeral Held Monday for Former Resident Word was received that Mrs. Bill Clodius of Newark, Del., a former Ritzville resident, died Saturday morning following a long illness. Funeral services were held Monday. Funeral Services for Emma Vevea Held in Spokane Funeral services for Emma Catherine Vevea were held April 19 at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral home in Spokane. The Rev. F. J. Ahrendt conducted the service. Burial was in Greenwood Memorialterrace. Pallbearers were all nephews and included four Ritzville men, Austin, Clarence and Ted Miller and Edward Siegel. The other pallbearers were Adolph and Louis Miller of Spokane. Mrs. Vevea was born June 10, 1893, at Paha, the daughter of Valentine and Anna Marie Miller. She attended Ritzville schools. Her death occurred April 16 at her home in Opportunity. She had been a resident of the Spokane area for 34 years. Her death followed a lingering illness. Her husband, Frederich Vevea, preceded her in death about 1954. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Adeline Yonkers of Spokane and two sons, Kenneth Rueppel of San Bruno, Calif., and Norris Vevea of Willingboro, N. J. Also surviving is a step-daughter, Mrs. Mel Coombs of Winters, Calif., 13 grandchildren and two brothers, George Miller of Ritzville and Pete Miller of Coeur d'Alene, Ida. Attending the funeral service from Ritzville, in addition to the four nephews who were pallbearers and their wives, were Mrs. Ann Miller, Mrs. James Webb, Mrs. Freda Koch, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Streeter and Mrs. Lester Hughes. Fellow Soldies Pay Tribute of Last Rites for Dora Smith Dora Herbert Smith, a soldier, was given an American Legion honor guard during last rites Saturday at the Danekas Funeral chapel. She served in a World War II as a dental technician. She carried on as a soldier to the close of battle with cancer that lasted almost a year. Cremation Monday followed the funeral here. Dora Herbert was born November 5, 1897, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Herbert, at Colfax. She joined the U. S. Army at San Francisco on June 2, 1944. She served at various bases in the continental United States, including one in Indiana. Her discharge was dated August 24, 1945. In 1948 she moved to Ritzville from Spokane, and took up practice here as a beautician. On May 25, 1952, she was married to John T. A. Smith. About four years ago she published a book she tittled "Small Town Shoe." It is satire. Almost a year and a half elapsed following Mrs. Smith's suffering a broken ankle before her death. When her ankle was about healed she learned that she suffered from cancer. She died at the Veterans hospital in Spokane April 19. Until her death she continued in the office of chaplain in C. J. Newland Post, the American Legion. She had transferred her Legion membership here from Post 9 in Spokane. She was active in all the Legion's affairs. She was also a member of the Ritzville chapter of the Business & Professional Women. Besides her husband at home, two sisters survive, Mrs. Edward Gallaudet of Glendale, Calif., and Mrs. Frank Reitz of Applegate, Calif. Step-children who survive Mrs. Smith are George A. Smith, Twisp; Reynold S. Smith, Rapid City, S. Dak.; Gordon J. Smith, Los Angeles; Donald D. Smith, with the U. S. Navy and presently living at Coronado, Calif.; and Miss Ellen Smith, Portland, Ore. The Rev. James Updike conducted the funeral service. Wilmerd Heinemann and Gerald Rowe formed the honor guard. Milton Sackmann sang "Beyond The Sunset" and "The Old Rugged Cross." His accompanist was Mrs. Orville Moeller. Honorary pallbearers were Robert Stanfield, John Pavlik, Gideon Bentz, Albert Kendrick, Arthur Buhl and Emil Wellsandt. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 5, 1966 No obituaries were printed this week. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 12, 1966 Workman Electrocuted Richard Hughes was electrocuted here Monday morning in an accident while he and other crewmen were replacing a distribution line pole seven and a half miles north of Ritzville on the Marcellus road. Hughes was operator of a small size crane. While he stood at the side of the crane, operating its controls, the top of the pole the crane had removed from the ground apparently struck an energized bank of conductors. The distribution line's 14,400 kilovolts surged through the wood pole and the crane, striking the operator dead. Matt O. Wilson, president of Wilson Construction Co., of Portland, Ore., came here Tuesday to investigate the accident. Hughes was a member of a Wilson Co., crew on the job. Other members were George Saube, foreman; and James Strausburg. The investigation Wilson and others conducted concluded that in this accident a wood pole, normally a good electrical insulator, had acted as a conductor of electricity. Wilson said he assumed if the crane operator had been seated in its control cab, the accidnet would not have occurred. He said the crew had used another heavier crane to lift the cross-arm assembly from the pole's top. This assembly was being held aloft and out of the way of the old pole during its removal from the ground. All the ground wires had been cut off the poles, a part of the workmen's safety procedures. In fact, Wilson said, all prescribed safety procedures had been observed, with the exception of the operator's standing on the ground to move crane controls. Wilson said he had been in electric outdoor plant construction all his life. During the entire history of the firm he heads this was the first fatality occurring of an employee. On two previous occasions workemen suffered burned fingers. Wilson Construction Co., contracts for maintenance and repair of electric distributiong systems. In doing so it works much of the time with energized lines. The accident here occurred while Wilson Co. was doing maintenance work for Big Bend Electric Co-op. Hughes and his bride of recent months lived in a trailer at the Cottage motel here. Hughes had been employed here by the Wilson company and at Mesa for the past year and a half. He had been an employee of the firm two years. He was 26 years of age. Here also Tuesday to investigate the accident was Virgil Allen of Spokane. He is an electrical utility inspector for the division of safety, State of Washington. Richard Hughes was born June 30, 1939, in Eugene, Ore. Survivors are his wife, Kathleen; his mother, Mrs. Thelma Hughes, Redmond, Ore., and a brother, William R. Bond of Eugene. The body was taken to Redmond for funeral services Thursday (today). Rites Held for Mrs. Gettmann The Rev. Werner Fritz conducted services for Mrs. Amalia Gettmann in the Christ Lutheran church of Odessa on May 5. Mrs. Gettmann died at her home in Odessa on May 1. She is survived by her husband Henry and three children, Eldora Harland of Boise, Ida., Elmer Gettmann of Ritzville, Alva Richardson of Odessa and four grandchildren. She was a life-long resident of this area, having moved here at the age of two with her pioneer parents, Andrew and Katie Heimbigner. She attended Odessa schools and was active in the surrounding farming communities during her early years. She was married in 1919 and reared her family on a ranch west of Ritzville. They retired and moved to Odessa in 1949. Interment was in the Odessa cemetery. Pallbearers were Herschel Heimbigner, Walter Heimbigner and Lester Pfannekuchen of Ritzville, Clarence Heimbigner of Spokane, Floyd Gettmann of Quincy and Dan Gettmann of Odessa. Amanda Bier Funeral Held On Saturday Funeral services were held Saturday for Mrs. Amanda Ott Bier. She had died Thursday, May 5, at Adams County Memorial hospital. The Rev. James Updike of Trinity Methodist church conducted the service at Danekas Funeral chapel. Cremation followed. She was born October 24, 1890, the daughter of Sebastian and Christina Ott, at Epstine, Germany. She came to the United States with her parents when she was five years of age. Most of her life was spent at Ritzville. The past 22 years she was manager of the Ritzville hotel. She was a member of Trinity Methodist church, OES chapter No. 55 and the American Legion auxiliary. Surviving are a daughter, Marianne Keating of New York City, and a son, Philip Bier, Seattle. Her two brothers survive, John N. Ott of Ritzville and Judge Richard B. Ott of Olympia; and a sister, Mrs. Elsie Wallenberg, Ritzville. There are four surviving grandchildren. At the funeral Mrs. Ralph Allert accompanied herself at the organ as she sang "In The Garden" and "The Silver Cord." Pallbearers were Richard Kembel, Walter Ott, Edwin Kiehn, Gerald Ott, Willard Hennings and Ted Ott. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Rosenoff, Hubert Maas, Bert Kendrick, Edward Cross and Maynard Larson. Harvey Herring Rites Conducted in California Harvey Eugene Herring, 43, of Roseville, Calif., died May 1 in a hospital at Sacramento, Calif. He was born July 21, 1922, in Great Falls, Mont., and lived in Ritzville until 1941. He lived in San Bernardino, Calif., for 15 years and in Roseville for the past five years. He is survived by his wife Helen and two sons, Harvey Eugene Herring, jr., and William H. Herring of Roseville; his father, Ralph L. Herring of Walla Walla; four brothers, Donald of Seattle, Everett of Ritzville and Robert and Darrell of Spokane; a sister, Lucille Stager of Aberdeen; and mother-in-law, Mrs. Dora Jensen of Roy, Utah. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 5, at the Lambert Funeral home in Roseville. Interment was in the Golden Gate National cemetery at San Bruno, Calif. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 19, 1966 Edna Barker Dies Edna Elvina Barker died May 12 in Seattle. She was born Janauary 5, 1907, in Ritzville. She is survived by a brother, Milton M. Dewald, and many other relatives. The deceased was 59 years, four months and seven days of age. Funeral services were held at the Georgetown Funeral home Saturday. The Rev. Harold Holt officiated. Interment was in Riverton Crest cemetery. Hugh Wachtel Dies In Idaho WASHTUCNA - Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon in the chapel of the English Funeral home in Coeur d'Alene, Ida., for Hugh Wachtel of Rathdrum, Ida. He died Wednesday in Coeur d'Alene. Burial was in Pine Grove cemetery in Rathdrum. Surviving are his widow Ruby, at the home; five sons, Delbert of Rathdrum; Roy of Fremont, Neb.; Murle of Buena Park, Calif.; and Larry and Rodney at home. Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Don (Margie) Harvey, Coos Bay, Ore.; and Mrs. Roxy Martin, Spirit Lake, Ida. Thirteen grandchildren survived as do his mother, Mrs. Rose Wachtel of Washtucna; a brother, B. D. Wachtel of Washtucna; and a sister, Mrs. Majesty Reger, Livermore, Calif. His father preceded him in death in December and a son Steve in February. Bernie Kison Dies of Heart Attack Tuesday Bernie Kison succumbed to a heart attack Tuesday evening. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 o'clock at Philadelphia Congregational church. Family members said memorial gifts are suggested for the Adams chapter of the American Red Cross, for use in supporting the organizations work in Viet Nam. Floral offerings are acceptable. Bernhardt Walter Kison was born June 15, 1910, in Spokane, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kison. He lived at Lind until he was 12. His mother died when he was eight years old. He was raised by Mr. and Mrs. John Schultz at their farm near Ralston. Bernie worked for John Schultz until 22 years ago he took over the farm. On October 25, 1935, he was married in Spokane to Rachel Kautz. Besides his wife Rachel at home, the deceased is survived by two sons, Larry and Ronald. There are three granddaughters. Also surviving are three brothers, Fred of Pasco, Ernest of Waitsburg and Julius of Spokane. There are also three half brothers and two half sisters surviving, Richard, Walter and Daniel of Van Nuys, Calif., and Lydia Francillo and Hilda Dugger of Walla Walla. Bernie's father lived until two years ago when he died at Walla Walla. The Rev. Ernest Sprenger and the Rev. R. Kirschenmann of Lind will conduct the funeral service. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, May 26, 1966 Bernie Kison Laid to Rest Pallbearers at Friday's service for Bernie Kison were Reuben Hille, Everett Hille, Rudy Roth, Es Shelman, W. C. Bierman and Ed Vostral. Honorary pallbearers were Warren Kautz, Alex Smith, Wayne Pearson, Homer Evans, Ralph Snyder and Chester Bell. A male quartet, Carl and Jake Hoefel, Dan Roloff and Elmer Heimbigner, sang "Face to Face." Mrs. Boyd Hille sang "Beyond the Sunset." Organ accompanist for both selections was Miss Anita Benzel. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 2, 1966 Mike Wiest Funeral Held Tuesday Funeral services were held Tuesday for Michael Wiest at the Danekas Funeral home. He died Friday at the Odessa Memorial hospital. Milton Sackmann, soloist, sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Going Down the Valley One by One." His accompanist was Diane Roloff. Mike Wiest was born in Liepsig, Bessarabia, South Russia, on March 1, 1890. In 1898 he came with his family to the United States and settled near Glen Ullin, N. Dak. After the death of his mother the family returned to Russia in 1910. Wiest served six years, seven months in the Russian army, most of this time during World War I. On March 22, 1918, he was married to Mary Grams in Klestiech, Romania. Though he intensely desired to return to the United States, immigration quotas from Romania were very small. In 1925 Mr. and Mrs. Wiest and children emigrated to Sau Paulo, Brazil. Weist became a Brazilian citizen so he could enter the U.S. under the Brazilian immigration quota. In April 1928, the family arrived at Ralston and lived there until 1956 when Wiest retired after working 26 years for the Milwaukee railroad. He and Mrs. Wiest moved to Ritzville. Mrs. Wiest preceded him in death in July of 1961. Three children died in infancy. Survivors include a son, Alfred Wiest of Odessa; and two daughters, Erna Coleman, Opportunity, and Landa Trimble, Spokane. There are seven grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Andrew (Ella) Kellar of Waterloo, N.Y.; and three brothers, Henry of Hazen, N. Dak., Theodor of Hamburg, Germany and Johan of Timisoara, Romania. The Rev. Gordon Welk conducted the funeral service. Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased, Arthur and Edwin Roloff, Otto, Adolph, Ronald and Bill Grams. Interment was in Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Mrs. Dave Wacker Funeral Service Set Friday A.M. Funeral mass for Phyllis Marie Wacker will be conducted by Father Walter Abel at St. Agnes Catholic church Friday morning at 10 o'clock. She died Tuesday at the Adams County Memorial hospital. She was born March 6, 1926. Surviving are her husband, Dave, at their home at 1119 South Jackson and their son Michael. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Avon Powell of Spokane, survive, as do a sister, Mrs. Margaret Beall of Vason Island, and two brothers, Charles and William Powell, both of Spokane. Mrs. Wacker was a member of St. Agnes Catholic church. Rosary will be said at 7:30 Thursday evening at the Danekas Funeral chapel. Burial will be at the Ritzville Memorial cemetery. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 9, 1966 No obituaries were printed this week. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 16, 1966 No obituaries were printed this week. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 23, 1966 No obituaries were printed this week. Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, June 30, 1966 Mrs. Harry Harder Funeral Service Being Held Today Mrs. Harry Harder died Sunday at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane. Funeral services will be held at Emanuel Lutheran church in Ritzville at 2:30 this afternoon. Franc Lucille Harder was born Feb. 3, 1915, at Pine City. She had lived at the ranch near Lamont for the past 35 years, a very real helpmate in the cattle farming business. Mrs. Harder was a member of St. John's Lutheran church at Sprague. She was a member of the Adams county and national CowBelles organization. She was a member of Composers, Authors and Artists of America. She served as secretary of Adams county fire protection district No. 4. She was a member of the Spokane chapter of Poetry Scribes, and of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Harder published a book, "Cow Country Poems," which featured her original poetry depicting her life on the ranch. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Charles Tangvold of Seattle; and two sons, Herman and Carl, both of Lamont. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Maxine Swanda of Pasco and six grandchildren. Her husband, the late Harry Harder, preceded her in death in December of 1964. The Rev. Wayne Olsen of Sprague will conduct the funeral service here. Pallbearers will be Bill Harder, Jim Hopkins, Cecil McCall, James Swanda, jr., Danny Stromberger and Charles Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Arthur Craig, Judge George H. Freese, Fred Miller, Charles Miller, Will Worthley and Clarence Dooley. Interment will be at the Harder cemetery at the ranch. Funeral Rite for Otto Lobe Held Tuesday Funeral services were held in Lind Tuesday afternoon for Otto Lobe. He died Saturday from the effects of an acute heart failure. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann of Zion Congregational church in Lind conducted the funeral at that church. Gordon Swyter sang "In The Garden" and "Face to Face." His organ accompanist was Mrs. Reinhold Sackmann. Pallbearers were John Scheeler, Edwin Jeske, Albert Sackmann, Ernest Heider, William F. Wahl and Ed Beck. Honorary pallbearers were Godfrey Meilke, Otto Gfeller, Albert Wahl, Ray Fode, Jack Shimek, Howard Fode, Eugene Sitton and Raymon Suko. Interment was at the Lind cemetery. Otto Emanuel Lobe was born January 22, 1909, at Odessa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lobe. He had been a member of the Lind community for the past 29 years. He served on the Lind school board for a number of years. He was a member of the Zion Congregational church and of the Lind Grange, in which he was a member of the board for a number of years. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, at home in Lind; and by three daughters. They are Mrs. Robert (Evelyn) Heider of Ritzville, Mrs. Mike (Joyce) Presto of Waterville; and Mrs. Dan (Elaine) Kutschkau, jr., of Ritzville. A son, Gary of Lind, survives. Surviving also are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lobe of Odessa; two sisters, Mrs. Emil Gust of Ritzville and Mrs. Vernon Gillis of Washtucna; and three brothers, Lewis Lobe of Ritzville; Everett Lobe of Quincy; and Eugene Lobe of Bremerton. There are seven grandchildren surviving. Funeral Service for Theodore Fode to Be Held Friday Theodore Fode, a resident of the Lind community for 64 years, died Monday at Lind. Funeral services will be conducted at the Zion Congregational church in Lind at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. The Rev. R. Kirschenmann will conduct the services. Interment will be in the cemetery at Lind. Theodore Fode was born July 22, 1899, in Berlin, Russia. He came to the United States at the age of two. He is survived by his wife, Lydia, at home and by two daughters. They are Mrs. David (Esther) Schaal of Winona, and Mrs. Jack (Irene) Scheeler of Lind. There are four sons surviving. They are Clarence and Alfred Fode of Lind, Richard Fode of Spokane, and Elmer Fode of Millbrae, Calif. Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Fred Kramer of Ritzville, Mrs. Otto Floether of Odessa, and Mrs. Alfred Flatau of Olympia. Two brothers survive, John Fode of Ritzville and Emil Fode of Connell. There are 13 grandchildren. He was a member of the Zion Congregational church at Lind. Pallbearers will be Raymond Fode, Ruben Fode, Albert Kramer, Walter Heider, Gary Floether and Harry Krug.