Obituaries - Sept. 24, 2009

Rose D. Goddard

A mass of Christian burial for Rose D. Goddard, 66, was Saturday, Sept. 19, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at DeSmet, Idaho. Rosary was recited Friday, Sept. 18, at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal School gymnasium at DeSmet. Father Thomas Connolly, S.J. officiated at the services. Burial followed at the DeSmet Mission Cemetery.

Mrs. Goddard died last Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at her home in DeSmet.

Born May 9, 1943, at DeSmet to John and Evangeline Joseph Abraham, she attended Mary Immaculate Catholic School at DeSmet, three years, St. Joseph Academy in Sprague and Plummer High School where she graduated with the class of 1961. Rose later attended Beauty College in Portland.

Rose married Ron Goddard at DeSmet Feb. 3, 1962, and the couple made their home at DeSmet. He died in 1968.

Since 1984 she was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in DeSmet. Prior to that she was employed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for 14 years in the Health Field.

Rose was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Rose enjoyed playing bingo and camping.

Survivors include two sons, Ron Goddard of Plummer, and Brian (Quilly) Lozon of DeSmet; two daughters, Rhonda Lozon of DeSmet and Paulette Goddard of DeSmet; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Victoria Abraham; Candi Abraham and Evangeline Kenmille, all of DeSmet; two brothers, John Abraham of Plummer and John Tsawklai, of DeSmet.

A daughter, Hilary Goddard Zepeda, preceded her in death.

Jerry Andersen

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jerry L. Andersen, 71, was Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Ewan Community Church of the Nazarene.

He died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 at home in Ewan.

Born Feb. 19, 1938, to Jack and Dorothy Knemeyor Anderson in Greenville, Calif., he attended schools in various towns around the northwest. Following his high school graduation, he served in both the U.S. Army and Navy during the Korean Conflict. He married Jean Brabham in 1989 and they later divorced. He has made St. John and Colfax his home for the last 20 years and worked for area farmers as well as being a health care aide. Jerry was a member of the Ewan Community Church of The Nazarene and while living in Wyoming was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed the outdoors and shooting pool with friends.

He is survived by his former wife and caregiver Jean Andersen of Ewan; six stepchildren; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Online condolences:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Philip Z. Whitman

Internment rites for Philip Z. Whitman, 88, Rosalia native and former area resident, will be at Pine City Cemetery, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. followed by a no-host luncheon at the Harvester in Spangle.

Mr. Whitman, who resided in the Vancouver area for 37 years, died Aug. 16, 2009, and a funeral service was conducted Aug. 21 at a funeral chapel there.

Born March 11, 1921, in Rosalia, to Hubert T. and Mabel V. Whitman, he grew up on the family farm and graduated from Rosalia High School with the class of 1940. He excelled at playing the sousaphone in spite of his brothers filling it with apples.

After graduation he trained to be a machinist at NYA school in Seattle, and then was employed as a driver for Bums Stage Line. In 1942 he scored high enough to be called into the Army Air Corps and served three years, all of it stateside under the Sullivan Act because five brothers and two brothers-in-law were in the service at the same time. He married Marilyn Squires, also a Rosalia grad, Jan. 24, 1945, while on a furlough. He adored her from the time he heard her, at age three, singing “Strawberry Roan” while standing on the dining room table.

After receiving his discharge in 1945, he worked in the farm machinery business for two years in Rosalia, five in St. John and 18 in Ritzville.

During this time he was very active in the Mennonite Church and served four terms as President of the Washington Mennonite Fellowship.

In 1972 he moved to Vancouver, where he served as claims investigator for the State Department of Labor & Industries.

After retiring in 1986, he became a volunteer for Neighbors-In-Deed, a Christian volunteer agency. He used his building skills to create 214 wheelchair ramps and 172 chair risers over a 12-year period.

Woodworking was his chief hobby and he crafted much of the furniture for several homes, along with building his own house in Ritzville. He delighted in building special gifts for this granddaughter. Other hobbies included golf, reading, tending his garden and sharing the produce with neighbors, friends, and the food bank.

In addition to being a dedicated father, he and Marilyn opened their home to three foster children.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Marilyn; son, Hal of Tekoa; daughter Phyllis (Jack) Heims of Portland; brother, Don Whitman of Spokane; brother, Dale Whitman of Spokane; sister, Kaye White of Clinton, Mont., and one granddaughter.

Remembrances may be given to: Ray Hickey Hospice House, 2112 E Mill Plain, Vancouver, WA 98661 or Mennonite Disaster Service, 1378 N. Damon Rd. Ritzville, 99169.