Obituaries - Oct. 15, 2009

Alvina E. Howe

A memorial service for Alvina Howe, 84, former resident of Tekoa and Plummer, was Monday, Oct. 12, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fairfield with the Rev. Paul Anderson officiating.

She died Oct. 5, 2009, at Spokane.

Born Aug. 13, 1925, near Oakesdale to Albert and Sophie Clausen Hansen, she was the youngest of nine children. She attended school at Tekoa and graduated from Tekoa High School in 1943. Alvina married Leonard Buth June 8, 1947, at Fairfield, and they made their home at Tekoa. Mr. Buth died in 1957, and Alvina married Douglas Howe May 27, 1966, at Fairfield. They farmed in the Plummer area until they retired in 1981. They moved to Spokane in March of 2005, and Mr. Howe died in January of 2006. Alvina moved to the Rockwood Retirement Community in April of 2009.

A member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Fairfield, her hobbies included oil painting, ceramics, cooking and swimming. She enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on Coeur d’ Alene Lake. Well into her 80’s she was an avid swimmer, and up until recently enjoyed riding her jet ski which she purchased when she was 70.

Surviving are one son, Steven (Di) Buth, Bellevue; one daughter, Gail (Tom) Stevenson, Spokane, and four grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Jeremy Buth.

Memorial gifts may go to Alvina E. Howe Memorial Scholarship to benefit single parents, CCS Foundation, PO Box 600 – MS 1005, Spokane, WA 99217-6000, or to the Zion Lutheran Church, Box 324, Fairfield, 99012.

Floyd Bailey

A graveside service for Floyd George Bailey, 82, life-long Rock Lake rancher, will be Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. at the St. John Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Ewan Church of the Nazarene. The Rev. Dennis Franklin will officiate. Viewing will be all day Thursday and Friday at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax.

He died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 in Colfax.

Born at the family home at Rock Lake Sept. 16, 1927, to George and Lola Harwood Bailey, he attended schools at Ewan and St. John where he graduated in 1945.

Floyd farmed and ranched in the Ewan area as a young man.

He married Barbara Dollarhide in Colfax on his birthday, Sept. 16, 1949.

Floyd enlisted in the Army in 1952 and served during the Korean Conflict as a supply specialist.

He was proud of his military service and was a recipient of the Bronze Star award.

Honorably discharged in 1954, he returned to his family and the ranch.

His life was spent doing what he loved and that was farming and cattle ranching with the last 25 years along Rock Lake.

He enjoyed visiting the boat launch at the lake on an almost daily basis and visiting with the fishermen there.

He was also a member of the Ewan Church of the Nazarene and the Eaton Grange.

In earlier years he loved to go elk hunting.

He enjoyed music and running his video camera to record special events and people in his life.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Barbara, at St. John; two children, Gail (Alden) Sherrodd of Greenacres and Mike (Willy) Bailey of St. John; two brothers, Lyle and Norman Bailey, both of St. John, and a sister, Nancy Hannamen of Cheney; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to the Ewan Church of the Nazarene or to the St. John Fire Dept./EMTs. On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Margaret Weller Brown

A memorial service for Margaret Elaine Weller Brown, 93, Pullman will be Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. in the Independent Terrace Social Room at Bishop Place in Pullman. A reception will follow.

She died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at Bishop Place in Pullman.

Born Aug. 25, 1916, in Krupp, Wash., to Vern and Mabel Frey Weller, she grew up in Libby, Mont., where she met Clifford John Brown. They were married Dec. 28, 1937, in Spokane. Their only child Barbara Elaine was born July 25, 1945. Margaret had several jobs in Spokane, the most memorable being cashier and hostess at the Early Birds Club in the Davenport Hotel. Following Clifford’s retirement in 1979 they moved to Sun City, Ariz.

Cliff preceded her in death in 1987. Margaret continued to live in Sun City until May of 2005 when she moved to Bishop Place in Pullman to be closer to her daughter and family.

She enjoyed dancing, playing bridge, bingo and lawn bowling. Margaret was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Sun City.

Surviving are her daughter, Barbara (Bob) Bates of Colton; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to Friends of Hospice, 1610 NE Eastgate Suite 850, Pullman, 99163, or to Bishop Place in her memory, Margaret 815 SE Klemgard, Pullman.

Online condolences: http://www.kimballfh.com

Winifred Knott

A graveside service for Winifred L. Knott, 92, Garfield native, will be Thursday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Garfield Cemetery. She died Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 in Ritzville.

Born June 27, 1917, in Garfield to Solomon Charles and Leona Lawrence Raper, she graduated from Garfield High School and went on to attend nurse’s training in Spokane. She married Harlie Griner in 1938. Their marriage was blessed with four children. They lived in Garfield for a while and later moved to Peshastin. Mr. Griner died in 1960. Winifred worked for a time at Fuller’s Grocery in Peshastin and was involved in the restaurant business in the Wenatchee area for a time. She moved to Spokane for a few years. She married George Knott in 1965. They lived on a ranch at Winona until a stroke and health issues forced her to move to a care center about six years ago.

She enjoyed painting, flowers, working in her yard and sewing. She upholstered and re-finished furniture pieces. She could sew anything from tractor and car seats to chaps for the grandchildren. She was a member of the Christian Church in Rosalia.

Mr. Knott died in 2004.

Surviving are two daughters; Janet Cenotto of Waterville; JoAn Isaman of Soap Lake and a son, Richard L. Griner of Wenatchee and a step-son, Ed Knott of Endicott; a brother, Ronald Roper, Spokane, and a sister, Audrey Lamb, Spokane; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

In addition to both husbands, she was preceded in death by a son Gary Griner in 1992; a grandson, Randy, and a great-grandson, J.R.

The family suggests memorials to a charity of choice. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Robert Luedeking

A memorial service for Robert Luedeking, 85, retired WSU chemical engineering professor who was active in community affairs, was Friday, Oct. 9, at St. James Episcopal Church in Pullman. He died Oct. 6, 2009, at Pullman Regional Hospital following a brief illness.

Born July 5, 1924, in York, Pa., to Carl and Helen Thompson Luedeking, he moved with his family to Buffalo, New York, and was raised there. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and trained to be a meteorologist. He was stationed along the boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Purdue University where he received his bachelor’s degree and played in the marching band.

His love of marches continued throughout his life, and he was proud of his extensive collection of 78 records. He attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and met Leila Lindquist, also a graduate student, there. They were married in Grand Rapids, Minn., Aug. 17, 1952. He completed his doctorate in chemical engineering in 1956 and they moved to Pullman that same year. He was a professor in the chemical engineering department at Washington State University for more than 25 years before retiring in 1981.

A member of St. James Episcopal Church, he sang in the church choir. He was a member of Pullman Kiwanis, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He also played trombone for many years with the Pullman Community Band and was very active in the Whitman County Historical Society.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Leila, at their Pullman home; five daughters, Karen Luedeking, Spokane; Christine Gray, Moscow; Barbara Crandall, Kenmore; Helen Thomas, Pullman, and Sylvia Luedeking, Broomfield, Colo .; a brother, William Luedeking of Seattle and a sister, Mary Hession of Georgia; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

The family suggests memorials be made to the WSU Foundation, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, St. James Episcopal Church or the Whitman County Historical Society.

On-line guest book: http://www.kimballfh.com