Obituaries - 4/7/11

Allan Schmoe

Allan Schmoe, 73, former resident of Steptoe and St. John, died Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at Sullivan Park Care Center in Spokane Valley. He has lived in the valley since 2008.

Born Jan.21, 1938, to Othel and Vera Bauman Schmoe, he was raised in the Ballard area of Seattle and served in the U.S. Navy. He later resided in Steptoe and St. John and was employed as janitor for the St. John schools for many years and later moved back to Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his long-time companion, Betty McGhee, and brother John Schmoe.

Among survivors are three children, Amber (Josh) Collier, Spokane Valley; Debi (Bret) Ford, Colville, and Michael Daugherty, Harrisburg, Pa .; brothers and sisters, Ted (Linda) Schmoe, Jean (Wayne) Burchfield, Dolores (Eldon) Henslee, Hank (Lynne) Schmoe, and Carol Krzycki, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at a later date.

Gerald Swanbeck

Gerald Francis (Jerry) Swanbeck, 86, LaCrosse, died Sunday, April 3, 2011. In accordance with his request, there will be no formal service and he will be buried next to his parents at Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane.

Born Jan. 22, 1925, to William and Jo Hynes Swanbeck, he grew up in Spokane and graduated from Rogers High School. He served in the Army and served in Korea. After he was discharged he returned to Spokane and started work for McKesson and Robbins as a pharmaceutical salesman and held this job for 30 years. Later he worked at the Bull Test Station in LaCrosse.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved music. He played piano and as a young man joined several of his friends playing in a dance band. For many Christmases he was a very convincing Santa Claus and played him to perfection delighting both young and old in the family.

On-line condolences:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

LaVinia Besola

Funeral service for LaVinia Cunningham Besola, 74, was March 31, at the Lopez Union Cemetery, Lopez Island. A memorial service will be Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 4 p.m. at Wabash Presbyterian Church in Auburn.

She died March 25, 2011 in Auburn.

Born Oct. 10, 1936, to Orville and Pearl Clark Cunningham in Belmont, she graduated from Oakesdale High School in 1953, earned a bachelor of arts from Washington State College in 1956 and earned a law degree from Gonzaga School of Law in 1964.

She taught at Kinman Business School and Eastern Washington University where she met her husband, Everett.

After their marriage in Spokane they moved to Montana where LaVinia was a homemaker for a brief time until her husband’s sudden death March 18, 1967.

Following her husband’s death she moved her family to Lopez Island in San Juan County where she taught in public schools until her retirement in 1992.

She raised her family on Lopez Island and was an active member of her community until seven years ago when due to failing health, she left behind her island life to live with her daughter Amy.

In her new life she was a daily part of A Small Animal Hospital where she made many new friends.

She called Wabash Presbyterian Church her church home.

She is survived by son Mark Besola, Lake Tapps; daughters, Julia (Kenn) Besola-Robinson, Blaine, and Amy Besola, Auburn, and one granddaughter.