Obituaries: Feb. 15, 2018

Gordon Dean Beyer, 52, a resident of Potlatch, Idaho, died Feb. 6, 2018, at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.

Born June 19, 1965, at St. Maries, Idaho, to Gordon M. and Sherry L. Brown Beyer, he attended schools at St. Maries and Potlatch, Idaho. He also went on to earn welding certifications at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. He married Kristiana Jones May 2, 1986, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and the couple made their home at Potlatch.

He worked for Garfield farmers where he learned to drive semi-truck. He started working in 1998 for Wm V. Lowry & Son driving logging truck. He also worked for Wilbur Ellis hauling chemicals, driving chip truck for Bennett Lumber and finally driving logging truck for Hansen Logging at Harvard, Idaho, until health reasons forced him to retire. Dean loved to work on cars, hunt and fish.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Kristiana Beyer, at the Potlatch home; sons, Steven Beyer and his companion Courtney Jewett, Moscow; and Aarohn Beyer, Potlatch; daughter, Elainalynn Andres (CJ), all Potlatch; sisters, Shirley Mooney, Portland; Lynda Rustand, Moscow; and Sherry Allery and Peggy Fortner, both of Genesee; and six grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to the Potlatch Ambulance Fund, Box 63, Potlatch, ID 83855.

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

A gathering to celebrate the life of Clifford Westen Johnson, 57, will be at 4 p.m. March 3, 2018, at The Red Lion BBQ & Pub, 126 N. Division in Spokane. Mr. Johnson died unexpectedly Feb. 8, 2018, at his new home in Endicott.

Born Sept. 12, 1960, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Vern Jr. and Donamae Westensee Johnson, he grew up in Spokane and graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1979. He attended Washington State University in Pullman where he studied architecture and was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

He worked in commercial construction in various cities across the Pacific Northwest before returning to Spokane. He was hired as a corrections officer for the Spokane County Jail where he served for 30 years and served as a member of the hostage negotiation team before retiring last September.

Mr. Johnson loved to fish, hunt for antiques and collect comic books, old toys and antique radios. He was a talented artist and did stained glass work. He married Kayla Adams in Spokane April 20, 2002. Following his retirement they moved to Endicott last November.

Surviving are his wife, Kayla; daughter Sarah (Chad) Ruff of Suncrest; granddaughter, step-grandson, step-sons, Ryan (Jewel) Shea of Sandpoint, Andy Shea, Spokane, Will Shea of Medical Lake and Sam Munro, Spokane; parents, Vern Jr. and Donamae Johnson, Spokane; siblings, Linda (Eric) Carpenter of Colville, Russ (Mary) Johnson, Pam (Rick Suss) Johnson, and Laura (Dave) Grove, all of Spokane.

He was preceded in death by a son, Westen, in 2004.

Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax is caring for the family and in charge of cremation arrangements.

Nelda Irene Koller, 77, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at Whitman County Hospital in Colfax from complications of pneumonia and heart failure. Nelda was born September 13, 1940, to Clarence and Lottie Kimble Watson in Pomeroy. She grew up on a farm, 25 miles south of Pomeroy on the edge of the Blue Mountains. She graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1958.

In February of 1959, Nelda married Larry Koller, they divorced, and were remarried on November 26, 1960. She completed her freshman year of college at WSU and then attended beauty school in Spokane and became a licensed beautician. While Larry was attending WSU finishing his veterinarian degree, they lived in Pullman from 1960-1963. Nelda worked as a beautician and was raising two children at that time.

In June of 1963, they moved to Lewiston, Idaho, and Nelda became a full-time homemaker with three boys. In September 1968, the family moved to a farm 20 miles north of Pomeroy, then with their fourth son. They resided there for 42 years while raising four sons. Nelda helped with the family farm and livestock activities.

Nelda was a lifetime member of the Pomeroy Christian Church, teaching Sunday school when she was in high school and later on. She was twice president of the Mother’s Organization associated with the AGR fraternity at Washington State University, Superintendant of The Home Ec. Department at the Garfield County Fair for approximately ten years, a member of The Spade Swingers Garden Club and a dedicated Pirate Booster. She loved quilting, crocheting afghans, playing cards, and especially doing stained glass. She loved her family and attending any event her children and later her grandchildren participated in. She enjoyed spending time at Loon Lake and watching Gonzaga basketball.

Nelda is survived by her husband, Larry of 57 years; sons, Jim and Terri, Brian and Jana all of Pomeroy, Brent of Amarillo, Texas, and daughter-in-law, Shanna also of Amarillo, Texas; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Nick Koller, wife Ashley and sons, Kanin and Carson; Craig Koller; Karla, husband, Phillip Luft and children, Evelyn and Jace; Darren Koller, wife Madison and son, Kolt; Dalton Koller; Darbi Koller; Jared Koller; Alyssa, husband, Mike Lehmitz and sons, Kaysen and Holden; HayLee Koller; Torrie, husband, Judah Burton; a sister, Joan Smith of Clarkston; a brother, Ron Watson, wife, Wiona of Hermiston, Oregon, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Monty Koller, and a sister, Evonne Seipert.

The funeral was held Monday, February 12, at the Pomeroy Christian Church. The family suggests memorials to the Pomeroy Christian Church, PO Box 699, Pomeroy, WA 99347 or the Pomeroy FFA Alumni Association, c/o Kayleen Bye, 22 Sullivan Road, Pomeroy or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of life service for Patricia Claire Larson, 88, will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Potlatch.

She died Feb. 3, 2018, at Aspen Park care center in Moscow.

Born to John Wesley and Elda Bernice Wright McManama June 20, 1929, in Potlatch, she was the second of two children raised on farms on Deep Creek and Rock Creek. She attended Burden and Rock Creek country grade schools, and graduated from Potlatch High School in 1947. She and Ed Larson were married June 20, 1947.

She enjoyed working with children, as a 4H leader and as a school volunteer. For a while, she raised and sold Holstein calves she bought from a local dairy. She was a member of Grange, the Rock Creek Lady’s Club and Card Club.

She was preceded in death by two infant sons, Philip E. and John W. Larson, and her husband of 59 years, Edwin Larson. Surviving are sons Francis (Wilmalee) Larson of Potlatch; Chris (Gayle) Larson of St. Maries; Duane (Connie) Larson, Jim (Antoinette) Larson, Karl (Laurie) Larson and Matt (Joleen) Larson, and daughters Jenny (Bill) Warner and Anne (Ramiro) Garcia, all of Potlatch; 34 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Potlatch Ambulance Fund. Online condolences: http://www.kramercares.com

Robert G. Plunkett, 71, died at Tekoa Care Center on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, after a long illness. He was born to Thomas and Agnes Plunkett in 1946 and was raised in Veradale along with eight siblings. He never married.

Survived are four brothers, Thomas of Puyallup, Marcus (Dixie) of Clayton, John of Puyallup and James (Janie) of Arizona City, Ariz .; two sisters, Kathleen Bardy of Damascus, Ore., and Sally (Dan) Slankard of Granite Falls.

He liked to tell stories of his childhood, poked fun and told jokes. There were many farms in the Spokane Valley where he picked berries in the 1950s. In his last years he was the local recycler wherever he lived. Neighbors saved their cans and his friends at Tekoa Care saved cans for him.

He will be placed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Spokane Valley. A memorial will be held there in the spring.