Obituaries: March 22, 2018

Catherine H. Clark, 98, a long time Pullman resident, died Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at the Belle Vista Adult Family Home in Pullman. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Benny Joe Glorfield, 90, longtime wheat farmer and cattle rancher, passed on March 7, 2018, at his home in St. John, Washington.

Ben was born September 19, 1927, at the family home northwest of Ewan, Washington. He was the fourth of six children, (Doris, Alva May, Jack, Ben, Lila and Patsy) born to Jack (JP) and Grace

Glorfield.

In April 1934, Ben’s mother, Grace, died at the age of 42 from complications of a gallstone operation. Ben put in his first harvest at the age of nine. He went to grade school in Ewan where he remembers his greatest teachers, Ruth Pierson in grade school, and Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock in high school. He graduated from St. John High School in 1945.

In May, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and traveled to San Diego for training. Upon completion of training, he served in China for eight months with the occupation forces. In the fall of 1946, he came home to help seed the fall crop. Ben married Gloria Starkey from Pine City in 1948. In 1949, they bought 27 acres from Emmett Shawgo and constructed the family home on the property. In

November, 1948, Glorian was born followed by Alicia in June, 1950; Lila in March, 1954; and Eric in April, 1955.

In 1956, the Glorfield brothers (Ben and Jack) established a cattle operation and were the first to cross breed cattle. In 1964, they were named Cattlemen of the Year for Whitman County. Ben served many years on the Whitman County Cattlemen board of directors and the St. John Grain Growers. In 1968, a new county farm organization was formed, the National Farmers Organization. NFO is chartered in Whitman County and Ben

became the first county president and later the Washington State president. His biggest

disappointment was not being able to organize the farmers to save the family farms.

In 1980, he and Gloria divorced. In 1992, after being diagnosed with leukemia, he quit farming

altogether. During his last years, he battled many illnesses, but with good fortune, he met his

childhood neighbor, Thelma Weiland. To him and his family, she has nurtured all of us with

gentleness and love, sharing happy days with our Dad, giving him tender care during difficult days.

Ben is survived by his four children, Glorian Morton (Bob), Alicia Pugh (Randy), Lila Nees (Jon), and Eric Glorfield (Cindy); his sisters, Doris Erickson, Alva May Jordan, Lila Curtis Novak and Patsy Mills. His brother Jack preceded him in death in 2005. Ben also has six grandchildren and six great-

grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and no services will be held.

Joyce Aileen Bafus Johnson, lifelong resident of Endicott, passed away

peacefully at her home at Cityview Adult Family Home in Colfax, March 16, 2018. She was 93.

Aileen was born at the family home November 4, 1924, to Carl and Sarah Kleweno Bafus. She grew up on the family farm with her twin sister, Elaine, younger sister, Joanne, and younger brother, Edgar. She started school in 1930, graduating from Endicott High School with the first war-time class during World War II. One of Aileen’s school-day memories was when the first yellow school bus came out their way after the Thera School District consolidated with the Endicott School District in the mid-1930’s. Aileen attended the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Endicott, where she was baptized and confirmed.

Aileen married Charles Dale Johnson May 30, 1942. They lived in Vancouver, Washington, until Dale was inducted into the Army Air Corps in September of that year. Aileen was able to live in Wichita Falls, Texas, near where Dale was stationed at Sheppard Field until he left for Italy for overseas service. After living and working in various places Aileen enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. The war ended in August of 1945 and she decided she should come home to be with her husband and was able to be discharged in October. They lived in Vancouver where their daughters, Sylvan and Christine, were born in 1946 and 1947.

In March of 1948, they moved to Endicott, to the farm where Aileen’s father taught Dale how to farm. Their son, Charles, was born in 1950 and son, David, was born in 1956. They farmed until 1983 when Dale retired and they moved to town.

Aileen was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as Sunday School treasurer for over twenty years, holding offices in the Iris Circle and Women of the Church group. She taught Sunday School for several years. She was a member of the Lady Jaycees. She was a charter member of the Women in Military Service for America, Eastern Washington Chapter of the Women Marines Association, life-member of the WMA, and was precinct committee

officer of the County Republican Party for many years. She was also a member of the Whitman County Historical Society. She was a member of Winona Grange for ten years. She worked in the Grange Insurance Claims office in Colfax for nearly ten years as an assistant secretary.

Aileen is survived by her children, Sylvan Johnson of Seattle, Christine Johnson of Pasadena, Calif., Charles Johnson (and wife, Joanne) of Cornelius, Ore. and David Johnson (and wife, Pam) of Endicott. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Jamaica Kompier of Seattle, Charlie Johnson of Portland, Eric Johnson (and wife, Goldie) of LaGrande, Ore., and Trevor Johnson (and wife, Jenn) of Endicott; and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Dale, who passed away in 2006, she was preceded in death by sister, Laverne (1929); brother, Edgar Bafus; sister, Joanne Martin; and twin sister, Elaine Poffenroth.

There will be a graveside service at the Endicott Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2018, with a luncheon following at Trinity Lutheran Church. The family suggests memorial gifts made in her honor to Trinity Lutheran Church. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is in charge of the arrangements.

Joseph Michael “Joe” McDonald, Colfax native and master electrician, died March 10, 2018 at his

Pullman apartment. He was 41.

Joe was born February 5, 1977 in Pullman to Dennis and Julie Whitlock McDonald. The

McDonald family lived on the North Palouse River Road and Joe loved riding his dirt bike all over the hills in that area. He picked on his little sister, Lisa, whenever he could too. School wasn’t Joe’s favorite thing to do, but he did like the sports that it offered. He played football and baseball, but he excelled as a wrestler. He was also a yellow belt in Kenpo karate. Joe graduated from Colfax High School in 1995. He attended North Idaho College trade school as an apprentice electrician and it wasn’t too long before he earned his journeyman’s license.

He married Sarah Ambacher on October 6, 2001. They made their home in Colfax and had three

children; Tristan, Evan and Brenna. Joe worked in Colfax for M/M Harrison Electric, Greg’s Electric and he owned and operated his own business, Integrity Electric. Joe later worked in Pullman for KACI Contractors and at the time of his death, he was qualified as a master electrician.

He and Sarah were later divorced and Joe would marry again and have a son, Wyatt.

Joe was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Colfax and the Knights of Columbus.

He liked to read his Bible and more recently he was excited to be learning to speak German.

He loved to play his guitar and he listened to heavy metal music.

Joe will be missed by many, many people in the community, but especially by his four precious children; Tristan, Evan and Brenna McDonald all of Genesee, Idaho, and Wyatt McDonald of LaFayette, Georgia; his mom and dad, Dennis McDonald of Colfax and Julie Wells of Diamond; his sisters, Lisa Aase of Colfax, and Amber Shafer and Alicia McDonald both of Spokane; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Joe was preceded in death by his grandparents, Roy and Carol McDonald, and Joyce Whitlock.

The rosary service was held Friday, March 16th, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Colfax. Funeral mass was celebrated on Saturday, March 17th, also at St. Patrick’s and burial followed at the Colfax Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in Joe’s memory are encouraged to the Electric Shock Survivors International, P.O. Box 1156 Jacksonville, North Carolina 28541-1156, USA, or to the Morningstar Boys Ranch, 4511 S Glenrose Rd, Spokane, WA 99223. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.