Obituaries: March 29, 2018

Lenore Steffan

Mar. 7, 1922-Mar. 24, 2018

Lenore J. Steffan, a longtime resident of Colfax, passed away on March 24, 2018 in Spokane Valley, Wash., at the age of 96.

Lenore was born March 7, 1922 in Great Falls, Mont., to Wilbert and Phoebe Bergland Johnson. Soon after, the family moved to Everett, Wash. When Lenore was six years old, they moved to Colfax where Lenore’s father opened Fonk’s Variety Store. She attended all 12 years of school in Colfax and graduated from Colfax High School in 1940.

Lenore attended Washington State College in Pullman where she met Keith Steffan from Vancouver, Wash., at a college dance a few weeks after she arrived. They went together that year and into the next fall. Then on December 7th, 1941, everyone’s lives changed with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Lenore and Keith were married in Vancouver on May 19, 1942, just three weeks before Keith entered the U.S. Navy. They stayed stateside for a year in Chicago while Keith went to navy school for airplane hydraulics, and then Keith went overseas to serve for two years in the South Pacific. Meanwhile, Lenore moved back to Colfax and worked in the high school office for two years.

When Keith got out of the Navy in 1945, they lived in Vancouver for a short time and then came back to Colfax in 1947, where Keith helped manage Fonk’s and later purchased the store and formed a partnership with Lenore’s brother, W.A. “Chic” Johnson.

While Lenore was a stay-at home mother for their three children, she also served as a Cub Scouts den mother, Camp Fire Girls co-leader, treasurer for the Community Fund, and volunteered in their church. She was active in the Elks Club, several bridge clubs, and Athenaeum Club. Keith passed away in Colfax in 2006 at the age of 84, and Lenore moved to Spokane Valley in 2009.

For many years, Lenore and Keith loved spending weekends on their houseboat on Coeur d’Alene Lake. After the children were grown, they enjoyed traveling in their motor home and spent many winters in Indio, Calif. Most of all, Lenore and Keith loved spending time with their many close friends and often went on trips with other couples.

Lenore is survived by her three children and their families: Gary and Bickie Steffan of Spokane, Mark and Julie Steffan of Spokane, and Gail and Tony Ortenzi of Annville, Pa. Lenore has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Ariane Stumbaugh and her husband, Wes of Spokane, and their two sons, Colton and Landon; Dustin Steffan and his wife, Jenny of Seattle; Tanner

Steffan and his wife, Brynn of Seattle; Sydney Steffan of Spokane; Schane Clark of Santa Ana, Calif .; and Andrew Clark of Baltimore, Md. Lenore was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Chic.

A celebration of Lenore’s life will be held at the

convenience of the family. The family suggests

memorials be made to the Whitman Hospital

Auxiliary or the American Cancer Society.

Pauline Neilands

Nov. 12, 1921-Mar. 23, 2018

Pauline Ruth Neilands, 96, of Pullman and formerly of Colfax, WA passed away March 23, 2018 at Avalon Care Center.

Pauline was born Nov. 12, 1921 in Wenatchee, Wash., to June & Katherine (Sullivan) Thrapp. She grew up in Wenatchee and graduated from

Wenatchee High School.

Pauline worked following high school as an elevator operator and at a local dentist office. It was during this time she met John (Jack) Neilands and on Feb. 14, 1942 Pauline and Jack were married in Wenatchee, Wash., where they made their home. Following Jack’s return from the war he went to work for J.C. Penny Company and the family moved to Great Falls, Mont. They later lived in Moscow and Lewiston, Idaho.

In 1966, the family moved to Colfax, Washington, and opened the Sears store on Main Street. Pauline assisted with the operation of the store and continued to raise the family. Pauline loved to garden and spend time at the Grandmother’s Thrift Shop. She was a very caring and giving person who always put others first. Pauline was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She participated on various bowling leagues through the years.

She is survived by her daughters, Cheri Abernethy of Colfax, Penny Neilands of Staten Island, N.Y., and Paula Neilands of Kirkland, Wash .; two grandchildren, Darren Smith & Kodel Mergens; three sisters, MaryAnn Winn, Carol Knutson, and Katy Carroll. In addition to her parents, Pauline was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; daughter, Pam Smith; and three brothers.

There will be no public services and Pauline will be interred with her family at the Wenatchee City Cemetery in Wenatchee, WA. Pauline’s family wishes to express their appreciation for all the support and love shown to her at Avalon Care Center. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax, WA has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to ww.bruningfuneralhome.com

Virginia Morgan

May 28, 1932-Mar. 23, 2018

Virginia Leora Schluneger Morgan born May 28, 1932, was called home March 23, 2018.

Virginia was born to Albert and Evalina Schluneger at Colfax, Washington, in spring 1932, and raised on their Onecho farmstead in the company of her six

siblings: Earl, Lester, John, Leona, Elmer and Edwin.

Her early years revolved around her love of the outdoors, farm animals and her extended family. She was very active, loved riding horses, enjoyed playing with her siblings and performed gymnastic stunts regularly. She attended school in the one room schoolhouse at Onecho until the eighth grade. After they moved to town in 1946, she met David Morgan, and determined early on that he was the one to build her life with.

David and Virginia were married September 15, 1951. They raised their three children – Alan, Gloria, and Cindy – on the family farm just down the road from the homestead Virginia grew up on. Virginia’s skills as a caretaker, a truck driver, a chauffeur, a cook, a pickle-maker, a baker, a gardener and a constant prayer warrior enriched her family. Her love increased as her children entered into lifelong marriages: Alan and Cathy Morgan residing on the Onecho family farm; Gloria and Roy Lord residing on the Morgan family farm; and Cindy and Ron

Peterson residing in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Virginia’s love of the outdoors continued to her last days. She maintained a

vegetable garden, several flower pots and spent hours watching the songbirds called to the carefully maintained feeders in her backyard. Her joy abounded as her family continued to grow while her children’s marriages bore fruit.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years, David, at their home on

Manning Road; three children and their spouses; nine grandchildren (in order of birth: Justin, Rachel, Shannon, Shelby, Patrick, David, Courtney, Derek, and Dylan); and ten great-grandchildren, with number eleven coming soon (in order of birth: Mark, Matthew, Ashley, Beth, Kayla, Emma, Audrey, Azure, Annie, and Roahm); by her sister, Leona Conrad; and by her brother, Edwin Schluneger.

Virginia was a lifelong member of the church now known as the Onecho Bible Church. A celebration of her life will be held there by her family and friends, on Thursday, March 29th at 1:30 in the afternoon. Family and friends are welcome to attend the graveside beforehand at 1:00 p.m. at the Onecho Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in Virginia’s honor are suggested to Gideon’s International or to Wycliffe Bible Translators. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.

Susan Flack

Sept. 28, 1938-Mar. 21, 2018

Susan Mary Snow Flack was passionate about faith, family, friends, fellowship and food.

She loved Jesus Christ and she poured out her life into loving people.

Susie, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Good Samaritan Moscow Village.

Her patience, grace and joy in the furnace of suffering over the last 5 ½ years touched countless people, and added many new names to the extraordinary list of those whose lives were changed by Susie’s influence.

She lived her faith visibly: intently listening and talking to, comforting, training, mentoring, hugging, teasing and often feeding the hundreds and hundreds of those blessed to be loved by her.

She was feisty and fun, and brought much laughter into life.

Susie was born September 28, 1938 at Gritman Hospital to Harold M. and Vivian (Wilson) Snow. She grew up and attended Moscow schools, graduating from Moscow High School. She then enrolled at the University of Idaho, graduating with a BA in Business.

Susie and Jack E. Flack were married at the Presbyterian Church in Moscow on September 14, 1959. In 1961, they moved to LaCrosse, Wash., to work on her parents’ ranch. In 1969, they built their current home on Snow Road, on original homestead property first settled by her great grandparents in 1877. She then threw herself into the joys of being a farm wife, raising her four

children, cooking, gardening, canning, driving truck and raising German Shorthair puppies with Jack.

Susie was active in 4-H in her youth and was a 4-H leader as her family grew. She was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority while at the UI. During summer, she loved spending time at the family cabin on Chatcolet Lake, where she often demonstrated her water skiing skill and shared her love of skiing by teaching others. In the winters she planned many family snow skiing trips to McCall and Schweitzer.

Susie was devoted to serving her church community, Evangelical Free Church of the Palouse, and touched many lives through her involvement in community Bible studies. She was legendary for her love of food, for preparing enormous farm-style meals and for collecting and sharing recipes.

Susie is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jack; and her children, Christine (Greg) Schultz of Moscow, Todd (Krystal) Flack of Powell Butte, Ore., Lorna (Dan) Druffel of Colton, and Andrew (Laurie) Flack of Valleyford, Wash. She also leaves 14 thoroughly adored grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren (and another due shortly); as well as her brother, Sherman (Barbara) Snow of Puyallup, Wash. She was preceded in death, in childhood, by her brother, Robert Snow. She is preceded in New Life by her beloved savior, Jesus Christ.

Viewing will be at Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A private graveside service will be at the Moscow Cemetery. The memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at the Evangelical Free Church, 4812 Airport Road, Pullman, WA. Refreshments and a time of fellowship will follow.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Evangelical Free Church of Pullman or to Logos School in Moscow. Arrangements have been entrusted to Short’s Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to http://www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.

Kaye Clark

Sept. 4, 1919-Mar. 20, 2018

Catherine H. (Kaye) Clark, 98 of Pullman, passed away March 20, 2018, the first day of spring on a sunny morning at the Sun Rise Peak Adult Family Home in Pullman.

Kaye was born September 4, 1919, in Colfax, Wash., to William and Della (Freels) Humphrey. Her parents and grandparents left Tennessee and homesteaded in the Garfield and Steptoe Butte area of Whitman County. Kaye was raised and

attended schools in Steptoe. After her graduation from High School in 1937, she completed training for a nursing degree at St. Ignatius Hospital in Colfax. Kaye continued her education specializing in surgical nursing in the state of Washington. She went to San Antonio, Texas, where she accepted a position at a medical hospital where she specialized in caring for returning GI’s during World War II.

Upon her return to the Palouse, Kaye reunited with her 4H acquaintance, Asa V. Clark, Jr. and on February 1, 1947 they were married. Kaye and Asa were a team on a number of levels and farmed in the Albion area their entire lives. They raised two sons, Bill and John. She was very involved with Clark farms through the years. Kaye considered it to be her “responsibility” to provide snacks and drinks to the entire crew on a daily basis during the harvest seasons for decades.

Kaye was involved with a number of groups that included Cub Scouts, Christian Women’s Club, Phoebians, PEO and WSU Alumni Association. Kaye and Asa were both avid supporters of Washington State University and especially athletics. They had season tickets to football and basketball programs for more than 50 years. They were named as Benefactors for WSU. She and Asa were also supporters of Kirk Tripletts’ golf career.

Faith was of extreme importance throughout Kaye’s life and she was a lifelong member of the Albion Community Church. Kaye gave generously to a good number of missionaries throughout her life as well as those in need of assistance for one reason or another. She thoroughly enjoyed “conversation” and engaging in a wide range of subjects with those around her. Kaye had a remarkable memory and

always acknowledged birthdays and anniversaries for all members of the family. She was a loving mother, wife and grandmother.

Kaye is survived by her sons, William (Stephanie), John; and beloved granddaughter, Andrea Assouad (Philip); and her great grandchildren, Alexis, Ayva and Nicolas as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Asa; beloved granddaughter, Jessica;

sisters, Wilma Sellick, Mary Lee Tollett; and a brother, Howard Humphrey.

A family memorial gathering will be planned at a later date. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman has been entrusted with arrangements. The family suggests memorial contributions go the Whitman County Historical Society or the Albion Community Church, Albion, WA 99102.

The family wishes to extend special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Stephanie Fosback and the staff at Bishop Place and Sun Rise Peak Adult Family Home for their wonderful care and compassion.

Online condolences may be sent to http://www.kimballfh.com