Obituaries
Melvin McFarlane Spokane
Visitation for Melvin McFarlane, 81, will be from 4 to 5 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service is planned for noon Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7th Ward Chapel. Graveside service will be Monday in Salt Lake City.
Mr. McFarlane, who was born Salt Lake City, died Saturday.
In 1939, he married Norine Pendleton in Salt Lake City.
He served in the Army during World War II.
Mr. McFarlane served a three-year church mission in Czechoslovakia. He was also a former bishop, and a counselor of the Spokane Stake Presidency and served on the High Council of the church.
He was a manager at Alsco Northwest and was owner of Allstate Aluminum Products. He also worked as an agent for New England Life Insurance.
He lived in Spokane for 49 years and was a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters, Million Dollar Round Table and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include his wife, Norine; four daughters, Janice May and Annette McFarlane, both of Spokane, and Melva Dixon and Gayle Summerhays, both of Salt Lake City; two sons, Daniel and Gary McFarlane, both of Spokane; 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.
Gordon Wester Phoenix
Visitation for Gordon Gregg Wester, 68, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service is set for 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Nezperce (Idaho) Russell Cemetery.
Mr. Wester, who was born in Nezperce, died Friday.
He graduated from Nezperce High School in 1947.
Mr. Wester worked for National Bank of Commerce, which later became Rainier National Bank in Seattle.
He was a bank officer and manager at branches in Edmonds, Wash., Moses Lake, Newport, Colville, the Spokane Regional office, Wapato, Wash., and Yakima. He retired in 1989 in Spokane.
Mr. Wester was a member of the Lions Club, Elks Lodge and the Holiday Rambler Recreational Vehicle Club. He also served as a local, regional and state officer of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Phyllis (Neumayer); three sons, Michael Wester of Red Lodge, Mont., Douglas Wester of Folsom, Calif., and Steven Wester of Naches, Wash.; two daughters, Carla Wheeler of Portland and Debra Butler of Boise; a sister, Virginia of Tillamook, Ore.; and 12 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lions Club Sight Foundation, c/o Manito Lions Club, or the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.
Gina Brent Spokane
No service will be held for Gina Brent, 31, at her request. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Brent, who was born in Billings, Mont., died last Thursday.
She had worked as general manager of Europa for the past three years.
Ms. Brent was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and participated in the Big Brothers and Sisters program and was a member of the Peester Sister Society.
Survivors include four brothers, Tony of Spokane, and Pat, Brad and Jeff Brent, all of Billings, Mont.
George Dart Seattle
Service for George Thomas Dart, 75, was Wednesday.
Mr. Dart, who died Saturday, was born in Priest River, Idaho.
He was raised in Dartford and graduated from Mead High School.
Mr. Dart worked in the family business at Dart Truck and Tractor.
His first wife, Evelyn, preceded him in death.
He served in World War II in the European Theater and survived the Battle of the Bulge.
In 1985 he retired and moved to Seattle, where he met and married Ruth Ship.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; a daughter, Lynn Horno of Spokane; a son George Dart of Bellevue, Wash.; five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Michael Grzechowiak Sr. Spokane
Mass of Christian Burial for Michael A. “Mike” Grzechowiak Sr., 46, will be 8 a.m. today at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Burial with full military honors will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park. A reception will follow at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1474. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Grzechowiak, who was a lifetime resident of Spokane, died Jan. 14.
He graduated from Rogers High School and served in the Air Force until 1981, when he took medical retirement.
Mr. Grzechowiak worked as a salvage operator.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Grzechowiak Jr. of Spokane and Harald Grzechowiak of Trout Creek, Mont.; a daughter, Dora Lee Grzechowiak of Spokane; his father, Richard Grzechowiak of Toledo, Ohio; his mother, Lea Kokstis of Spokane; four brothers, Ray, Jhon, Richard and Gary Grzechowiak; and a stepbrother.
Clara Kissler Odessa, Wash.
Service for Clara Kissler, 102, will be at 11 a.m. today at Heritage United Church of Christ Sanctuary in Odessa. Burial will follow at Odessa Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home in Odessa is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kissler, who was born in Bickleton, Wash., died Sunday.
She moved to an area east of Odessa with her family in 1908.
In 1915 she married George Kissler in Odessa. They lived in North Dakota, Canada, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, California, Washington and Wyoming.
Mrs. Kissler moved back to Odessa in 1957.
Her husband died in 1965.
Mrs. Kissler was a member of the Heritage United Church of Christ, Historical Society of Germans from Russian and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include a son, Roland Kissler of Moses Lake; a daughter, Miriam Knopp of Yakima; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Charles Darou Jr. Malden, Wash.
Memorial service for Charles H. Darou Jr., 74, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Darou, who was born and raised in Depauville, N.Y., died Saturday.
He served in the Army during World War II and was called back to serve in the Korean War.
Mr. Darou moved to Spokane in 1960 and worked in the tire industry. He worked for 14 years for Montgomery Wards.
While at Montgomery Wards he designed a truck tire and was awarded a brand new 1963 Mercury Marauder for his efforts.
He later worked for Great Northern Bandag in Chewelah, Wash., and finally he managed Sam’s Tire in Spokane until his retirement in 1986.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Joyce; two daughters, Kathy Koch of Charleston, S.C., and Lisa Barwick of Ellicott City, Md.; a son, Larry Darou of Beaverton, Ore.; two stepsons, Jim and Joel Burger, both of Spokane; three sisters, Flora La Rose, Roberta Denny and Margaret Switzer, all of New York; a brother, Ronald Darou of New York; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 2625 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121.
Edith (Weipert) Bennett Chewelah, Wash.
Visitation for Edith Lydia (Weipert) Bennett, 94 will be from noon to 2 p.m. today at Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park. Graveside service is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Reardan (Wash.) Community Cemetery.
Mrs. Bennett, who was born in Waukon, Wash., died Monday.
She was a resident of Williams Valley and Deer Park before moving to Chewelah 56 years ago.
She was a homemaker.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Mrs. Bennett was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Chewelah.
Survivors include two daughters, Charlotte Holford of Colbert and Carol Bennett of New York City; a sister, Alice Patton, and a brother Roy Weipert, both of Spokane; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Francis ‘Sunny’ Horn Spokane
Vigil service for Francis E. “Sunny” Horn, 96, will be at 7 p.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Funeral Mass is set for 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Private burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Horn, who was born in Spokane, died Monday.
He served with the Marines at the Panama Canal and in Connecticut.
Mr. Horn worked as a mechanic for the Great Northern Railroad in Great Falls, Mont.
In 1930 he was elected mayor of Marcus, Wash., and served for 10 years.
He then moved to Portland, where he worked as a shop foreman for a large machine company before returning to Spokane.
Mr. Horn worked as machinist tool and dye maker for Columbia Electronic Co. in Spokane in 1950.
In 1956 he was elected to the state apprenticeship division of the Department of Labor and Industries. He retired in 1965.
Mr. Horn was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Survivors include an uncle, Joseph Daschbach of Great Falls; a niece, Virginia Dunham of Spokane; and a great niece Jonna Brown of Mead.
Elsie Littlefield Colburn, Idaho
Service for Elsie May Littlefield, 51, will be at 11 a.m. today at Coffelt’s Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Littlefield, who was born in Sandpoint, died Sunday.
She grew up and graduated from high school in Thompson Falls, Mont., in 1965 before moving to Sandpoint.
Mrs. Littlefield helped operate the family-owned logging business and recently worked as a teller at Panhandle State Bank for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve.
Survivors include two children, Stevie and Milton Littlefield, both of Colburn; four brothers, Lloyd Byfield of Weiser, Idaho, Dick and Frank Inman, both of Sandpoint, and Wally Inman of Usk, Wash.; four sisters, Ann Laws of Coeur d’Alene, Linda Gooby and Patty Berg, both of Sandpoint, and Debbie Hale of Colburn; and one grandson.
Joseph Greene Jr. Spokane
Visitation for Joseph Franklin Greene Jr., 80, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service is set for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Greene, who was born in McRae, Ark., died Monday.
He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Mead doing inventory control for 30 years and retired in 1979.
Mr. Greene was a resident of Spokane for 58 years and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Emma; two sons, Joseph Greene III of Spokane and Gary Greene of Kennewick; a brother, Hugh Greene of Mississippi; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
LeRoy Harris Moscow, Idaho
Viewing for LeRoy V. Harris, 91, will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Friday at Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Genesee, Idaho. Burial will follow at Genesee City Cemetery.
Mr. Harris, who was born in Lewiston, died Sunday.
He grew up and graduated from high school in Genesee and then moved to Seattle, where he worked as a bellhop for the Davenport Hotel.
Mr. Harris returned to Genesee several years later and attended the University of Idaho for a short time and then worked at Smolts Ice Creamery in Genesee.
In 1936 he purchased the Genesee Texaco Service Station, which he operated for more than 40 years.
He moved to Moscow three years ago.
Mr. Harris was a member of the Genesee Medical/Dental Association and the Moose Lodge of Moscow and served as past president of the Genesee Civic Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Zenner of Genesee; a son, Jade Harris of Oregon; two brothers, Robert and Richard Harris, both of Spokane; a sister, Genevieve Weeks of Renton, Wash.; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Genesee Fire Department or St. John’s Lutheran Church.
, DataTimes