Obituary: Detmer, Maynard Arthur “Doc”
Age 97
He was born in Holyoke, Colorado, on November 4, 1917, but grew up in Spokane.
During the late 1930’s, he left home to sell artist portraits while traveling across the U.S.
In the 1940’s, he worked for Armour Packing Co., as a laborer and for Carstens Packing Co. as a sales rep.
He married Betty Cooper in 1942.
From 1950 - 1980, he worked for Folger’s Coffee Co. (Proctor and Gamble) as a traveling salesman while living in Walla Walla.
After retiring from Proctor and Gamble, Doc and Betty moved back to Spokane.
From his teens to days before his passing, Doc was an avid ballroom dancer.
He attributed dancing to his long life and good health.
Betty also loved to dance during her 54 loving years of marriage to Doc.
Recently, his favorite dance sites each week were the Day Out for the Blind and the Spokane Eagles, accompanied by his devoted dance partner of six years, Anne Steffen.
He would occasionally attend North Star, Corbin and Valley Senior Centers as well.
He was an active (founding) member of the South Side Senior Center dance committee since the 1990’s until the Thursday night dances were cancelled in 2012.
During that time period, he was also a member of the ballroom dance group, Crystal Chandeliers.
Since 1980, Doc was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in the Lincoln Heights area.
For years, he was head usher there, and he was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus since the 1950’s.
He was preceded in death by wife Betty Detmer (1996), son Larry Detmer (2002), daughter Janice Detmer (1958), sisters, Clara Schmauder (2011) and Deloris Watson (2008), and brother Roy Detmer (1990).
He is survived by son Craig Detmer (Joan), granddaughter Madeleine Detmer (21), grandson Jack Detmer (14) and sister Elsie Heine (105).
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 18th and Freya, on Saturday, January 24, at 10:00a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to St. Peter’s parish or Day Out for the Blind, 1502 E. Holyoke, Spokane, 99217.