Obituaries - April 22, 2010

Robert W. Haxton

Funeral mass for Robert W. (Bob) Haxton, 82, life-long Colfax resident, will be Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Rosary service will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the church, and a graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the St. John cemetery. Viewing will be at Bruning Funeral Home Wednesday and Thursday from 9-4 Mr. Haxton died last Thursday, April 15, 2010, at the Courtyard in Colfax where he has resided since 2004.

Born June 4, 1927, in Colfax to Dick and Eleanor McBride Haxton, he grew up on the family’s farm along Parvin Road and graduated from Colfax High School in 1945. Bob attended Gonzaga in Spokane for a brief time before returning to Colfax and working as a mechanic for Robideaux Motors and later for Brown & Holter. He married Velda McCall June 2, 1951, in Colfax. They were later divorced.

Bob worked for the Washington Water Power Co. for over 32 years. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, boating, water skiing and gardening. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Colfax Elks Lodge. He married Marilyn Kaiser from Endicott in 1981. She preceded him in death in 2001. He was also preceded in death by a son, Phil, in 2003.

Surviving are two daughters, Julie (Tom) Lennon of Spokane and Vickie Repp of Sandpoint; two sisters, Carol Rubin of Colfax and Mary Lou Johnson of Odessa, Mo .; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

The family suggests memorials go to the Knights of Columbus in Colfax or American Cancer Society.

On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Jeffrey S. Herne

A memorial service for Jeffrey Scott Herne, 47, resident of Colfax for seven years, will be today, Thursday, April 22, at 11 a.m. at the Colfax Church of the Nazarene. Mr. Herne died Tuesday, April 13, as the result of injuries sustained in a cooking accident at his home.

Born Jan, 22, 1963, in Suffolk County, N.Y., to James and Gertrude Clauss Herne, he spent his early years in New York and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he started a construction business and ran a limousine service. He met Karen Schroer and the couple began their life together and started their family. The family moved around several times but always seemed to keep coming back to Ohio. An industrial accident in 1995 claimed one of his legs and he has been medically disabled since. They moved to Colfax in 2003 to be closer to family. Jeffrey enjoyed watching TV crime shows and NASCAR. He enjoyed camping and fishing with famly members and his dog, Meadow.

Survived are his companion of 26 years, Karen Schroer of Colfax; three daughters, Holly, Danielle and Lori, all of Colfax; a granddaughter, Madison Doak; his sister Vicki Brock and brother, James Herne, both of Colfax, and a sister, Lori Hawson in New York.

Eugene Meusborn

Eugene Meusborn, 95, former long-time machinist and mechanic, died last Monday, April 12, 2010, in Spokane. A funeral service Eugene was Monday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairfield followed by burial at Rosewood Cemetery. A public reception followed at the church.

He was born March 1, 1915, in Cedar Rapids, Neb., and was an Army veteran of WWII. He was employed for several years with the former Burns Auto Parts. Also, he and his wife, Dorothy, operated the Country Trading Post along Highway 195 south of Colfax. She survives at the home in Spokane.

Margo Lynn Griffin

Margo Lynn Griffin, 62, Pullman, died Monday, April 12, 2010 at her Pullman home. In accordance with her request, a service will not be conducted.

Born July 19, 1947, in Moscow to Frank and Maxine Shove Jensen, she grew up a in Deary, Idaho, and graduated from Deary High School with the class of 1965. She went on to graduate from Mr. Nex’s Beauty School in 1966 and married David Griffin of Deary that year. They lived briefly in Moscow before moving back to Deary. They were later divorced. Margo worked for the Whitepine School District as a custodian at the School. Her interests included painting, ceramics and collecting dolls.

She is survived by her daughter, Julie (David) White of Moscow; her son Scott (Christie) Griffin, Spokane; two sisters, Lana Weber of Endicott and Kathy Peterson of Deary; a brother Bob Jensen of Bovill and two grandsons.

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

Virginia E. Sieveke

A memorial service for Virginia E. Sieveke, 90, a lifelong Tekoa area resident, will be Monday, April 26, at 2 p.m. at the Latah Country Bible Church. The Rev. Mark Mewhinney and Kathy Kramer will officiate. Urn burial will be at the Latah City Cemetery. Mrs. Sieveke died Friday, April 16, at her Tekoa home.

Born Dec. 11, 1919, to John E. and Ora Lee Copenhaver Fox at the Oakesdale home, she attended the Fairbanks Country School, and played on the Oakesdale High School girls basketball team. After graduating in 1937, she attended Washington State College in Pullman where she majored in music and home economics and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.

She married Kenneth L. Sieveke Sept. 21, 1940, at Oakesdale and they made their home in the Lone Pine area near Tekoa where he farmed and she was a homemaker.

She was a member of the Latah Country Bible Church, Chapter AT of the PEO and the Single Slam Bridge Club.

Virginia credited her mother for her musical talent and beautiful voice. She started taking lessons at an early age, riding her horse to her teacher’s home. In school she sang in trios and glee clubs, and Sundays she worshiped from the church choir. Through the years her voice graced a local radio program, the WSC choir, the Spokane Acapella Choir, and many funerals and weddings. Virginia’s creativity also sparked many of Tekoa’s Fourth of July Slippery Gulch theatrical productions.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, son John Sieveke and daughter Jennifer Sieveke.

Survivors include one son James (Maureen) Sieveke of Tucson, Ariz .; one daughter, Cynthia Johnson of Tucson; daughter in law Peggy Sieveke of Tekoa; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Latah Country Bible Church.

Helen Marie Snyder

A memorial service for Helen Marie Blasingame Snyder, 87, will be at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ritzville at 1 p.m. Friday, April 23. Interment will precede the service at Pioneer Cemetery in Washtucna, Friday at 10 a.m. Mrs. Snyder died April 15, 2010, in Spokane.

Born to Clifford and Artha Andoe Blasingame April 22, 1922, in Lampe, Mo., she graduated from high school in Blue Eye, Mo., in 1939 and from Southwest Missouri State, Springfield. She later earned a master’s degree from Eastern Washington State College.

She started teaching at the age of 17 in a one-room school at Missouri and came to Washtucna in 1947. She met Lester Snyder and they were married Aug. 18, 1948, in Ritzville. They lived on the farm between Ralston and Washtucna. She spent many hours writing grants and lobbying in Olympia for education and agriculture. She served on the Adams County School Board, and was a member of the Ralston Grange, Pomona Grange and Washington State Grange where she was active in Ag in the Classroom. She was a member of Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Walk to Emmaus and served as Sunday School teacher at Washtucna Community Church.

For the last six years she resided at Sunshine Gardens Health Facility in Spokane.

Surviving are her husband Lester, son Jerry (Gretchen) Snyder and daughter Janet Camp and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by son-in-law Alan Camp.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Marie Snyder scholarship fund, c/o Danekas Funeral Home 207 E Main, Ritzville, 99169.

http://www.danekasfuneralhome.org