Obituaries: June 14, 2018

Ruth E. Martin, longtime LaCrosse homemaker, passed away on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax.

She was 68.

The Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 15th, at 11:00 a.m.

at the LaCrosse High School.

Ruth was born December 21, 1949 in Colfax to James D. and Clara M. Burgess Moore.

She grew up around Hay and Kahlotus, Washington and graduated from the LaCrosse High School in 1968.

Early years in 4H and growing up on a farm helped Ruth with the cow cutting and showing that she did in high school.

She married Jerry Martin of LaCrosse on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1977.

Her two children, ages 5 and 7, combined with Jerry’s three and the Martin household was a bustle of activity.

Ruth loved her time spent as a homemaker and mother and always enjoyed following her family in their various activities.

She drove busses for the LaCrosse School District and was a cook in the school for many years.

She loved to cook and Ruth baked bread, cinnamon rolls, hamburger buns, etc., of all kinds and served them as part of the school lunches.

She didn’t like to make things from a box.

Kids and Teachers alike loved her meals.

The Martins lived in LaCrosse and then for several years in Winona before moving back to LaCrosse again.

She always found time to help drive harvest truck and Ruth was a good driver.

Camping or going to the cabin on Rose Springs were annual adventures that Ruth and the kids always looked forward to.

She was an avid seamstress and sewed clothes of all kinds for Jerry, her kids and grandkids.

She also liked to crochet, spend time working in her garden, or reading romance novels.

As an avid Seahawks fan, many people knew not to bother Ruth on Sunday, she was busy watching the game.

Health issues in 2003 forced her to retire early and a subsequent kidney transplant in 2007 placed her on permanent disability, but Ruth was content as a person and always felt like she had all she needed.

In later years she loved watching her grandchildren as they grew and she was so proud of each of them.

Ruth will be missed by many in the LaCrosse community; but especially by her husband Jerry; their five children and 11 grandchildren; Katie Martin, LaCrosse; Jared (Heather) Martin of Spokane and their kids, Cassandra and Chloe; by Jason (Becky) Ledbetter of Kansas City, MO. and their son, Robert; by Jesse (Susan) Martin of Colfax and their children, Beaux, Casey, Riley and Emma; and by Jinny (Justin) Hazlett of Rochester, WA. and their kids, Izabella, Accadia, Shelby, and Justin, Jr.

Ruth also leaves behind her great-grandson, Jeidan; her brother, Bill Moore, of Colfax, and her mother, Clara Moore in LaCrosse.

She was preceded in death by her father, James, a grandson Alex, her twin brother, Ralph, and her sister, Lois Camp.

The family suggests memorial gifts in her memory be made to the LaCrosse EMT’s, the Whitman Hospital Foundation, the Donate Life America movement or to the charity of your choice.

Online guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

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

Michael Joel Leinweber was born to Alfred and Bernyce (Plowman) Leinweber on January 10, 1940, joining an older sister. Growing up on a small family farm near LaCrosse, Wash., he held a deep love and appreciation for his childhood. He fondly remembered shooting baskets with his Dad, playing cards with his family when they were mudded in, bucking bales, grooming steers for the fair, participating in football, basketball, and baseball, as well as playing the trumpet in the LaCrosse High School band.

He loved life on the farm and would have considered becoming a farmer but his mother kept telling him that he needed to get an education because "this farm is too small to support two families." Consequently, he attended WSU where he graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Following graduation and a short stint in private practice, he reported for military duty with the U.S. Air Force.

This was during the Vietnam War when most young men were either drafted or enlisted.

He enlisted.

He married Betty White and the two of them started married life in Grand Forks, N.D., where he was stationed.

After his two-year commitment to the Air Force was over, they moved to Corvallis, Ore., where he worked in a private practice.

During this time their first son was born in Corvallis.

A year and a half later, they moved to Spokane where he joined Roger Harder at the Garland Animal Clinic in a partnership that lasted over 30 years.

In Spokane, a second son and a daughter rounded out the family.

Early family life was filled with camping at Priest Lake, floating the Little Spokane River, bird hunting, fishing, fantasy football leagues, running, following his children's activities and attending WSU athletic events.

He loved his profession and the people and clients he worked with.

He was an active member of the North Spokane Rotary Club, Country Homes Christian Church and later Covenant Methodist Church.

After retiring, he and Betty moved to Pullman, where he was an active member of the Pullman Rotary Club and Pullman Presbyterian Church.

During empty nester and retirement years he enjoyed time with his 12 grandchildren, traveling with friends, gardening, investment club, wood carving and yet more WSU athletic events.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Bernyce Leinweber. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betty; sons, Chad (Heidi) Leinweber and Kurt (Shaula) Leinweber; daughter, Anne (Shaun) Ljunggren; twelve grandchildren, Kayla (Shane) Wise, Jacob, Emily, Erika, Katie, Luke, Jackson, Nathan, Joel and Grace Leinweber, Olivia and Finn Ljunggren; sister, Judy (Bud) Aune of Colfax Wash .; aunts, Bev Dahmen and Esther Johnson; and uncle, Lloyd Madison.

The family thanks the staff of the Rockwood Atrium for the loving care they gave to him and his family. Mike, we love you and miss you. The service honoring Mike will be held Saturday, July 7, 1 pm at Covenant Methodist Church, 15515 N. Gleneden Dr., Spokane, Wash. Reception to follow. Donations in his memory may be made to Christian Veterinary Mission (www.cvmusa.org/donate-now/greatestneed); Rotoplast International (www.rotoplast.org) for cleft palate surgery; or a charity of your choice.

Lillie Eikes, age 70, died Thursday, June 7, 2018, at her home in Tensed, Idaho, from an apparent heart attack. At her request, no public services will be held. Born March 3, 1948, at Washtucna, to Ray D. and Alfreda McMeekin Kuster, she moved with her family to Tekoa where she completed her schooling, graduating from Tekoa High School in 1966.

She married Herman L. Eikes March 10, 1967, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and the couple made their home in Tekoa. They later lived near Latah for several years before settling in Tensed in the late 1980s. Lillie was a homemaker and her husband, Herman, worked for the Benewah County Road Department.

Survivors include her husband, Herman, at the family home; children, Joyce Eikes and Dana Eikes of Tensed, and Tina Sweet of Spirit Lake, Idaho; siblings, Bill Kuster, Diana Nordin, Dana Stern, Mike Kuster and Rose Lord, and four grandchildren.

Kramer Funeral Home of Tekoa is caring for the family.

A mass of Christian burial for Olivia Pakootas, 21, was Friday at 10 a.m. in the Rose Creek Longhouse at Worley, Idaho. Burial followed at the DeSmet Mission Cemetery.

She was fatally injured in a one-car accident on Idaho Highway 57 June 1 near Worley.

Miss Pakootas was salutatorian of the 2015 class at Tekoa High School and named the 2015 outstanding athlete of the school. She received a scholarship in track and field from Spokane Falls Community College where she received an associate arts degree in 2017. She was employed as a banquet server at the Coeur d'Alene Casino.

Born Nov. 11, 1996, at Spokane to Thomas and Nichole SiJohn Pakootas, she was raised in the Lovell Valley east of Tekoa and attended Plummer, Ponderosa and University grade schools and Bowdish Middle School in Spokane Valley before enrolling at Tekoa.

She was a member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Surviving are her father, Thomas Pakootas, and her mother, Nicole James, both Plummer; siblings Kimberly, Alexander, Suzzana, and Tommia Pakootas and Aiyana and Shylei James, all of Plummer; grandmother Merrita Ford, Wellpinit, and grandfather, Gene James, Corvallis, Ore.

A celebration of life for Eileen M. Storm, 87, will be Saturday, June 23, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the Country Bible Church in Latah. Pastor Mark Mewhinney will officiate. Inurnment will be at the Latah Cemetery. Mrs. Storm died June 8, at Fairfield Care in Fairfield, Wash.

Born May 16, 1931, at Latah to Clark C. and Myrtle Liebing Ellis, she attended schools in Latah and graduated from Latah High School in 1949 and attended Kinman Business School in Spokane.

She married Milton P. (Bud) Storm Nov. 24, 1954, and the couple made their home at Latah.

Eileen Storm worked as a secretary for Power City Electric in Spokane for more than 20 years.

Following her retirement, they continued to live in the house near Latah where she was born.

Eileen served as secretary/treasurer of the Latah Cemetery for eight years.

Her hobbies included gardening, sewing and camping.

She was a member of the Latah Country Bible Church, Tekoa Golf Club, Rockford Birthday Club, and Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority.

Survivors include her husband, Bud Storm at Fairfield, and her brother, Kermit (Anna May) Ellis, Latah.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Latah Country Bible Church, Fairfield Care, the Latah City Cemetery, or a charity of the donor's choice.

http://www.kramercares.com