Obituaries

Irene Rufer passed away Aug. 8, 2011 in Spokane. {[more}} She was born in Hillsboro, Ore. to Jacob and Flora (Wright) Rufer on Sept. 4, 1918, the youngest of four children. She attended schools in Holbrook and Silverton, Ore. She attended high school in Spangle, Wash. During her junior year of high school she spent the summer with an aunt and uncle on their ranch where she enjoyed riding horses and helping to round up cattle. She continued her education at Eastern Washington University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts...

Laura Louise (Schmitt) Berggren passed away July 17, 2011, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Beaverton, Oregon, and was laid to rest at Valley Memorial Park in Hillsboro, Ore. Laura was born on Jan. 25, 1939, to Otto and Agnes Schmitt on the farm on the Lance Hill Road south of Cheney. She graduated from Cheney High School in 1957 and married Harold Berggren in October of 1972. For years, she and Harold sponsored many students from Russia. Laura was a homemaker and an artist; she especially enjoyed keeping in touch with her high... Full story

Eric died Saturday morning after a too brief 24 years of life. He was born and raised in Spokane, Wash., but moved to Cameron Park, Calif. for high school. He recently moved back to Washington to live with his mother in Cheney and to pursue a career as an electrician. Eric made friends easily with his quick smile and adventurous spirit and leaves many of us behind to mourn his passing. He was an avid photographer and loved to travel looking for that perfect shot. He had a passion for swimming that started at a young age with...

Phloris M. (Evenson) Dixon passed away peacefully on July 26, 2011 in Cheney, Wash. after a long illness. She was born Feb. 13, 1925 in Kalispell, Mont. After graduating high school in Kalispell, she moved to Spokane and received a degree from Kinman Business College. She then began teaching at Kinman following World War II, where she met her husband Howard K. Dixon of LaGrande, Ore. She became a homemaker for the rest of her life to her husband, two children, four grandchildren and numerous friends and relatives. Phloris...

Helen Mae Holmes, age 83, of Mesa, Ariz., passed July 30, 2011 in Mesa, Ariz. Helen was a retired small business owner, born in Spokane. Husband, Norval, deceased, Dec. 17, 2002. The couple owned Holmes Hardware in Cheney for many years. Survivors: James W. Holmes, Gary L. Holmes....

Anthony S. Grantham (age 47) of Cheney, Wash. passed away at his home July 30, 2011. He was born Feb. 2, 1964 to Charles and Diane (Young) Grantham in Spokane, Wash. He attended Rogers High School and worked as a long haul truck driver for the past 21 years with his business partner, Mrs. Helen Jordan. He is survived by his daughter; Amber Grantham of Cheney, Wash. Father; Charles Grantham of Marcus, Iowa and his sister; Cynthia Geissler of Davenport, Wash. A graveside memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday,...

Laura May Atwood entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the age of 96. A lifelong resident of Spokane and graduate of Rodgers H.S., she was well known for her cooking and sewing abilities. She spent many years as a member of the Spokane Rock Rollers Association and the Spokane Movie Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, James O. Atwood. She is survived by her two daughters, Nancy Whigham and her husband, George, of Spokane and Lorna Carter and her husband, Ross, of Wolseley, Australia; three...

Ernest (Ernie) C. Hodgen was born Aug. 5, 1943 in Hobbs, New Mexico and entered into rest July 15, 2011 in Medical Lake, Wash. after a long battle with an illness. Ernie is survived by his wife of 47 years, his children, grandchildren, and great grandson. Graveside service will be held Monday, July 25, 2011 at 11 a.m. in Pinecity, Wash.... Full story

Irene was the youngest of 5 children born June 28, 1936 to Ira and Mary Deeds in Aitkin, Minn. where she lived until she moved to Cusick, Wash. in 1952. Following graduation from Cusick High School in 1953, Irene moved to Spokane and worked at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake. Irene married Jules Mauget in 1956 and had four children, Neoma Taylor (Carl), Jules Mauget, Robert “Bob” Mauget, and Michael Mauget. Together they owned and operated the Saddle Inn Tavern in Four Lakes, Wash. until 1968. After Jules' untimely dea... Full story

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Eddie Dean Bradley, Sr. (Age 52) on July 9, 2011. Ed was born March 15, 1959 in Merced, California to Ron and Mary Ann Bradley. He lived in California for 30 years where he met the love of his life, Mandi, and started his family before moving to Cheney in 1994. He was a dedicated and respected employee of Haakon Industries in Cheney for 13 years. Ed had a unique way of making work fun and was known to pull off a practical joke or two. His Haakon family meant...

Elsie Pearl Cogswell, age 95, passed away in Spokane, Wash. on July 2, 2011. She was born to Bill and Sadie Cramer on September 9, 1915 in Boyds, Wash. Elsie was a graduate of Cheney High School and Kinman Business School. On Nov. 24, 1932 she would marry Jack Cogswell and together they would share 61 years of marriage. During this time she worked as a telephone operator in Cheney and at Eastern State Hospital from where she retired after 18 1/2 years in 1977. Elsie played the piano by ear by age 5 and played dances at the...

On June 28, 2011 our Dear Helen left this earthly plane and graduated into the arms of Divine Love at the age of 33. She married Ernie Suazo on June 15, 2011. Helen was at the height of happiness at her traditional wedding with her family and friends. Born to George Harding Sr. and Kari Trueax, Helen came to our family at the age of seven years when we lived in Deer Lodge, Mont. She is survived by her brother George Harding of Anaconda, Mont., father John Plowman, mother Pat Mertens, brother Jesse Mertens-Plowman, sister...

Clara B. (Stutsman) Morgan, age 69. Born in Lewiston, Idaho to Royal Howard and Nedra Stutsman on Dec. 21, 1941. Our Lord and Savior called His Angel home on April 11, 2011. She went peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. She began her career in 1960, as a customer service representative in the insurance industry. As a Lady Elk, she had the opportunity for many years to help with fundraising for underprivileged children. Her “true career” in life was working and serving people. Many witnessed her caring, com...

Rhonda Eileen Jorgensen died at home in Cheney on June 18 following a courageous 12 1/2-year-long battle with cancer. She was born January 24, 1965 in Provo, Utah. She moved to Cheney where she has lived since 1968. During her struggle with cancer, she continued to be an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints serving in many capacities, including serving as an Ordinance Worker in the Spokane, Wash. Temple until her health prevented her from doing so. She is survived by her parents, Clay...

Mrs. Ellen Francis Curtiss (Coleman) was born June 20, 1915 on a farm near Edwall, Wash. to William Harrison Coleman and Grace Emma Fry. She passed away on June 14, 2011 in Sequim, Wash. six days shy of her 96th birthday. Following her time in Edwall, the family relocated to Davenport, Wash., then to Medical Lake where Ellen graduated from Medical Lake High School in May of 1933. She worked as a waitress in Cheney where she met her husband Donald. They married in 1938 in Seattle. Following their short time in Seattle, they...

Dr. Charles Edward Miller entered peacefully into rest with his loving wife Carolyn by his side on Friday June 24, 2011. Charles was born in Portland, Ore. on Aug. 11, 1926. He was the youngest of three children. Charles was raised in Portland, Ore. and when he turned 17 he enlisted into the Army Air Corps along with his two sisters who served in different branches of the military. Upon discharge he started his education at the University of Oregon where he obtained his bachelors and masters degrees. Charles did doctoral... Full story

Charlotte died May 30, 2011 at 99, simply of old age. She was born at home March 16, 1912 in Cheney, Wash. She was the daughter of Annie Bell and Robert Henry Macartney who founded Security National Bank of Cheney (later part of Seattle First National Bank), and who played an important role in securing funding for the first men's dormitory (Sutton Hall) at Cheney Normal School (now EWU). She grew up in Cheney, received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio and a master's degree from Prince...

Norman Eugene Retherford, age 71, of Copperas Cove passed away Saturday, June 11, 2011 at his residence. He was born April 28, 1940 in Davenport, Wash. to Jesse Allen Retherford and Frieda (Radamacher) Retherford. He will always be remembered for his very outgoing personality and his ability to make friends wherever he went. He enjoyed working with metal and wood. Norman served in the United States Army and retired as a First Sergeant. He was preceded in death by his bride of 45 years, Connie Retherford in 2009, his parents... Full story

Paul Bellmer, 61, former Michigan resident Paul James Bellmer, 61, died June 4, 2011, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. Paul was born Feb. 21, 1950, in Petosky. to Ernest G. and Katherine (George) Bellmer. Born with heart and arterial disease, Paul underwent his first open-heart surgery at the age of 10. He was not expected to live beyond his mid-twenties. Paul spent his early life working on and driving muscle cars. His interests varied and took him from Michigan to New Orleans, Albequerque, and Spokane. His hobbies... Full story

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Clifford E. Beattie, 37, of Medical Lake, Washington went home to be with the Lord on May 22, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq due to combat related injuries. He was born on Jan. 3, 1974 in Tempe, Ariz. the son of Victor and Rhonda (Fleming) Beattie of Medical Lake, Washington. Cliff served proudly in the United States Army for over 17 years. He joined the Army from Washington in February, 1994. His military career assigned him to Fort Benning, Fort Drum, Fort Wainwright, Fort Lewis, Fort Leonard Wood, and... Full story

Barbara Renee Barton Stettler, 70, passed away at her home in Cheney from complications of lung cancer on June 1, 2011. Born December 29, 1940 in Ogden, Utah where she lived until she was 34-years-old. Barbara was one of the first women to graduate with a BS in physics from Weber State College in 1974. The family moved to Prosser, Wash. in 1974 where she worked as a physicist at Westinghouse Hanford for five years. In 1981, the family moved to Cheney where Barbara worked at Eastern Washington University as an instructional...

Alfred R. “Buzzy” Jordan, lifetime resident of Cheney, passed away May 7, 2011 at the Cheney Care Center at age 58. He is survived by his mother; Helen Jordan of Cheney. Brother; Dale Jordan of North Plains, Ore. Sister; Beverly Kile of Pine City, Wash. Three nieces and three nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cheney Care Center, 219 N. 6th St., Cheney Wa. in his memory. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12 at Spokane Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Cheney Funeral Chapel in charge of arr...

JoAnn passed away peacefully at home on May 1, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. She was born in Spokane on February 23, 1956 to Joseph and Audrey Koll. She is survived by her two daughters Erin Luttermoser and Tori Longie; One granddaughter Molly Luttermoser; and five siblings Carol Sackett, Midge Hartz, Kay Cheroke, Bill Koll and Nancy Moore. She devoted herself to raising a family and being a career woman. She took pride in her professional accomplishments and the lifelong friendships she developed along the way. When... Full story

Thomas Patrick O'Neill, born August 8, 1951, passed from this world on Friday, April 22, 2011, at sunset, at home with loved ones. He was a resident of the Cheney area since 1973. Tom was a warm, loving, generous, creative free spirit who touched the hearts of so many. His motto was “share to live and live to share,” and he took every opportunity to perform random acts of kindness, always ready with a smile or hug and eager to help friends and strangers alike. He was idealistic, intelligent, ingenious, cared greatly abo... Full story

Luella Etta (Lu) Ferguson was born Jan. 24, 1916 in Spokane and died April 18, 2011 at the age of 95. For the last five years she resided with her daughter near Colville, Wash. Lu was raised in Spokane and lived in the Spokane/Cheney area the majority of her life. She graduated in the second graduating class of John Rogers high school in 1934. Lu married Cecil Ferguson Oct. 30, 1937. Because Lu was blessed with a God given talent to care for children, Lu and Cecil were foster parents beginning in the late 1930s and later...