Archived Marriage Records
Barbara C. Speer, 86
A longtime resident, Barbara Jean Church Speer, passed away Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, at Royal Plaza Care Center in Lewiston.
Barbara was the third child of Mike and Mary Cassetto Church, born in a home delivery on July 18, 1927. She was baptized into the Catholic faith at the old Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 23rd and Main streets, where she sang in the choir in her teen years.
She attended the Garfield Grade School. Barbara participated in school activities in her junior high and senior high years and held many offices. In her senior year she was elected class president and was later chairwoman of all-class reunions, with the help of Ruth Bailey Polumsky. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart School of Nursing and attended classes at Gonzaga University, receiving her registered nurse license in 1948. Returning to Lewiston, she was employed at St. Joseph's Hospital, now St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, where she worked as a pediatric nurse and worked during the polio epidemic in the early '50s. Before retiring, she worked for E.G. Hoffaman, M.D., for many years.
She was a member of Idaho Nurses Association, volunteered for the American Red Cross and was a member of the Lewiston Jaycettes and St. Anne's Guild at St. Stanislaus Church. After retiring in 1980, she became a member of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, serving for 31 years. In 1950, she married
Wallace E. Titus. The marriage ended in 1972. She married
Raymond G. Speer on Feb. 12, 1975.
Much of her early retirement was spent traveling around the U.S. and Canada, as well as the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.
Barbara spent many summers entertaining family and guests at their vacation home on Lake Coeur d'Alene and their cabin at Wallowa Lake, OR. She enjoyed reading, gardening and relaxing with crossword puzzles.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Raymond; two daughters, Christina Vale (Bob) of Redwood City, CA, and Molly Jensen (Gunnar) of Weippe; and three stepchildren, Paul Speer (Janice) of Memphis, TN, Lorraine Speer Rough (Doug) and Neal Speer (Lori) of Kirkland, WA. Other survivors are her grandson, Harrison Vale, and granddaughter Shayna Dole; and six step-grandchildren, Amanda, Carolyn, Lisa and Tessa Rough, and Jonathan (Tammy) and Trayton Michutka Speer (Brenda); sisters, Pat (Bob) Rugg in North Carolina and Marcella (Mel) Olsen of San Jose, CA; sister-in-law Grace Church of Lewiston; and many nieces and nephews and their families. She had a special love for the Church children, Dena (Mark), Doug (Mary), Dave (Laurie), Duane (Brynn) and Dan (Tami); and close friends Naomi, Jackie, Karon and Ruth.
Preceding her in death were her parents; a grandson, Shelby Dole; a brother, Dwight Church; a sister, Helen Hagadone; and a stepson, Gary Speer. Barbara was always a people person who had many friends whom she thought highly of.
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Cremation has taken place. At her request, no services will be held.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Muscular Dystrophy Association National Headquarters, 3300 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718-3208.
Gregory Steven Challinor, 50, Orofino
Gregory Steven Challinor of Orofino passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, on the four-year anniversary of the death of our beloved son, Tyler Steven Challinor. Greg's death was the result of a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 12. Greg was 50.
He was born on July 17, 1963, in Bonners Ferry to Betty and James Challinor and was raised in Libby, MT, where later he was blessed with two wonderful children, Skye and Tyler. He then met the love of his life, Linda, and they got married
in 1998 in Roy, UT.
They moved to California, where his beloved children, Kross and Karli, were born. He was working in construction management when he became ill, and they moved to Orofino. He bravely survived a 10-year battle with cancer.
Greg received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bellevue University in Nebraska and was currently working on his master's degree.
Greg loved to hunt and fish, a passion which he passed on to all of his children. He loved being with his family and helping others. He was currently involved in NOSDA (No One Should Die Alone).
Greg is survived by his wife, Linda Challinor, Orofino; children, Kross and Karli Challinor, both of Orofino and Skye Hall (Steven) of Couer d'Alene and grandchild, Jaiden; his mother, of Columbia Falls, MT; brothers, Jeffrey (JoAnna) Victor, MT, and Scott (Wendy), Creston, MT; sister, Jamie Crowell (Vince) Columbia Falls; and many nieces and nephews who loved him.
He was preceded in death by his father, James; his son, Tyler, and several aunts and uncles.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, with a lunch to follow at the Orofino National Guard Armory, U.S. Highway 12.
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been started in the Challinor family name at Lewis Clark Credit Union.
Robert Lewis Martin, 96, formerly of Orofino, Cavendish
Our earthly father, Robert Lewis Martin, is now in the presence of our Heavenly Father. He quietly and peacefully passed temporarily away from us at 3:40 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at the age of 96, with his family at his side. His quiet but powerful life has left a most remarkable impression on innumerable persons, but none so great effect as in the lives of four little girls he chose to take as his own.
He was born Nov. 20, 1917, in Warba, MN, to Clemet A. and Grace (Mollins) Martin. The family moved to Wenatchee, WA, when Bob was in fourth grade and he attended schools in Wenatchee, Hermiston, OR, and Sedro-Woolley, WA, and college at Walla Walla University. A day after Pearl Harbor, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he attended Surgical Technician School, served four years as a medic and was honorably discharged in January 1946. He received a Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, American Theater Service Medal and Asiatic Pacific Service Medal.
On Nov. 10, 1956, Bob married
Charlotte D. Widdows, who had four little girls ages 3-8. Bob's self-sacrificing, steady, dedicated, committed life proved to be the redeeming grace needed for Charlotte and her girls. His daughters have many fond memories of him that speak of his upright and unique character. Bob had a strong faith and was a dedicated member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He served as elder for many years in the Mount Vernon, WA, and Orofino churches. He kept the churches and church schools warm by providing wood and keeping the fires going. He always had a large garden and loved to share the produce with all his family, friends and neighbors.
Bob worked at the Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley from 1948-1973. He received his licensed practical nursing degree in 1959. He worked at the School for the Deaf in Vancouver, WA, from 1973-74. Then Bob and Charlotte moved to Cavendish, where he worked for his brother-in-law, Loren Stentzel, on his wheat farm from 1975-1977. They then moved to Orofino, where he worked in the Clearwater Valley Nursing Home until he retired in 1981.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte D. Martin.
Bob is survived by his four daughters and their husbands, Judith and Douglas Way of Tillamook, OR, Sherri and Dennis Walley of Federal Way, WA, Kathryn and Gary Anderson and Robin Surprise of Lewiston; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Ruth Stentzel.
The family wishes to thank the dedicated and compassionate staff at Serenity Place and St. Joseph Family Hospice for their loving care and support in his final days.
The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 25 at Mountain View Funeral Home and Crematory, Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens, Seventh Street and Cedar Avenue, Lewiston.
Memorials may be sent to St. Joseph Family Hospice at 1250 Idaho St., Lewiston, ID 83501.
Diane Marlene Eldridge, 72, formerly of Southwick
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston for Diane Marlene Eldridge, 72, who passed away Jan. 3, 2014 at her home in Clarkston, WA.
Diane was born April 5, 1941, to Thomas E. and Dorothy Bateman King at Kendrick. She lived near Southwick and graduated from Kendrick High School in 1959. She married
Leonard Eldridge and they spent their early years at the University of Idaho and Washington State University while he earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine.
They lived in Montana and later became partners in the Lewiston Veterinary Clinic, where she worked before they sold their interest in the business. Diane also worked at the Lewiston Livestock Market. She was past president of Nez Perce County Cowbells, a Nez Perce County 4-H leader and held membership in both the Idaho and Washington State Cattlemen's Associations.
Her hobbies included gardening, camping, fishing, carpentry, woodworking and genealogy.
Diane is survived by her husband, Dr. Leonard Eldridge of Clarkston; daughter, Jennifer Eldridge of Clarkston; son, Kenneth Eldridge of Evergreen, CO.; sister, Sarah Swartz of Seattle; stepfather, Harold Silflow of Lewiston; grandsons, Maxwell Eldridge of Evergreen and Thomas Eldridge (Emma Hayward) of Surfer's Paradise Beach, Australia; future great-grandson, Elijah Eldridge; and mother-in-law, Marjorie Eldridge.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Heifer International Project www.heifer.org or Washington State Cattlemen's Association, PO Box 96, Ellensburg, WA 98926.
Robert M. Donohue, 76, former Orofino school superintendent
Robert M. Donohue, 76, Lewiston, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center due to complications of Parkinson's Disease.
He was born Oct. 30, 1937 to Robert and Erma (Crawford) Donohue at Pierce. He graduated from Orofino High School, attended Lewis Clark Normal School from 1956-1957, Eastern Washington University Cheney, 1957-1959 and University of Guam 1968-1970. He married
Lila Rae Packer Aug. 17, 1959. Lila died Jan. 10, 2008. Bob was a teacher at Clearwater Valley School District, George Washington High School in Guam, Kamiah High School Principal, Mullan School District Superintendent and Orofino School District Superintendent where he retired in 1993.
Bob was a Clearwater Hospital Board Member, member of the Catholic Church, Idaho State School Superintendent's Association and a member of the Elk's. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
He is survived by his daughter, Cathleen Donohue; sons, Joseph Donohue and Russel Donohue; sister, Patricia Cooper (Norm); brother, Jack Donohue (Betty); grandchildren, Neil Haley, Katie Haley and Audrey Donohue and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lila; father and mother-in-law, Connie Packer and Audrey Packer; brother, Art Donohue; and parents, Erma and Robert T. Donohue.
A funeral service will be held Fri. Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. at Malcolm's Brower Wann Funeral Home with burial to follow at Normal Hill cemetery. A dinner will be held at the Clarkston Event Center, 841 6th St.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank all of Bob's caregivers for their excellent care.
Robert M. Donohue, 76, formerly of Orofino
Robert M. Donohue, 76, Lewiston, and formerly of Orofino, passed away Monday, Jan. 7, 2014.
Funeral services will be Friday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. at Malcolm's Brower Wann Funeral Home, 1711 18th St., Lewiston. Burial will follow at Normal Hill cemetery in Lewiston. At 4 p.m. there will be a reception at the Clarkston Event Center, 841 7th St., Clarkston, WA.
Amado J. Cruz, M.D., 86, Kamiah
Amado J. Cruz, M.D., 86, Kamiah, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 at St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood.
Services are pending with Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia.
Kenneth L. "Kenny" Wexler, 69, helped build Bald Mountain ski shack
Kenneth Leland Wexler, our beloved grandfather, father, brother, and best friend, passed away on Dec. 29, 2013, a beautiful soul, fulfilled, had become weary, striving against gradual heart failure.
Kenny was born May 24, 1944, to Clifford and Eileen Wexler, of Pullman, WA, their youngest son, raised on the family farm with his two older brothers, Wayne and Fred.
From early on, Ken proved to be a masterful heavy equipment operator. He began driving at age 4, honing his skills in an old army jeep on the back roads of the Palouse, around the barnyard, and into the chicken coop. After a bit more practice, at age 6, Kenny was able to join the rest of the family on the harvest crew.
Dreaming of casual summers of leisure and play, Kenny and his brothers worked hard, learning the value of an honest day's work, family duty, pride in service to others, and respect for the fruits of their labors. Life on the farm was nonetheless exciting and sibling rivalries abounded, plots were weaved and foiled, battles fought, but inevitably the scales tipped; the youngest brother had grown strong.
Ken graduated from Pullman High School in 1962, a spectacular and talented athlete, champion wrestler, and formidable football player. He walked-on as a Washington State University Cougar, where he studied Kinesiology, and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. Ken lived at home while in college, and continued to work on the family farm, eventually leaving school to partner with his brother Fred in excavation and construction, where they designed and built houses, apartment complexes and subdivisions.
Ken's leisure time led him to Casey's Dance Hall in the Lewiston/Clarkston valley, where he met Jean Ann Matteson, and fell deeply in love. The couple was married
on Nov. 12, 1966, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Lewiston, and built a new home in Pullman, WA, where they had two children, a son Shaun, and daughter, Shelley. The family enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing, spending summers on the Snake River, and winters at Bald Mountain Ski Area, where he helped build their Ski Patrol Shack, and joined the National Ski Patrol.
Ken began a new career with Poe Asphalt Paving, running equipment as an operating engineer, and crew foreman. The family moved to Lewiston in 1974, and together during the winter months of 1976, built a new home in the Clarkston heights. Ken and Jean Ann were divorced in 1979. Ken continued to live in Clarkston with his son, Shaun. He quickly progressed in his career, becoming the local manager and estimator for the company, and eventually took over as general manager of the Pullman branch. Ken's commitment to honesty, quality workmanship, and efficiency was apparent. He was always friendly, his coworkers greatly respected and admired him, and the company thrived under his expertise.
But for decades, Ken had quietly dreamt of owning his own company, and in 1994, he resigned, and founded Quad-Cities Construction, Inc., which in spite of fierce competition, quickly grew into a prosperous and respected company, which he operated until 2000. He owned three asphalt plants, fleets of trucks and heavy equipment, with several crews, at its peak employing over 150 full-time union workers. He was a man of integrity, honored with several industry awards for quality and workmanship, and took great pride in every aspect of his business, contracting with the public, as well as city, county, state and federal agencies.
Ken was an expert powder skier, and had adopted Brundage Mountain, in McCall, ID, as his weekend winter home. He travelled to other ski resorts to test his prowess on their steepest-and-deepest, and enjoyed helicopter skiing in the backcountry. His favorite run was directly beneath the chairlift in the bumps and powder; seen from anywhere on the mountain, everyone knew it was Kenny. As a skier, his strong style and fluid form was impeccable, a beautiful sight to behold. Many friends were taught to ski the powder by Ken.
His circle of friends was vast, his smile always beaming and infectious. Ken and his friends met daily for workouts, which he enjoyed immensely. He was an avid bodybuilder and weightlifter, and regular fixture around the gym, up until two months before his death.
Ken is survived by his brothers, Fred Wexler and Wayne Wexler; son, Shaun Wexler, daughter-in-law, Mia, and grandson, Ozzy Wexler; his daughter, Shelley Boyer, son-in-law Jeff Boyer, and granddaughter Hadley Boyer. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, at Kimball Funeral Home, in Pullman, WA, with brief graveside procession to follow.
Ken's memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2, from 12 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., at the Quality Inn, in Clarkston, WA. Kenny tremendously enjoyed his Superbowl parties, and had recently remodeled his home in excitement for this year's event. In his honor, we are hosting a couch party, and bringing his living room with us! Friends and family are invited to attend and watch the Superbowl in grand fashion, in high-definition and surround-sound, with munchies and a no-host bar provided. Bring your couch along, and join in his celebration! Ken will be greatly missed, and would want his friends to enjoy themselves, as he loved everyone dearly.
Virgil McIntosh, 87, Weippe
A good man lost his life Dec. 29, 2013. Virgil McIntosh will be remembered as a kind and loving man by all who knew him. He was a happy person who brightened the lives of everyone he came in contact with.
Virgil was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Sprague River, OR. He grew up in the Browns Creek area between Pierce and Weippe. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Suwannee (CVE-27) as a boiler tech during the Second World War. He toured Nagasaki a few weeks after it was destroyed by an atomic bomb. He didn't often talk about his experiences during the war. When pressed, he would tell stories of his ship being hit by a kamikaze pilot and of the near total destruction of Nagasaki. One of the things that amazed him was how big metal lathes were reduced to globs of metal even though they were a long way from the blast site.
After the war, Virgil returned to Idaho, where he worked in the woods and in sawmills with his brothers and father. During this time he married
Jean Welsh, who bore him four children, James, Cory, Tracy and Adam. Virgil and Jean moved to the Oregon Coast in the late '50s, where he began working in shingle mills. He was a member of the Shingle Weavers' union from the '60s to the early '80s, when it dissolved. Virgil lost Jean to cancer in 1970. He married
Carolyn Burkett and moved to Forks, WA, in 1974. They were divorced in 1975. Virgil then married
Clarice Eddy and lived in Port Angeles, WA, for a short time before they divorced. The shingle industry was dying, so Virgil decided to return to Idaho. In Weippe, he met and married
Louella Jacobson. They were happily married
for many years. During this time, they spent their summers working for the U.S. Forest Service at Canyon Work Center. Louella died of cancer in 2004. Virgil then married
Virginia McIntosh, whom he cherished until his death on Dec. 29, 2013.
Virgil was preceded in death by his father, King; mother Esther; brothers, Charlie and Cliff; and wives Jean, Carolyn and Louella. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; brothers, Leonard and Don; sons, James, Cory and Adam; daughter, Tracy; stepson, Dale; stepdaughters, Wilma and Laura; grandsons, Adam, Michael, Daniel and Gaspare; granddaughters, Jennifer, Erin and Tara; and great-granddaughter, Dezirae.
His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mountain View Funeral Home. A covered-dish meal will be held at the funeral home after the service.
Freda Jean Aiken, 80, Orofino
Freda Jean Aiken, 80, Orofino, passed away Saturday, Dec.. 28, 2013, at her home.
Memorial services are pending. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel and Crematory is caring for arrangements.
