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Hank Nilles, 77, of Twisp, passed away March 10, 2006, at home, following a long battle with cancer. Hank was born to George and Ruth (Campbell) Nilles in Leahy, Wash., on Nov. 6, 1928.
He attended school in Leahy and worked on his parents’ ranch in his early years, then moved to the Methow Valley. He farmed beef cattle and worked as a millwright in the Twisp lumber mill until he was drafted into the Army in 1953. He served as a military policeman in the Army and received an honorable discharge in 1955.
Hank returned to Twisp and married
Marjorie Ellsworth on April 16, 1955. He returned to work in the mill, and retired in 1985 as a foreman. He also served on the Methow Valley School Board and the Okanogan County Fair Board.
Hank is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie; four daughters: Sharon (Steve) Neumann of Omak, Wanda (Todd) McFarland of Omak, Shelley (Tom) McHugh of Vancouver, Wash., and Jill (Pete) Scott of Carlton; nine grandchildren: Travis (Johnna), Colt, Lucas, Tyla, Ashley, Kendall, Derek, Riley, and Shelby; his great-granddaughter Chloe; his sisters Lorena Lang of Chewelah, Mary Edison of Mansfield, Wash., and Clara Thorp of Omak; his brothers Andrew Nilles of Sequim and Ben Nilles of Deer Park; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and three brothers.
Services will be on Thursday (March 16) at 2 p.m. at Precht’s Methow Valley Chapel in Twisp, followed by graveside services at Beaver Creek cemetery and a potluck at the Senior Center in Twisp.
Susan Biggs Somerville Harju, 59, passed away at her home on May 25, 2006, following an extended illness. She was born in Arkansas on Feb. 27, 1947. She attended grade school there until she moved with her family to Twisp, where she started junior high.
Sue loved the valley, especially the mountains. In summer, she loved to go hiking and camping up the Twisp River or floating the rivers down to Halterman’s Hole. She liked to fish, too, but she usually hooked herself more than the fish!
Sue’s laughter and strong southern accent was very infectious. She soon had most of the school talking just like her.
In 1965, she graduated from Twisp High School and attended Kinman Business School in Spokane for two years. In 1967, she returned to the Methow Valley and married
Mugs (James Somerville) of Twisp. They lived in the Everett area for a short time and had a son, James (Jimmy), before returning to Twisp. In 1973, they divorced and Sue left the valley for the last time, but the valley never left her heart.
Sue later married
John Harju, and for the next 31 years, made their home in the Everett and Snohomish areas. Even though suffering from several health problems herself, Sue, along with her husband, devoted herself to fostering, and later adopting, four children born of chemically dependent mothers.
She is survived by her husband John; son Jim of the east coast; step-daughter Leanna Harju LaCour of Chico, Calif.; daughters, Rachel, Kristen, and Cassi; and son Nicolas Harju; her mother, Jean Biggs of East Sussex, England; sister Barbara Biggs Teachenor of Ventura, Calif.; brother Scottie Biggs of Sultan, Wash.; nephew Wesley of Sultan; niece, Janine Somerville Raymond of E. Wenatchee; grandkids Alan and Brittany Somerville of the east coast, and Angelea Garcia of Chico, Calif.
Her Dad, Ted Biggs, preceded her in passing.
Sue always wanted to return home to the valley, and her husband John will be honoring her last request. A service will be announced at a later date.
Charles C. (Chas/Charlie) Flagg, 86, a life-long resident of the Methow Valley, passed away on June 18, 2006.
Charlie was born in Winthrop on Nov. 9, 1919, to Ben and Ethel Flagg, who homesteaded in the Rendezvous area. He attended school in Winthrop.
He worked as a packer for George Miller and Foss Creveling for several years, then was hired by the Forest Service to pack supplies into remote outlook sites and fires. Later, the Forest Service moved him to the road department, where he eventually became road supervisor. He retired after 30 years of service.
Horses were always a major part of Charlie’s life. He was a horseman, teamster and packer. After retirement, he continued chasing cows for George Miller, Mac Lloyd, Gary Maughan and the Thurlows for many years. He later drove team for Claude Miller and Dick Blue at Sun Mountain. When Charlie wasn’t working, he enjoyed dancing and weaving his beautiful chairs.
Charlie had been an active member of the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Posse in Search and Rescue, Methow Valley Horsemen, Back Country Horsemen, and was a charter member of the Methow Valley Eagles Aerie 2584.
Charlie married
Carmen Libby in 1940. They lived in the valley and raised five children until her passing in 1984. In 1985, Charlie met and married
Karen Anacker. They lived in a log home that Charlie built. In May of this year they moved to Spokane.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Karen, currently living in Spokane; his children, Al Flagg of Twisp, Arnold (Linda) Flagg of Kent, Kathryn (Harry) Blackford of Snowflake, Ariz., Bill (Bonny) Flagg of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Launa (Mike) Ownby of SeaTac; his brother Wesley (Shine) Flagg and his wife Laura of Omak; his sister Miriam Richmond and her husband Bennett of Pasco; numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews; stepsons Scot, Steve and Craig Tanguy; and many special friends in the Methow Valley.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; wife Carmen Libby Flagg; sister Dorothea Krul; stepdaughter Kathryn Imes; and his older brother Clinton, who died at birth.
A celebration of Charlie’s life will be at the Winthrop Barn on Saturday, July 8, at 2 p.m., followed by a potluck dinner. All are invited to bring stories and memories to share.
Memorials may be sent to Home Health Care & Hospice in Twisp, Hospice of Spokane, or Alzheimers Research Foundation.
Wallace S. Stewart passed away on June 23, 2006, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 78 years old. Wally was born in Mazama on June 3, 1928, to William and Martha Stewart. He lived in Mazama on the family homestead until he married
Lucy Lloyd on Dec. 10, 1954. He and Lucy moved to Twisp, where they lived together more than 51 years.
Wallace spent much of the 1950s running stock cars on the dirt tracks around North Central Washington before settling into raising a family. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, he worked hard most of the summers but in the winters took some time to break snowmobile trails for family and friends who wanted to see the back woods.
He was known for being a hard worker. He was very proficient at driving almost every type of heavy machinery, spending most of his career loading log trucks in the mountains around the Methow Valley for Wagoner’s Lumber Co., Biles-Colman, Crown Zellerback and finally Lloyd Logging. He was in and out of retirement a few times before the Parkinson’s made it impossible to continue in the late ‘90s.
Wallace is survived by his son Rustie, his wife Shirleen and daughter Nichole; daughter Peggy Boesel, her husband Roger, their children, Brice, Dustin, and Jeni; and daughter Patty Hamilton, her husband Randy, their children Kenneth and Alanna. He is also survived by a close and supportive extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law and sisters-in law.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ethel Yockey, and his wife, Lucy, who passed away less than three months earlier.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday (July 1), at Precht’s Methow Valley Chapel in Twisp at 10 a.m.
Our beloved mother, Leah Duff Hole, 88, was called to heaven on June 26, 2006, at home as she wished.
She was born on Dec. 2, 1917, near Shoshoe, Idaho, on a dryland ranch. Leah and her siblings had a challenging childhood.
She married
William M. Hole in Dec. 1940, in Seattle. They lived in Ballard, Seattle and Redmond. They returned to the Methow Valley in 1954, where they lived on their orchard.
They had a close marriage, raised three children and helped many of their grandchildren during the summers. Leah was a loving mother.
She worked in a packing shed in Pateros for several years.
She is survived by her sister, Sheila N. Wyatt of Holly, Wash.; her children, Merrilyn and husband Don McCourt of Centralia, Diane and husband Rick Ulrick of Seattle, and Rick and his wife Janel of Methow; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William M. Hole, and her other siblings.
She will be remembered by all who know her. If it had not been for the generous and loving care of her friend and neighbor Linda Zahn, her wish to remain at home would not have been fulfilled. Leah’s family thanks Linda and her husband Dale profusely.
The date of a graveside service will be announced later.
Enid Gail Morrow Cole Johnston, 67, died on July 7, 2006, in Gooding, Idaho.
She was born to Robert E. and Helen Read Morrow on July 14, 1938, on a beautiful ranch at Mt. McKinney in the Methow Valley.
Gail enjoyed a happy childhood. At age 13, the family moved to Carlton. In 1955, she married
Robert L. Cole of Orofino, Idaho. Robert died in 1964. In 1965, she gave birth to their daughter, Megan.
In 1966, she married
George K. Johnston of Orofino. George died in 2002.
For most of her life she was a member of the Orofino Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In April 2006 she relocated to Boise to live with her niece Lynn and family, and was a member of the Hillcrest Congregation.
Gail’s parents studied the Bible and became Jehovah’s Witnesses when she was four years old, and she joined them in their public ministry. She always had an open heart and open hand to all who needed her. We will profoundly miss her.
She is survived by her daughter Megan and granddaughter Zoe of Kooskia, Idaho; her foster daughter Betty Sutton and her husband Richard and family of Days Creek, Ore.; her cousins Doris McConnell and Eleanor Drake in the Twisp area, and Nancy, Joan Judi, Read, Dennis, Lou and Barbara; and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, William Morrow.
A memorial service will be held on July 29 at the Orofino Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Carl H. Schmidt, 85, of Spokane, died Aug. 9, 2006.
He was born Oct. 19, 1920, at his grandfather’s homestead ranch about 16 miles southeast of Waterville. From there, his family moved to Withrow, Wash., where his sister, Virginia, and brother, Wayne, were born.
At age five, he and his family moved to Twisp. He attended school in Twisp, and graduated in 1939.
After graduation, he moved to Seattle and worked at Boeing Aircraft for two years, building B-17s, and then enlisted in the Air Force. He became a member of the 15th Air Force (450th) bomb group as a right waist-gunner and a radio operator. He was stationed in Italy, where he participated in the bombing raids over the Ploeste oil fields. After completing 50 missions, he returned to the U.S.
After he was discharged from the Air Force, he enrolled at Eastern Washington State College (now Eastern Washington University) in Cheney. He graduated with a teaching degree and taught at Roosevelt Elementary School in Spokane for four years, then at Havermale Jr. High for three years.
He was a member of the original teaching staff when Shadle Park High School opened in 1957, and he taught wood shop classes there until his retirement in 1976.In 1950, he married
Lena (Lee) Adams. They lived in the Spokane Valley, where they raised two daughters.
Carl worked two summers as a smoke jumper in Winthrop. He also spent two summers working as a deputy sheriff in Spokane.
His passions included skiing, camping, hunting, woodworking and fishing. He also built ponds and waterfalls in his yard, and his love of gardening and flowers created beauty in the neighborhood.
He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, and a man whose ideals and convictions were of the highest nature. He believed in helping others and loved his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Lena (Lee); his daughters, Donna Lange and Ginnie (Bruce) Todd; and his granddaughter, Janessa Todd, all of Spokane; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Sunday (Aug. 20) at 2 p.m. at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley.
Memorials may be made to Aero Methow Rescue Service, P.O. Box 66, Twisp, WA 98856, or Horizon Hospice, 123 W. Cascade Way, Ste. E, Spokane, WA 99208.
Buck D. Shaw, 82, of Oroville, died Aug. 11, 2006, at the North Valley Hospital in Tonasket.-He was born on Dec. 7, 1923, in Methow, to William and Effie Shaw.
Buck was raised in the lower Methow Valley and graduated from Pateros High School.-He was active in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Buck’s father, William "Bill" Shaw, owned and operated a cattle ranch above the hills between Methow and Pateros, where Buck assisted around the ranch.-In the late 1940s, Buck served the City of Pateros as town marshall.
Buck was also active in the rodeo arena riding bulls.-He remained active in the cattle industry as well as managing orchards in the Methow Valley.-Buck was employed at both Chief Joseph and Wells dams while they were being constructed.
In the late 1960s Buck and his wife, Judy, moved the family to Oroville, where Buck continued to manage orchards, and was active on a local search and rescue crew.-He was a member of the National Rifle Association and taught hunting safety to kids.-He shared his love for the outdoors with his family and extended family.-He was a great storyteller and had many stories to share.
Buck was a dad to many and a grandpa to countless others.-He is very loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed by them all.
He is survived by his wife, -Judy V. Shaw, at home; his children Rick Shaw of Oroville, Elgin Shaw of East Wenatchee, Mary Morris of Eugene, Ore., and Teresa Vazquez of Bridgeport; his sister Jean Windell of Brewster; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Family and close friends plan to hold a service at a later date.
Matthew Kevin Burch, 52, passed away in Wickenburg, Ariz., on Oct. 14, 2006. He was born Feb. 20, 1954, in Minnesota and grew up in San Diego, Calif.
He moved to Seattle in the late ’70s and owned and operated Performance Motors in Seattle until a few years ago, when he retired and lived up the Twisp River full time.
Matt moved to Wickenburg two years ago to enjoy the sunshine and to ride his four-wheelers and his Harley.
He was an honorary member of the "tall skinny white boys" club, which included his best buddies Bob Gorski, Larry Zimmerlund, Gary Erickson and Paul Averill. He was a friend to all and will be sorely missed.
He was preceded in death by his brother Mike of Twisp, who passed away in March 2006; his mother June; his father Kenny; and grandparents on both sides.
He is survived by his sister Kathy Simonds and nephew Dylan Querisquillo of Connecticut; niece Jessica Prevett of California; sister Lorrie Lazzell of Winthrop; niece Kelly Lazzell and great-nephew Beau Tanguy of Twisp; niece and nephew Kristin and Andrew Lazzell of Florida; and uncle David Bracken of California.
Matt requested there be no services, and donated his body to science so that others may learn. His ashes will be scattered in the San Diego Bay, to join his brother, grandfather and father.
Raise your glass (or pop a Bud) in remembrance of Matt – that would make him smile!
Fred Dammann, 86, of Twisp, died Nov. 1, 2006.
Fred lived in the Methow Valley his entire life. He owned and operated a cattle ranch for most of his life.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Dammann of Twisp; two stepsons, Charles (Dianne) Tamblyn of Woodinville and Dave (Jenna) Dammann of Port Orchard; stepdaughter Cynthia (Fred) Duncan of Lewisville, Colo.; and sister Louise (Bill) Jackson of Troutdale, Ore.
A gathering for family and friends will be held at the family home on Saturday (Nov. 11).
