Dennis Strickland 1955-2018

Dennis Strickland, longtime Chewelah, Washington resident, passed away at the age of 63 on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington after an extended illness.

Dennis was born on September 8th, 1955 to James and Joyce (McCurry) Strickland. He was the third of four children, and is predeceased by his father and younger brother Steven. He spent most of his childhood and early adult life in Merced, California.

Dennis was a larger than life personality. He was smart, charismatic, hilarious, loving, giving, and at times a royal pain. He was the person everyone went to if we needed to know how to create or fix anything from cars to bookshelves to houses. He loved to build things, some of his most prized creations being shovel birds and his old tractor mailbox. He was a lifelong fisherman, and spent as much time as he could in the river, on a boat, or on the dock.

Dennis lived for his family. He is survived by his mother, Joyce Strickland; his 2 older siblings, Robert Strickland and Linda Strickland; and by his 3 children and their families: Shannon (Strickland) Tipa, her husband Kevin, and their 3 children Noah, Simon and River; Trisha (Strickland) Steere, her husband James, and their 2 children Zach and Zoey; and Dustin Strickland and Becky Gregerson and their 3 children, Kyleigh, Dax and Ellie. He is also survived by countless friends that he also considered family, along with all his other “kids” who are friends of his family that he collected over the years and accepted as his own.

He is deeply missed.

Billy Boyd Booth 1936-2018

Billy Boyd Booth, born April 28, 1936 in Great Falls, MT to Boyd and Marie Booth, passed away October 21, 2018 at the age of 82.
Billy was raised in St. Maries, ID where he graduated. After high school he attended the University of Idaho and then enlisted in the Army where he became a 1st Lt.
He married Glenda Wilson June 15, 1958 and they lived in Georgia while he was in the Army. In 1960, Billy began working with the US Forest Service in St. Maries. Then they moved to Libby, Butte, Missoula, MT, Jackson, WY and Marietta, GA where he retired from a dedicated life of serving.
He and Glenda moved to Chewelah in 1994 where he continued his life of serving the community in the Arts Guild and Lions Club while traveling all over the United States and the backroads around this area. His favorite saying was “I wonder where this road goes. Let’s check it out.” And we did!
He will be missed by many.
Billy is survived by Glenda Booth (Wilson), Leslie Biancardi (Booth) & James Biancardi, Elizabeth (Liz) Fornek (Booth) & Greg Fornek, Corky (Albert) Booth & Frankie (Francine) Booth, four grandchilden: Owen & Nate (Nathan) Biancardi, and Leslie & Denton Fornek.
He is preceded in death by his Mother Marie Booth, father J. Boyd Booth and son Christopher Booth.
The family is planning a service for a later time. Memorial contributions can be made to the Chewelah Valley Lions Club or the Chewelah Arts Guild.

Virginia S. Mason 1928-2018

Virginia S. Mason (Tootie), age 90 passed away peacefully October 6, 2018 at her home in Inchelium, Washington. Born on February 27, 1928, she was the youngest of 14 children in Covada, Washington to Eneas and Annie (Lemere) Seymour.

She was a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. She was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s Mission Catholic Church and was always available to the community on serving the Lord and His people.

No matter what day or time she would go to those who were sick or dying to help their passage in going home to be with our Blessed Jesus in all types of weather. If her People expressed a need she was there as a Servant of the Lord.

Virginia (Tootie) served the communities on or off our Colville Indian Reservation and the Spokane Indian Reservation in all types of weather.

She taught her children the value of hard work and never ceased to keep a pace of being busy with a garden, canning and driving the grain truck to deliver the grain harvested. She loved sewing and crocheting; that was her fun time creating and using her God-given talents to make things for pleasure of it.

She was the mother to eight (8) children, Vera Fitzpatrick (James), Steven Mason, Rebecca Luce (Jerry), Jennifer Ferguson, Viola Shiflett (Lucky), Mark Mason, Elizabeth “Susie” Allen (Larry) and Teresa Abrahamson.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Harold (Bud) Mason, granddaughter Kimberly Fitzpatrick, great granddaughter Jezelle Marconi and grandson William Hunter Mason.
She was loved and profoundly respected by her children, Grandchildren (34) and Great Grandchildren (51).

She had numerous nieces and nephews.

Virginia (Tootie) was blessed with many friends both near and far and will be missed beyond measure. Her passion for the people of God was deep and she never stopped giving of herself “for the sake of Jesus and His People”.

Virginia’s celebration of life was held at St. Michael’s Mission Catholic Church October 10, 2018 Wednesday evening for Rosary. Her celebration was held on Thursday at 10 a.m. on October 11, 2018 at the Inchelium Community Center, Inchelium, WA. Burial followed at Hall Creek Cemetery, Inchelium, Washington.

James William Carter

James William Carter, better known as Billy in his early years and Jim in his later years, was born on April 18, 1931, on a tobacco farm in Bunn, North Carolina, to Ruth and Willy Carter.
He attended Bunn School District for 12 years and earned his high school diploma. Two years after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant before completing his service at Deep Creek Air Force Station near Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA. It was here that he met and married Betty Jean McNutt in 1955. They had two children, Bryan and Laural. He started his advance degree programs at Eastern Washington University in education, receiving both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees.

By the time he moved his family from Spokane to a small dairy farm outside of Chewelah, he had his third child, Paul. There in Chewelah, he continued to pursue both of his passions in life which were teaching and educating others in woodworking crafts and drafting, along with working various projects on the farm. Jim loved to share his experience and knowledge with anyone he knew or met, and one would always be better for it; a trait he was known for all his life.

Jim was a hard worker and a dedicated Christian family man who was focused on always providing for his family. Before leaving Chewelah to move to Carnation, he had his fourth child, Darrin. In Carnation, he continued to teach and then later became the Vice Principal of Tolt High School. He also continued to grow his family by adopting two girls from Korea, Virginia (Jina) and Valene.

By 1978, Jim moved his family to Republic, WA to become the school principal and later took on the superintendent position. After 26 years in education, at the age of 56, Jim retired from school administration to return back to his beloved farm in Chewelah.

There in Chewelah, he continued to follow his passion of working on the farm, spending most of his time working the saw mill, working on projects in his shop and helping out his neighbors. He enjoyed having family and friends gather at the farm for cider making, horse riding, fishing, riding 4-wheelers and side-by-sides, and just playing along the creek, fields, and forests.

In August of 2009, he and Betty moved to Mead, WA in order to be closer to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the Spokane area. Jim loved working various projects, maintaining his property in Chewelah and most of all he loved his family. He was a well-respected man of integrity, character, and strength. He could never sit idle and was a hard-working man who loved to teach and educate by sharing what he knew and learned in life to anyone. He was always willing to help out his family and friends.
Jim passed on to be with his Lord and Saviour after a short illness on Oct. 13, 2018 in the early hours. He was preceded in death by his siblings Earl, Mildred, Myrtle, Willie Mae, Tommy and Glenn, as well as his grandson Nathan.

He left behind his beloved wife of 63 years, Betty Jean, and a beautiful family legacy that really captured his love of family; Bryan and his wife Marisol, Laural and her husband Scott, Paul and his wife Cindy Sue, Darrin and his wife Jenny, Virginia (Jina/Gina) and her husband Steve, and Valene. This also included Jim’s 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Everyone will miss his wisdom, guidance and love.

Jim’s memorial service will be held at Faith Baptist Academy 2804 E Euclid Ave, Spokane, WA at 11 a.m. on Novmeber 10, 2018 with a potluck to follow.

If you would like to make a donation in Jim’s honor, he would like it to go to Chewelah Baptist Church in Chewelah, WA.

Don Vern Smith 1929-2018

Don Vern Smith was born on April 6, 1929 in Helena, Montana and passed away on October 21, 2018 in Roseburg, Oregon.

Don joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. Don married Sylvia O’Bryant of Valley, Wash. in 1955. They lived in Spokane, where they raised their two children, Donette and Duane. Don worked hard to provide for his family, and always put family first. Don and Sylvia enjoyed 54 years of loving marriage with open hearts and an open home. He loved having his home filled with family and friends, and many relatives and friends lived with them over the years.

Don was a talented artist of numerous oil paintings. In midlife, Don came to know the Lord and was a devout follower the rest of his days.

After Sylvia’s death, Don moved to Roseburg, OR. in 2014 to be near his sisters, Joyce and Judy.

He is survived by his daughter, Donette Parry (Myron); son, Duane Smith; granddaughters Racha’ Smith and Allyson McBride; grandson, Sylas Smith; sisters Joyce Peterson and Judy Ashton; brothers Michael Smith and David Smith and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia; his parents Michael and Lydia; sister Lydia (Sue) Douthit and five Smith brothers: Art, Mel, Ralph, Richard and Ross.

A brief graveside service and flag ceremony for family and friends will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Valley Cemetery, Valley, WA. Family and friends are invited to gather at the nearby Valley Grange at 2 p.m. for a celebration of Don’s life and to share memories of Don. A light lunch will be served.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Fisher House Foundation, which provides free lodging to military and veterans’ families while a family member is receiving medical care. https://www.fisherhouse.org

Charles “Chuck” R. Washington 1952-2018

Charles “Chuck” R. Washington, 66, passed away at his home on October 17, 2018 surrounded by his wife, family and friends. Chuck was an outdoorsman, a logger, a truck driver and equipment operator. He loved camping with his friends, snowmobiling, hunting, traveling to exotic places with his wife Cindy and friends. Chuck loved a good game of poker. Chuck will be remembered for his quick sense of humor, his generous heart and being a loyal friend. He loved teasing his nephews, nieces and any little kids. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; sisters, Paula (Bill) Hansen, Carla (Dan) Engle, Laura (Terry) LaCroix; brother Ron (Becky) Washington, and many nieces and nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Hospice of Spokane or Becky’s Best Buddies, 2323 A, Burnt Valley Rd., Chewelah, WA 99109. A celebration of life party will be held in April 2019, time and place are pending.

Susan Anne “Suzanne” Melin 1938- 2018

Susan Anne Melin “Suzanne” was born in Spokane, WA on May 17th 1938, to Gus and Kay (Llewellyn) Melin. Sue passed away in her sleep in the early morning of October 13th 2018, in Chewelah, WA, after a long, courageous struggle with cancer.

She lived her early life in Hunters, WA and graduated from Columbia High School in 1956. Sue moved to California to attend college, married there, and later moved to the Washington, DC area where she worked for First Virginia Bank. She returned to Hunters when Gus became ill.

After her mother died in 1983, she assisted with the farming, worked at K-L Manufacturing, and Two Rivers Casino. This past May, she celebrated her 80th birthday with her family, surviving high school classmates, and special friends.

Suzanne is survived by her daughter Meleen (Mark), grandsons Matthew and Nathan, sister Roberta, brothers John (Julie), Eric (Billie), special cousin Victor Melin, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

At her request there will be no service, and her ashes will be interred at a later date in the family plot at Greenwood Cemetery. Remembrances to Greenwood Cemetery or charity of choice. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory have been entrusted with the arrangements.

Penny Lee Dufek, 59, of Priest River, Idaho, went to be with the Lord in the early morning of October 8, 2018.

Penny was born July 22, 1959 to Melvin and Sharon Graves in Anchorage, Alaska. One of four daughters, Penny had three sisters: Theresa, Linda and Sherry. She married Rick Dufek on June 11, 1982. Penny then got her education in nursing and went on to help countless people in her career, most recently at the Emergency Room in Newport, Washington.

Loved by many, she had a very close-knit family. She was the glue that kept them together with endless love and her incredible faith in Jesus Christ. Penny and Rick have three children: Son-Harley, Daughter-Ricki and Son-Joshua. Then she became a grandmother to Jesse, Laura, Stryker, and Lilly — she will be greatly missed.

Penny was a hard worker in every endeavor. She worked alongside Rick building multiple houses across the country, and in the hay fields on their farms in Arkansas and Washington. She loved the beach and snorkeling in Mexico. Her homemade pies were well known for their perfection. Penny was a loving and caring wife and mother who was committed to taking care of her family. She was like a second mother to her grandchildren. Known as “Nama,” she was happily involved in every aspect of their lives.

A special service to celebrate the life Penny lived will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, at Addy New Life Christian Center in Addy, Washington.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com.

George Carl Lippert 1951-2018

George Carl Lippert, of Hunters, WA, passed away unexpectedly on September 23, 2018. He was born on January 11, 1950 in Miles City, Montana, to Clarence and Edith (Lacock ) Lippert. The family moved west to Libby, MT in 1951, where all the children were raised.

George started building homes in high school, when he built a cabin by the creek in the valley at his folks’ place, which still stands today.

After graduating in 1967, he enlisted in the Navy because he had a low draft number, and he traveled all over the world from Hawaii to New Zealand. While in San Diego, he met his future wife, Deborah. They moved to Silver Butte and had two children, Bonny Jean and Patrick Carl, who were the love of his life, and who he was proud of. More

Margaret Florence Mitchell 1938-2018

Margaret Florence Mitchell passed away unexpectedly on August 19, 2018 in Spokane, WA. She was born on March 16, 1938 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to James and Lillian (Leupnitz) Lawless.
Margaret grew up and attended school in the Sault Ste. Marie area, graduating from Loretto Catholic Central High School with the class of 1956. After graduating high school, she worked in a local restaurant where she made the acquaintance of James Mitchell. He was stationed at Kinross (Kincheloe) AFB in the United States Air Force. James would see Margaret many times over the next few months as the restaurant that she worked at was also the pick-up spot for servicemen in the local area. He asked her out on a date after several months of getting to know her and their relationship blossomed. A year later on September 3, 1958, James and Margaret exchanged wedding vows, a union that lasted 60 years. After the wedding, James was on a 30-day furlough from the Air Force and they drove down to San Diego, CA for their honeymoon. Margaret had the opportunity to meet his parents while down there.

In February of 1960, James was honorably discharged from the USAF and took a job with the National Weather Service. His career with the NWS took them in the beginning to weather stations in San Diego, CA, Tatoosh Island, WA and Fresno, CA. James and the family then moved to Seattle where he began work in the forecast office and then finally to Spokane where he retired. All the while from the infancy of their marriage until James’ retirement, Margaret was the heart and soul of their home. She raised their three children, nourishing them with artfully crafted home cooked meals she learned while growing up and during her time working for her parents in their own restaurant.

Margaret enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and the family were the lucky recipients for birthdays and at Christmas. And it was during the holidays when her talents as a baker truly shined. It was family tradition passed down in each roll, loaf of bread, fruitcake or mincemeat pie.

In 1990, Margaret and James moved to Springdale, WA where they have lived ever since. In the beginning, they lived in a 28-ft travel trailer while James built their log cabin. Margaret enjoyed having a nice garden and the natural beauty of the area. Margaret was a loving and caring mother devoted to her family.

Margaret was preceded in death by both parents, brothers, Art Lawless, James Lawless and George Lawless, and sisters Donna, and Dorothy. She is survived by her loving husband, James; sons, Dale (Jenifer) Mitchell, Springdale, WA, Jim (Amy) Mitchell, Spokane, WA; daughter, Sue (Todd) Cooper, Federal Way, WA; 8 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Margaret Florence Mitchell will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chewelah, WA with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit the online register and sign the guest book at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com