Eva Lou Fowler
Memorial service for Eva Lou Fowler, 81, Steptoe, was at the Colfax Nazarene Church Wednesday morning, Dec. 30, with the Rev. Don Moore officiating. She died early Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2009, at Whitman Health and Rehab in Colfax.
Born Dec. 15, 1928, in Port Townsend, to Oscar and Fannie Elisa Bradshaw Winters, she was the youngest of eight children. She married Duane Baldwin in 1950. They resided at different locations while he served in the military, and they had four children, Glen, Carl, Brad, and Vanessa.
The marriage ended in divorce, and she and the children moved to Culdesac, Idaho, in 1960. She met and married Don Fowler there in 1966, and they had two sons, Wade and Leo.
The family moved in 1976 to Tonasket where they had a ranch on Pine Creek. They were involved in the Free Methodist Church. Eva learned machine embroidery from the county extension classes. She loved to sew and embroider and teaching this art to others. She sewed many gifts with her signature (ELF) monogrammed on each one.
They moved to Steptoe in 1999. Eva was an active member of the Nazarene Church in Colfax and a devoted volunteer for the Thrifty Grandmothers Club. For several years Don and Eva went south for the winter and she especially enjoyed the travel, scenery and visiting her many friends along the way. She was also known for her accounts of the death of her sister, Elsie Mitchell, one of the victims of a Japanese balloon attack at Bly, Ore., during World War II.
Surviving are her husband, Don Fowler, and her six children: Glen Baldwin of Culdesac, Idaho; Brad and Carl Baldwin and Vanessa Boy of Sioux Falls S.D .; Wade Fowler of Colbert and Leo Fowler of Port Alsworth, AK. She is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial donations be given to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Ardis C. Largent
Funeral services for Ardis C. Largent, 79, were Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse. The Rev. Kathy Kramer officiated. Burial followed at the Potlatch Cemetery.
Mrs. Largent died early Sunday morning, Dec. 27, 2009, at Aspen Park Healthcare in Moscow. Mrs. Largent had been in failing health since 2002.
Born Nov. 14, 1930, at Elk River, Idaho, to Dewey E. and Margaret Vevle LaVoy, she attended schools at Potlatch and graduated from Potlatch High School with the class of 1949. She attended Kinman Business College in Spokane for one year and married John Largent Oct. 14, 1950, at Potlatch. They made their home at Lewiston where he worked at the Potlatch Forests, Inc.
In 1954 the couple moved to Potlatch where they farmed in the Mountain Home area north of Potlatch.
A homemaker most of her life, she enjoyed cooking, playing cards, singing, and visiting with friends and neighbors. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Mountain Home Grange and a former 4H leader.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, John Largent, Potlatch; three sons, Terry Largent, Potlatch; Rick Largent, Moscow; and Todd Largent, Lewiston; one daughter, Sharon Montgomery, Potlatch; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by two infant sons, David and Daniel Largent, and one granddaughter, Sarah Largent.
The family suggests memorials go to the Potlatch Ambulance Fund.
Jerry Lautenslager
The funeral for Jerry A. Lautenslager, 56, St. John, will be Monday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at the St. John United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the St. John Cemetery. A public gathering will follow back at the church to celebrate his life.
He died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at the home of his brother in Washtucna.
Born Jan. 10, 1953, in Colfax to Dan and Helen Bafus Lautenslager, he grew up and went to school in St. John and graduated with the St. John High School class of 1971. While in school Jerry played basketball and baseball. He continued to enjoy baseball through the years and resurrected and coached the St. John/Endicott High School baseball team.
Jerry moved to Cheney where he attended Eastern Washington University for two years and then went to work for Union Pacific Railroad and later for R.A. Pearson Company where he was in public relations and repair. In 1984 he went back to St. John to work on the family farm with his father. Jerry had a strong love for playing and listening to all types of music. He played the acoustic guitar, steel guitar and harmonica. Jerry especially enjoyed time with family and was proud of his heritage and always had a good story to share.
Surviving are two sons Jared of Boise; Derek of St. John, and his daughter Katrice of Boise; his brother, Lanny Lautenslager of Washtucna and his sister Shirley Morrison of Burbank, Wash.
Online condolences:
http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com
George Medutis
George J. Medutis, 82, retired Colfax milk delivery man, died Monday evening, Dec. 28, 2009 at Whitman Hospital in Colfax. A memorial service will be arranged at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colfax and will be announced by Bruning Funeral Home.
Born Oct. 19, 1927, in Athol, Idaho, to Walter and Katherina Wolf Medutis, he was raised in Spirit Lake, Idaho, and graduated from high school there as one of eight students in the 1946 class.
George fibbed about his age so that he was able to get a job at the nearby Farragut Navy Base during the war and helped deliver coal to many of the buildings on the base.
Later, while living with Herb Weldon in Rosalia, George had the route that delivered the equipment and movies to all the small towns with theatres including Endicott, Oakesdale, Colfax, and others.
George soon started working for the Prouty Bros.
Dairy based in Colfax as their delivery driver and door-to-door milk man.
He married Yvonne Sloan in Thompson Falls, Mont., Sept. 27, 1957.
They made their home in Colfax since then.
George continued working as a milk man for many years for dairies such as Arden Farms, Carnation and B & G Distributors.
His route included all of Whitman County and some areas of Idaho.
He retired at age 62 in 1989 and immediately started driving school bus for Colfax and working as a custodian at the Colfax grade school.
Health problems about three years ago forced his retirement.
George loved to fish and camp. Most weekends were spent along the Snake River. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Colfax Eagles and the Teamsters Union. He and Yvonne also enjoyed traveling and wintered in Arizona for a time.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, Colfax; two sons, Eugene James Medutis of Walla Walla and Bryan Jerome Medutis of Colfax; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to the Home Dialysis Center, c/o Fresenius Medical Care, Spokane.
Philip B. Sawyer
A funeral service for Philip B. Sawyer, 95, retired Potlatch area farmer, was Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the Princeton Church of the Nazarene with burial following in the Freeze Cemetery at Potlatch. Mr. Sawyer died at the Hospice of Spokane house Dec. 19, 2009.
Born April 12, 1914, at Moscow, to Earl C. and Lulu Belle Peterson Sawyer, he attended schools at Moscow and then worked on a ranch near Walla Walla. He married Leona Petersen Oct. 31, 1934, at Colfax, and they farmed on Randall Flat near Troy, Idaho, until 1945 when they moved to Joel, Idaho, where they farmed until 1955. They moved to the Potlatch area where they continued to farm until retiring in 1976. After their retirement they enjoyed spending winters at Quartzsite, Ariz. Mrs. Sawyer died in 2000.
He remained on the family farm home. He has been in failing health since November of this year. Mr. Sawyer was a member of the Joel Grange, Moscow Grange, Mountain Home Grange and the Princeton Grange. He was a former member of the Potlatch Odd Fellows Lodge.
Survivors include one son, Ray (Violet) Sawyer, Cheney; six grandsons, 18 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Ann Cone.
Memorials are suggested to the Potlatch Ambulance Fund or to the Potlatch Senior Citizens.
