Obituaries for April 22, 2010

Frederick Altmiller, 85, Orofino

   Frederick William Altmiller passed away peacefully at Guardian Angel Homes in Lewiston, Thursday, April 15, 2010 due to complications of age. He was 85.

   Fred was born Sept. 20, 1924 at Bruce’s Eddy (Merry’s Bay) on the north fork of the Clearwater River near Ahsahka to Frank S. Altmiller and Alivina Regina Wagner Altmiller. He was the tenth of 12 children.

   Fred attended school in Ahsahka, graduating from the eighth grade. He and his brothers and sisters crossed the river by boat or on the ice in the winter.

   During World War II Fred was drafted at the age of 17 and served in the U.S. Army as a Pfc. In the 17th Airborne. His tour of duty involved the Europe-Invasion of Germany. After returning from the war, Fred met his wife of 62 years, Kathryn May Burch.

   They were married Oct. 30, 1948 and started their family, daughters Francine and Carolyn and son Fritz.

   Fred was an excellent woodsman and loved the outdoors and nature. He began his logging career at an early age as a sawyer and dozer operator. He worked for Potlatch Corp. and several logging contractors throughout the years. He also sawed in Alaska and Oregon with his son Fritz and ran dozer on the clearing process during the construction of Dworshak Dam.

   In earlier years Fred enjoyed participating in cross cut, chopping, and sawing competitions with brothers and extended family during the Clearwater County Lumberjack Days.

   Fred was an avid fisherman and hunter and always had time to take family and friends fishing and camping. He was a proud and devoted family man and was greatly loved by family and friends. His grandchildren were his treasure. His “big smile and heart” will be missed by all.

   Fred is survived by his wife Kathryn at the family home; daughters and spouses Francine and Butch Finke and Carolyn and Mike Adams of Orofino; sister Anna McIntire of Kamiah; grandchildren Darin Adams, Lisa Robertson and Stephanie Frank, all of Orofino; Jennifer Hudson of Lewiston; Jayson Altmiller and Josh Altmiller of California and 14 great grandchildren.

   Fred was proceeded in death by his parents; son Fritz Altmiller; grandson Doug Adams; brothers Carl, Frank, Eddie, Albert, Ernest, Jake and Johnny; and sisters Caroline Roby, Viola Roby and Mary Kelly.

   A private family memorial has taken place. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Joan B. Watson, 90, Orofino

   On Thursday, April 8, 2010 Joan Buckley Watson of Orofino went home to be with the Lord. She was 90.

   Born in East Liverpool, OH, she was the first of six children of Arthur and Gladys Buckley. They moved to Parkersburg, WV, where in 1937 she met Gilbert Watson.

  Joan’s mother required the first two years of the four they dated that Joan’s two younger sisters accompany her on dates with Gil. The couple married in 1941 on Easter Sunday. Known for his antics, Gil, after the reception, drove the wrong way on a major one-way street with the wedding party in tow.

   Joan and Gil had both quit high school in the 1930s due to needing to work during the Depression. However, they were very life-experience educated and had a continuing desire to learn. In the 1940s they became parents to a son and daughter. In the 1950s Joan took swimming lessons, earned her practical nurse certificate, and worked at a hospital in Georgia.

   In the 1960s she worked as the bookkeeper for a large cattle operation in Mississippi where Gil was the vice-president and general manager. In the 1970s Joan traveled to Europe with friends from church and learned how to play tennis and golf in Washington. In the 1980s she served as the 1987 state president of the Kansas Cattlewomen where her duties included promoting the beef industry at conventions and parades, attending Cattlewomen’s activities across the country, and judging beef “cook-off” events.

   As Joan aged, she said she’d rather spend any spare time with Gil and with family than doing anything else. Throughout her life she enjoyed hosting visitors, sewing, crafts, flower gardening, painting, gospel singing, reading, and working at the voting booths.

  Joan was a member of the Church of Christ and was a Republican who did not mind giving her opinion.

   Joan moved to Orofino from Florida in 2002 following Gil’s death. They had lived in 11 states and traveled to all but three of the other states during their 61 year marriage. She lived at Brookside Landing for seven years and at Clearwater Health and Rehabilitation for six months.

  Joan’s family includes son Jim Watson (Alice), Yorba Linda, CA; daughter Becky Drewery (Billie) of Kamiah; grandchildren Kelly Pike, Kalispell, MT, Kanet Turner (Richard), Walla Walla, WA, Klane Hanson, West Memphis, AR, Suzanne Robichaud (David), Longwood, FL, Rebecca Schaffer, Lake Mary, FL; great grandchildren Wilson, Dakota, Keith, Bailey, Colby, Alexandria, Megan, Chandler, and Buckley; sisters Louise Weser, Warrenton, VA, and Martha Houser, Parkersburg, WVA; and, brother Larry Buckley (Gayle), New Bern, NC.

   A celebration of Joan’s life was held April 11 at First Christian Church in Orofino. Family members participated in the service that was led by Jeremy Gering.

   For those wishing to give a memorial, Joan chose Oklahoma Christian University, where her two children attended. Memorials may be sent to OCU, Mike McDonald Endowment Scholarship, 2501 E. Memorial Rd, Edmond, OK 73013.

Margaret A. Walker, 81, Orofino

   Margaret A. Walker, Orofino, died peacefully Thursday, April 11, 2010 of natural causes at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino. She will be dearly missed by family and friends. She was 81.

   Margaret was born Oct. 13, 1928 to Horace G. and Margaret Ann McMillin in Batesville, MS, the eldest of two children. Her father’s occupation as county road foreman caused the family to do some moving during her early school years.

   She graduated from West Plains High School in West Plains, MI in 1942. In 1949 she received her nursing diploma from Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN and so began her life long dream of becoming a registered nurse.

   Her first job landed her in Harrison, AR working at the local hospital. She met her future husband, Garold E. Walker, known to family and friends as JR. Garold had been discharged from the Army and had just started his career as an ironworker on Bull Shoals Dam outside of Harrison. Margaret was offered a nursing position with Morrison & Knudsen as first aid nurse on their new project at Cabinet Gorge Dam located in Clark Fork. She was off on an adventure of a life time to a state that she would fall in love with.

   After the completion of Bull Shoals, Garold was transferred to Cabinet Gorge Dam. They married Oct. 11, 1952 in Thompson Falls, MT. Margaret returned to her parents’ home in Camden, AR in June of 1954 to give birth to their daughter.

   The family moved from town to town and state to state over the course of the next 13 years. Places included Ione, WA, Strawberry, CA, Heber Springs, AR, Lisbon Tortugal, Snelling, CA, Mossy Rock, WA and finally settling in Orofino.

   After their daughter graduated from high school Margaret returned to her nursing career at Clearwater Valley Hospital during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. She then took on the director of nursing at what is now known as Clearwater Health and Rehab.

   Both Margaret and Garold retired in the 1990’s to enjoy traveling to ironworkers reunions, taking care of their place, gardening, and enjoying their family. Margaret loved spending time with her two grandchildren and taking care of her many flower gardens, and canning the fresh vegetables from their garden.

   Margaret was a member of Eastern Star and Daughter of the Niles.

   She is survived by her daughter Sue and husband Chris Anderson; grandchildren Max and Kelsey Anderson and many nieces and nephews.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Margaret Ann McMillin; brother, Robert Earl McMillin; and husband of 57 years, Garold E. Walker.

   Graveside services for Margaret and Garold will take place Friday, April, 23 at 1 p.m. at Wells Bench Cemetery for family and friends. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

   In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be given in their names to Clearwater Valley Hospital Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 2169, Orofino, ID 83544.

Delores Newell, 68, Lenore

   Delores Newell, Lenore, died April 14, 2010 at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino. Our mother started her new life with the Lord. She will be dearly missed and will be forever in our hearts. She was 68.

   She was born to Vance and Dorothy (Chase) Newell. She was raised in both Pierce and Orofino and attended school at both. Delores moved to Oregon in 1958.

   She married Carl Myers in 1960 and they raised three children together. She and Carl divorced after the children were raised. She moved to Klamath Falls, OR and met Robin Hawkins. They were companions for 25 years.

   Delores was an outdoor person and loved to fish, hunt and camp. She moved back to Pierce in 1992 and then to Lenore. She enjoyed raising AKC Yorkshire Terriers.

   Delores also enjoyed road trips with her family. She and her daughters took vacations every year, always going somewhere different. The last two years she chose Glacier National Park. Even though she was very sick, she enjoyed herself. She and her sister went to Mexico and Canada, wherever the road took them. She was very much loved and we will miss her forever.

   She is survived by three daughters, Tammy Gould and Janet Goodwin, both of Roseburg, OR, and Carla Gutcher, Burns, OR; five grandchildren, David Gould, Kristina Goodwin (Ramos), Travis Gutcher, Brian Goodwin, Becky Gutcher; seven great-grandchildren, Matthew Goodwin, Elizabeth Hartsock, Tanner Gutcher, Cody Hartsock, (twins) Jace and Coen Ramos and Jasmine Gould. She is also survived by her sister, JoAnn Zipse, Lenore; brother, Jerry Newell, Lebanon, OR and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

   Delores was preceded in death by her parents; a twin sibling at birth, and her brother, Dennis Newell.

Kyle William Wirgau, 24, Orofino

   Kyle William Wirgau, Orofino, passed away at Clearwater Valley Hospital April 19, 2010. He was 24.

   A memorial open house will be held in Kyle’s memory Saturday, April 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 215 Tamarac Street, Orofino.