Adella Rose Christensen, 85, Orofino

   Adella Rose Christensen passed away on Saturday, Dec.  31, 2011 at the family home in Orofino, after a lengthy battle with chronic leukemia. She was 85.

   Della was born at Southwick to Glen and Alma Betts, on July 7, 1926. She attended school in Southwick and graduated in 1943. She married Donald Christensen that same year.

   Don and Della lived at logging camps up the North Fork of the Clearwater River and at Finke logging camp by Pierce before moving to Orofino. Della did books for William Cummings and for Christy Company, the log skidding carriage company that Don founded. She also worked on the Clearwater County election board for many years.

   Della enjoyed her huge garden and flowerbeds. When not working in the garden she was busy canning and cooking for her family and friends. She loved camping and traveling to the Washington Coast to go “clamming.” She was a gracious hostess who always had a cup of coffee and a delicious meal ready for guests.

   Della is survived by her husband, Don; her daughter, Doris Christensen and husband, Greg Field of Waimanalo, HI; her son, Steve Christensen and wife, Robin of Orofino; four grandchildren, Dylan Stanfield of New York, Don Christensen II of Everett, WA; Amber Bridgewater of Parma, ID; Jonathan Christensen of Orofino, and five great-grand-children. She is also survived be her brother, Eugene Betts of Coeur d’ Alene.

   The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Phillip Peterson and the nurses of Clearwater Valley Hospital for their dedicated care of Della. A special thank you is extended to Les and PJ Finney for their care so she was able to remain at home during her final days.

   A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Clearwater Memorial Public Library, Box 471, Orofino, ID 83544.

Mildred Ferguson, Kennewick, WA

   Mildred Ferguson, born and raised in Orofino, recently passed away.

   Her husband, Darrell, also an Orofino High School graduate and long time resident, and her family thought it would be appropriate to notify Mildred’s and Darrell’s local friends of her passing by having her obituary published in the local newspaper.

   She talked fondly of her Orofino experiences while growing up and loved attending the high school reunions and Lumberjack Days with friends and family.

Kathryn Carey, formerly of Orofino, 93

   Kathryn H. Carey passed away on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. She was born on Feb. 26, 1918 in Lewiston, Idaho. She was the daughter of Leeta M. Hayden (Stonebraker) and Joseph P. Hayden of Lewiston, Idaho.

   Katie, as she was known to one and all, grew up in the Lewiston – Orofino area and lived there until 1962 when she moved to Federal Way, WA with her husband and children.

   She was best known as an entertainer playing piano and singing in establishments around Orofino in her younger years. She was a devoted grandmother to not only her own grandchildren, but all the “grandchildren” in her neighborhood and in her extended family.

   A private memorial was held with her surviving children and some of her grandchildren. For the last few years Katie lived at Foundation House, an assisted living facility near her two sons. She will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA with her husband of 52 years, Moon Carey, who preceded her in death in June of 2000. She was also preceded in death by her eldest son, Robert J. Turner, in 2009, which was her greatest sorrow in her last years.

   She is survived by her sons and daughters in law and her seven grandchildren. They are: James M. and Vicki B. Carey and their children, Matthew J. Carey and Joanne Engel; Steven M. and Marita Carey and their children, Dustin Carey and Andrea Carey; Timmi Turner and her and Bob’s children, Kelli Turner and Bret Turner, and Bob’s eldest daughter, Stacy Turner. She is also survived by her two sisters, Barbara Fairley and Cecilia M. Turner.

   Katie succumbed to age related complications of diabetes and remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Benny Hamilton, 68, Orofino

   Benny Hamilton, Orofino, died Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 at his home. He was 68. Arrangements are pending with Mountain View Funeral Home of Lewiston.

Ural Rupert Albert Latham, 73, Boise

   Ural Rupert Albert Latham passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Boise. He was 73.

   Ural was born July 1, 1939, in Pomeroy. He was the sixth child of Dwight Latham and Joveta Donnelly Latham of Peola.

   He met and married the love of his life, Roben Williams. They were married for 24 years and had one daughter, Saaj. Ural's other children are Scott Pentzer of Boise, Mark, Thad, Gary, Chris, Mark, Glenda and Lisa.

   Ural served in the Air Force. He was an artist, a photographer and a lover of nature and of Native American Indians. While living in this area, he did many pencil sketches of people. He was able to travel much when he worked in the construction field.

   He is survived by his siblings, Wanda (Frank) Chisholm, Barbara Chandler, Margaret (Les) Jester, Robert (Gloria) Latham, Denney Joe (Ruby) Latham, and Kyle (Bev) Latham.

   He was preceded in death by Ramona Latham, Beverley Bryan and Lars Wieland Linville.

   A memorial service and covered-dish dinner will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at the VFW Hall in the Lewiston Orchards, 1104 Warner Ave.

Adelle R. Christensen, 85, Orofino

   Adelle R. Christensen, Orofino, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 at her Orofino residence. She was 85.  Arrangements are pending at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home.

Barbara Jean Simmons, 76, Kamiah

   Barbara “Bobbi” Jean Simmons of Kamiah passed away Dec. 28, 2011 with her family by her side at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. She was 76.

   Bobbi was born in Kamiah in 1935 to Ed and Billie Hronek. She attended Kamiah High School and graduated in 1953. She married Don Simmons in 1955.

   Bobbi was active in the community, serving 12 years as treasurer for the Friends of the Library and as a member of the board of directors at Burkhart Homes for 11 years. She served on the Elections Board, helping with elections since 1984, and in 2000 she became chief judge.

   Bobbi’s first job was at First Security Bank, where she worked until Don was called overseas by the military. Bobbi spent two years with Don in Germany, and in 1958 attended the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium.

   In 1958, Don and Bobbi started Simmons Sanitation and years later purchased NADL Enterprises. Bobbi and Don began their family after returning from Germany. She raised four children and was very active in Job’s Daughters, 4-H, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. She enjoyed staying busy and opened a ceramics shop in her basement.

   She was a talented painter and ladies from Lewiston would come to her shop just to have her complete the eyes on a ceramic piece. Later Bobbi became involved with Avon, with whom she sold beauty supplies for 30-plus years.

   Bobbi enjoyed camping with her family, often spending the summer months with her sisters and their families on the Selway, Lochsa and Lolo. She treasured holidays with the family, spending time with her grandchildren, and Sunday drives with Don. She played bingo and bunko parties with her friends.

   Bobbi is survived by her husband Don; her children Edward (Kim) Simmons, Robert (Sheila) Simmons, Lori (Jim) Johnson, Dona Robbins-Simmons, and Mike (Jackie) Millage; nine grandchildren, Drew and Cassi Johnson, Chazz Johnson and Nicole Duran, Kalee Johnson, Nikka Johnson, Ricky Simmons, Kori Robbins, Trevor Robbins, Chad Simmons, and Santana Simmons, and one great-granddaughter, Hadley Johnson. She is also survived by her two sisters, Bev Wilsey and Betty Reed.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed Hronek, Axel Kludt and Billie Kludt.

   A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 followed by a dinner, at St. Catherine's Church in Kamiah.

   Donations in Bobbi’s name may be made to the Kamiah Community Library, P.O. Box 846, Kamiah, ID 83536. Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.

William Walker, 91, Orofino

   William R. Walker, Orofino, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino. He was 91.

   A memorial service will be held at Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. at Pine Hills Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Orofino. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Marion Henry, 92, Lenore

   Marion F. Henry, Lenore, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at her daughter’s home. She was 92. Arrangements are pending with Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home of Lewiston.

Beulah Riek Vrieling, 96, Grangeville

   Beulah Riek Vrieling, age 96, passed away in Grangeville on Jan. 2, 2012 from causes related to age. Our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, was born in Jenkins, MN, in 1915, the youngest of eight children, later moving to Brainard, MN. 

   In 1930, after her father passed away, Beulah and her mother moved to Los Angeles, CA where she met and married our father, Howard (Lefty) Riek in 1935. They moved to Orofino, in 1944, along with first son, Robert (Bob). They lived in Orofino where they had two more children, Marilyn and Ron.

   When her husband and our father passed away in 1973, she met and married George Vrieling two years later. Her husband George passed away in 2009. He had been a long time resident of Grangeville and was a retired farmer.

   Beulah is survived by her son, Robert, wife Elsa and their family of Peck; her son Ron Riek, and his family in Pleasant Grove, Utah; Marilyn Krieger and her partner, Mark Lowry of Cottonwood, and stepdaughter Carol Colson of Salem, Oregon. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Doety Riek of Peck, Robert Riek, Jr. of Weippe, Ron Riek Jr. of Spokane, WA and stepson Thomas Lougee, as well as many nieces and nephews.

   Beulah was preceded in death by her parents, John and Melissa Gorst, four sisters, three brothers, and stepdaughter Jessamine.

   Beulah enjoyed camping, fishing and bowling, and playing pinochle in her younger years. Later in life, she enjoyed visiting with friends and family and reading her Bible. She was a devout Christian and attended the Nazarene Church in Grangeville for many years. She was a great mother and a wonderful person. She will be missed by her family, her extended family, and all who knew her.

  Services will be at Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville on Friday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Weseman Cemetery near Orofino.

   Donations may be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 371, Grangeville, ID, 83530. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.