Kenneth R. Byers, Sr., 61

Kenneth Richard Byers, Sr., 61, of Grangeville, passed on to a better place on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at his Grangeville home.

Ken was born September 18, 1945 in Snohomish, Washington to Richard C. and Agnes M. Byers.

All who knew Ken knew he lived life to the fullest. He worked hard in the woods but still always had time to lend a hand to family, friends, and strangers.

Ken is survived by his five children, Kenneth Richard Byers, Jr. and wife Carrie of Boise; daughter and son-in-law John and Jeri (Hanger) Montgomery of Grangeville; son Kendall Byers and wife Stephanie of Yakima, WA; daughter and son-in-law Gary and Tressa Pardue of Kamiah; son Kenyon Robert Byers of Boise; 12 grandchildren: Kenyon York, Nena and Penny Hames, Devon Brouse, Kiya, Caleb, Kendra, Monique, Cedric, Nick, Cipriana, and Ciara Byers; one great-grandson and three great-grandchildren on the way, as well as lots of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents; a sister, Betty Hallingsworth; a brother, Ted Byers; his father, Richard (Dick) Byers and his beloved mother, Agnes M. Byers.

Ken will be missed by all who knew him.

Sleep with the angels Dad.

Cremation will take place and a celebration of Ken’s life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Carolyn J. Sokolowski, 60

Carolyn J. Sokolowski, 60 of Grangeville passed away Saturday, March 10th in Boise.

Carolyn was born November 16, 1946 at Muskegon, Michigan, a daughter of Clarence and Arlene Colby Dykema. She received her education in Muskegon graduating from Muskegon Catholic Central in 1964. She married Donald Sokolowski in Muskegon on May 6, 1967. They lived in Rothbury, MI before moving to Big Rapid, MI where Don attended Ferris State University. Following Dons’ graduation they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. Carolyn received her LPN degree from the University of Minnesota while living in Grand Forks. They moved to Chinook, Montana and lived there until 1986 when they moved to Grangeville, Idaho. She worked as a LPN at the Idaho County Nursing Home in Grangeville until ill health forced her to retire.

Carolyn enjoyed cross stitching, fishing, canoeing and spending time in the outdoors. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville.

She is survived by her husband, Don at the family home in Grangeville, a daughter Cathy Sokolowski of Grangeville, two sons, Andrew Sokolowski of Fort Belvoir, VA, and Timothy Sokolowski of Giessen, Germany. She has six grandchildren, Cameron, Kaitlyn, Megan, Brieanna, Zachary and Nicholas. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Robert Dykema, Shirley Haase, Linda Dykema and Clarence Dykema, Jr. all of Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents and a twin sister Marilyn.

A vigil service will be held on Thursday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. with father’s Bradley Neely and Meinrad Schallberger as con celebrants. Burial will follow at Mount Idaho Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, March 15th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Grangeville Food Bank and that anyone attending the services for Carolyn bring a can food item to be given to the food bank. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com

John Gortsema, 85

John Gortsema, 85, of Grangeville, passed away on March 8, 2007 at his Grangeville home.

John was born December 24, 1921 in Greencreek, Idaho to Jake and Minnie Gortsema. He was the oldest of six children. In 1927, they moved to the family ranch in the Tolo Lake area. He attended the Lake School.

In 1942 he joined the U.S. Army and served in the European Theatre. John returned to the Grangeville area in 1945 upon receiving his discharge.

John married Shirley Hayhurst in February 1946 in Grangeville. They had two children, Jim and Janet. In 1947 he took over the family ranch until 1960 when the ranch was sold and they moved to Grangeville, where his truck driving career began. He worked for Art Smith Logging and then Baker Truck Service until his retirement at age 70. He was proud of his record of driving 2,500,000 miles accident free.

John was also a lifelong member of the Grangeville Elks Lodge.

John is survived by his daughter, Janet Gortsema of Bliss, Idaho; sister Kobie Pils of Nampa, Idaho; brothers Marion and Bill Gortsema of White Bird; grandson Jason Gortsema; granddaughter Jennifer and great grandson James Lee Gortsema II, all of Grangeville; numerous nieces and nephews, and care-giver and good friend Deanne Clark and her family.

John was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Carl; one sister, Janette, and his son, Jim Gortsema.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Prairie View Cemetery in Grangeville with Pastor Harold Gott officiating.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Condolences can be sent to the Gortsema family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Gerald O. Smith, 91

Gerald Oliver Perry Smith, a long-time Grangeville treasure, died of bronchial cancer Saturday at the Syringa Hospital in Grangeville. He was 91.

He worked for Bryan Cash at Prairie Land and Timber as a dozer operator.
He retired in 1996 at the age of 80.

The son of William Barnabus Canady and Clara Adaleine Smith, Gerald was born January 14, 1916 at Carlton, Washington.

He graduated from High School in Winthrop, Washington in 1934. He married Clara Catherine Smith November 20, 1936, at Wenatchee, Washington, and the couple moved to White Bird in 1952. He worked for Lou Walker as a heave equipment operator.

Two years later, they moved to Grangeville, where he worked for IdaPine as a dozer operator. He eventually went to work for Robinette Logging in Kooskia and then began work for Prairie Land and Timber. The “Grand Old Paleantologist” as was invented out of his initials G.O.P. Smith, was responsible for the discovery of the Woolly Mammoth remains at Tolo Lake, while he was working for Mr. Cash.

He enjoyed gardening, grandchildren and a good stiff drink. He was a faithful reader of the Farmers Almanac, enjoyed a good game of cribbage and in his later years his local friends at the Establishment became his life and leisure.

Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Cecil Dean Smith “Snuffy” of Whitebird, Glenda McHaffey, Verleigh Schacktsnieder, Joe Smith and Laverne Moyer all of Washington; two sons, Gerald Gwynn Smith of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Smith of Santa Rosa, California; a daughter, Elizabeth Payton of Lewiston; nine grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Catherine Smith; three brothers and one sister.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2007 at the Blackmer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery. The service will be a joint effort of grandchildren and great-grandchildren in celebration of his life.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.