Lester H. Wilcox, 98

Les Wilcox, 98, of Riggins, ID died Father’s Day, June 18, 2006 at a Boise care center of natural causes.

Les was born February 14, 1908 in Heavener, Oklahoma to Maud (Coker) and Jay Wilcox. The family moved to Heath, Arkansas where he was raised and educated to the ninth grade after which he sought employment. He found work at Butler Steel Mill in Kansas City, Missouri and at General Motors in Independence. His younger brother Cecil convinced him that jobs were out West so they threshed wheat in Colorado, and harvested fruit and vegetables in California, Arizona, Idaho and Washington.

He met Florence Holladay in Washington and they were married in Reno en route to Salinas to be near his family. Looking for a better job they moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he was employed for Black Sivalls and Bryson, making “oilfield” equipment and aircraft parts during WWII. In 1948 with 7 children they moved to an Oregon farm near Florence’s family and after 12 children he bought a farm in Middleton, Idaho.

Following divorce in 1959, Les worked 13 years for Fairchild Semiconductor in Mountain View, California. He retired in 1972 and married a dear friend, Adara Carpenter and they built their home on the banks of Rapid River.

Les loved gardening, fishing, hunting, and his or anybody else’s children. He loved his Lord and studying the Bible; He loved his books and “picking brains.” Les enjoyed several churches in Riggins and was a member of the Community Church.

Les was preceded in death by his wife Florence (1971), Adara (1995), and brothers Cecil and Carson. He is survived by his younger sister, Hazel Craig of Atlanta, Georgia; his 12 children, Joel and Pat of Stevenson, Washington; Gerald of Nampa, Idaho; Rebecca Fredericks of Boise, Idaho; Mickey of Boise; Buntley and Vikki of Caldwell, Idaho; Claudette Hill of Boise; Arta and Vasili Karathanasis of Las Vegas, Nevada; Regan and Karen of Carson City, Nevada; Oma and Jamie Escolar of Oroville, California; Philip and Tammy of Okinawa; Daniel and Chato of Reno, Nevada; Adora and Roy Strong of Nampa; 24 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Many thanks to each of Les’ caregivers and friends, with special thanks to Donna Fuller. In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to the Salmon River Rural Fire Department, P.O. Box 444, Riggins, ID 83549.

Funeral services will be held in Riggins on Monday, July 3, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the Salmon River Community Church with Pastor Joe Vance officiating. Burial will follow at Riggins Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Luella Weholt, 81

GRANGEVILLE: Luella B. Schumacher Weholt, 81, of Grangeville passed away Saturday at the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Lue was born March 22, 1925, near St. John, Washington a daughter of Cecil and Bertha Freeman Henderson. She moved to Grangeville as a young adult and worked at the Candy Kitchen and cooked for farm crews and her large extended family. She married Bert Schumacher in 1943 and together they owned and operated Schumacher’s Refrigeration in Grangeville for over 30 years. She also worked at Walker’s Jewelry and the Grangeville Elks Lodge. Mr. Schumacher passed away in 1980. Following the loss of Bert, Lue met Carl Weholt and they were married in March of 1982. They loved to travel, fish, hunt and camp. The last few years Carl spent his time tending Lue in the most loving and caring way.

Our close knit family revolved around mom’s kitchen table and the all the goodies she provided. In the dictionary, the word “Mother’ should read: See Luella, as her world centered around caring for her family.

Lue is survived by her loving husband Carl, two daughters, Lynda Williams and Jan Schumacher, grandchildren, Tyke Trogden and his wife Kim and their children, Olivia and Brieanna of Boise, Tiffani Moser and her husband David of Tacoma, Persephone Thompson of Las Vegas, and Courtney Thompson and his sons Brayden and Ashton of Lewiston. She is also survived by step children, Aaron and Susan Weholt of Seattle, Sharon and Mike Gooch of Seattle, Linda and Jim Lash of Texas, Kathy Cramer of Seattle and Steve and Catherine Weholt of Seattle. Lue is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Maxine Buchanan of Clarkston, Alvin and Barbara Henderson of Grangeville, Norman and Rochelle Henderson of Mesa, and Janice Snodgrass of Mesa. She was preceded in death by her sister Bertha and her brother Cecil.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 9, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jones, the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital, Home Health Dept., and the Grangeville Health and Rehab. staff for the years of loving care.

You may send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com

Carolyn Wren, 49

GRANGEVILLE: Carolyn Wren, age 49, died Thursday, June 1, 2006 at her home near Grangeville from complications due to ovarian cancer.

Carolyn was born January 2, 1957 to John and Susan Stuivenga DeHaas in Grangeville, and grew up on the family farm near Mt. Idaho. She graduated from Grangeville High School in 1975, and then went to work at the Idaho County Assessor’s office. She worked in the Assessor’s field in Grangeville, Sandpoint and Lewiston. Carolyn graduated in 1996 from the University of Idaho in Fisheries Biology. She then worked as a Fisheries Biologist for the Nez Perze Tribe in Lapwai and for several years in Grangeville for the U.S. Forest Service. Carolyn was noted as an outstanding biologist with a passion for her job in fisheries/forest resources. She also volunteered for years as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Carolyn enjoyed hiking, river rafting, sewing, spending time on home projects and traveling. Carolyn was diagnosed in February 2003 with ovarian cancer. She continued to work for the Forest Service and volunteer as an EMT during her chemotherapy sessions. Carolyn chose to live and open her heart even further during her struggle with cancer. She had genuine warmth and spread joy to those in need. One of her proudest moments was seeing her son Brian Wren wed to Anna Gribble in March 2006.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Wren Jr. of Grangeville in 1983 and her brother John DeHaas Jr. of Cottonwood, ID in 2005. Carolyn is survived by her fiancé Scott Russell and family from Grangeville, her son Brian and wife Anna Wren of Grangeville, father and mother John and Susan DeHaas of Grangeville, brother Richard and wife Paula DeHaas and family of Albuquerque, NM, brother Larry of Lewiston, ID, sister Cathy DeHaas and partner Bill Mancini and family of Superior, MT, brother Gerald and wife Karyn DeHaas and family of Fairbanks, AK, brother Jim DeHaas and partner Susan Transeaux and family of Bainbridge Island, WA., sister Chris and husband Tim Haener and family of Boise, ID.

A memorial service is planned at the Blackmer Funeral home on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 10:00 am. A dinner/potluck for friends and family will be held after the service at the Grangeville Senior Center from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Carolyn’s wishes are to be cremated and her ashes spread near Red River where she was happiest. A portion of her ashes will be interned at her father and mother’s gravesite. Family, friends and the community will miss her warmth and light.

Fly home Carolyn, you are free.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com