Steven Lyle Walker “Pa”, 66 Passed away March 23rd, 2020 at Syringa Hospital in Grangeville, ID Steve was born to Jessie Lyle and Phyllis (Gray) Walker in Lewiston, ID on January 26th, 1954. He was raised on the farm, and left home young to serve in the U.S. Army in the early ‘70s. He was stationed in Germany and returned to Idaho after his service. In 1974 he met and married “his Kimmie” Kim Webster. While they started and grew their family, he attended and graduated from LCSC’s Auto Body Mechanics Program. After gaining work experience in and around the area, they moved back to Kooskia. Every day for 35 years they ran “Steve’s Body Shop” together, a shop and business they built from the ground up in 1984. And just like their family, it too continues. They also built their 1st and last log home together on Tahoe Ridge where they finished raising their children. With the arrival of their 1st grandchild they became known as Ma & Pa. Steve had a deep love for classic cars. He loved talking about them, finding them, restoring them, and driving them…especially if the top came down. He also loved guns, antiques, rare, and odd things. Of course, he also enjoyed wheeling and dealing in all of these things. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who looked at the world outside as something new to be discovered. He was always devoted to his family, but a pushover when it came to his grandkids. Pa didn’t mind looking silly if it made the kids laugh, so it worked out well that he was just a grown-up kid himself. He was an easy-going person who was hard to rile, but a sight to behold when he was mad. He was a wonderful husband, awesome dad, dutiful son, trusted friend, loving brother, and an amazing grandpa. He was kind, stubborn, honest, clever, and so much more. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Phyllis and Jesse Lyle Walker. He is survived by his wife Kim Walker of Kooskia; daughter Bridget (RJ) Axtell of Rathdrum, their children Chandler and Stephy; daughter Krissy Walker of Albuquerque, NM, her children Ashleigh and Walker; son Jasun (Ashley) Walker of Kooskia, their children Logun and Mazie; sibling Donna Nash; brother Cliff (Betsy) Walker; sibling Robin Walker; brother Ron “Shorty” (Laura) Walker; brother Scott Walker; sibling Tony Walker, and many more cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. There will be no formal services as Steve’s wishes were to be cremated and then remembered by his family and friends. We will have a gathering sometime this summer when the weather is nice. Thank you to everyone for your love and support. A special thank you from the family to Paul Christianson and Delbert Kolb. There aren’t enough paragraphs to accurately describe a person who is loved and the impact that they have. You just have to be grateful that you had them while you did. All is well.
Obituaries
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Helen Jo Brink
Helen Jo Brink of the Kooskia/Kamiah area quietly slipped away, Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at the Orofino Care Center. She was born January 5, 1932, to M.A. and Addie Hogue in Hunt County, Texas. Helen was the oldest of five children. Her four sisters included Wanda Cerwenski of Sandpoint, ID., Peggy Coppinger of Hawkins, Texas, Barbara Hogue of Dallas, Texas, and June Middleton of Shady Shores, Texas. Helen had six children; Mike Myers of Kooskia, ID., Jeri Lawson of Spokane, WA., Jim Weirich of Richmond, CA., Joni Weirich of Concord, CA., Charli Bechtold of Kooskia, ID., and Sue Herbst of Fort Myers, FL.. She had 14 grandchildren, 26 greatgrandchildren, 6 great-greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was always busy. She worked as a bank teller, owned her own fast food business, cooked in numerous restaurants, cooked in hunting camps, worked in a cedar saw mill, was an apprentice in a wood working shop, spent time living and working in the Cayman Islands, was a member of The Red Hatters and retired working for the U.S. Forest Service. Helen was quite an artist and displayed her artwork at several art shows over the years. Helen married Dale Brink in September of 1999. They loved life. They spent a lot of time camping on the Selway River and were frequently seen 4-wheeling with their dog Keystone and a bottle of Blackberry Wine. Helen was preceded in death by both parents, sister Wanda Cerwenski, daughter Joni Weirich, son Mike Myers, granddaughter Brianna Broncheau, great-granddaughter Viktoreea Parker and husband Dale Brink. Life was always an adventure for Helen….. She will be missed. Family services will be held at a later date. Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.
Helen Marie Lentz
Helen Marie Lentz passed away on March 23, 2020 in Kooskia, Idaho. Marie was born September 1st, 1958 to David and Marjorie Lentz in Portland, Oregon. All of Marie’s school years were spent in Portland. She attended David Douglas high School but didn’t finish. In 1989 she earned a GED at Mt. Hood Community College. In July of 1976 she married Scott Kempton. They had two children together, David and Christina. That marriage ended in divorce. In March of 1979 she married Randy Mossman. They also had two children together, Tyler and Melissa. That marriage also ended in divorce but they remarried within the same year. They remained married until 1990. In 1988 she met Dave Johnson in Tumwater, Washington. That same year they moved the family to Orofino, Idaho. They lived together for 7 years, separating in 1995. From that union Marie gained a stepson, Christopher Johnson, who has always remained in her life. She was again remarried in April 1998 to Aaron Webb. That marriage also ended in divorce in 1999. She didn’t marry again. Marie was an awesome cook. She enjoyed baking for her family and friends. She was famous for her ham gravy and potato salad. She loved to camp, fish, play cards, canning, gambling, singing karaoke, rock hunting, sewing and floating the river. She loved to garden. She had a green thumb and could grow just about anything! She was known to brag about her kids and grandkids to anyone who would listen. Marie had a wild side in her younger years. She liked to ride motorcycles, listen to rock n roll, go to concerts and had several tattoos with plans for many more. She loved to travel. While she never did make it to some of the far off places she dreamed of going, she was able to travel to Arizona several times with her companion, Randy. She had also been to Las Vegas several times. Her family made a trip to the Redwood Forest as a child and she spoke of that trip often. Just weeks before her passing, she finally was able to see the Grand Canyon. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Marjorie Lentz, Brother David Lentz Jr., Sister Susan Reynolds, son Tyler Mossman and grandson Aidan Richardson. She is survived by her son, David Kempton of Portland, Or, daughters Christina (Jabez) Richardson of Kamiah, Id. and Melissa (Jarrod) Carter of Kooskia,Id , stepson Christopher Johnson of Stites,Id, grandson KC Richardson of Lewiston,ID, granddaughter Libby Richardson of Kamiah, grandsons Cole, Anthony and Kaden Carter, all of Kooskia and Mariah Johnson of Stites. We thought of you today. But that is nothing new, we thought of you yesterday and days before that too. We think of you in silence, we often speak your name. Now all we have are memories and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake with which we’ll never part. God has you to keep, we’ll have you in our hearts. There is a memorial fund for Marie Lentz at Freedom Northwest Credit Union in Kamiah. Trenary Funeral Home is helping the family with arrangements. There will be services held at a later date.
Nancy E. Bogle
Nancy E. Bogle, 67, of Kamiah, died March 16, 2020, at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino.
There will be a graveside service for Nancy E. Bogle, Friday, March 27, 2020 at 1:00 P.M., at the Kamiah City Cemetery.
Leonard Wassmuth 89, of Grangeville, Idaho
Leonard J. Wassmuth, 89, of Grangeville, Idaho, passed away peacefully in his home, on Thursday, March 12, 2020, surrounded by family. Leonard was born to Clarence (Clem) Wassmuth and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Wassmuth on Aug. 9, 1930, at his home in Greencreek, Idaho, delivered by Dr. Orr. He met the love of his life, Bonnie Goeckner and they married in 1952. They moved to Grangeville in 1959, and began their future together, raising two daughters, Shirley and Sheri. During his lifetime, Leonard farmed, worked at Jordan Motors, Madison Lumber, a farmhand for Edna Bailey, Inland Lumber in Mt. Idaho, then Idapine Mills for 33 years. Leonard and Bonnie purchased and ran Len’s Self Service Laundry from 1972 to 1998. In his spare time, he mowed lawns and enjoyed “puttering” in his garage with woodwork and mechanics. He was always down to go fishing with friends or family. He never missed his Monday and Wednesday “wrastlin” show. Leonard loved spending time with his family, especially grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed going for drives looking and counting all the deer along the way, he enjoyed giving the great-grandkids rides on the lawnmower, he would make numerous trips around the yard with a big smile on his face. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bonnie; three sisters and six brothers. Surviving him are one brother, Tony; sister, Liz; daughters, Shirley (Mike) Alkire, and Sheri Wassmuth; grandchildren: Alicia (Guy) Ellibee, Brian (Nicki) Gortsema, Christi (Adam) Sonnen, Shayla Kaschmitter and Shaydn Wassmuth; great-grandchildren: Brock, Brandon, Bridget (Dusty), Eric, Cole, Cora, Haylee, Lilly McKinley; great-great-grandchildren: Rylie and Remi; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
There will be holding a Graveside Funeral at 11:00 A.M. at Prairie View Cemetery on Friday, March 20, 2020.Condolences may be sent to the family at www.trenaryfuneralhome.com
Kenneth James Tuning
enneth James Tuning passed into the arms of his Savior on March 4, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis, OR., with heart failure. Ken was born Nov 16, 1967 in Boise, ID. Shortly thereafter, he was adopted by loving parents James and Roberta Tuning. He was joined by two brothers, Nathan Duane, November 22, 1969 and Kevin Miles, November 16, 1972. They lived on a farm at Woodland, ID. Ken learned a variety of skills on the farm and in his dad’s mechanic shop that prepared him to carry out his desire to help others. He attended grade school and high school in Kamiah. After high school, he attended ITT Technical Institute in Boise, ID. to study electrical engineering. Ken joined the Army and graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, GA in 1988. He served this great country in the 3rd Armored Division as a Tank Driver and Mortar Artilleryman while in Germany for two years. Following his military service, he returned to Idaho and worked as a long-haul truck driver and in CB Radio Shops in Kamiah, ID. and Ontario, OR., selling, repairing and installing CB radios. He co-owned the Kamiah CB Radio Shop. He was able to continue his expertise in electronics via Ham radio and was instrumental in starting Ham Radio clubs in the Clearwater area. He was President of Three Rivers Amateur Radio Club and coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Services providing communication between the police, medical personnel, and first responders for search and rescue and safety communications for boat and bike races and for government agencies from Homeland Security to Salvation Army. During that time, he saved lives and brought people together who were lost or couldn’t communicate with loved ones and even played Santa over the radio. Ken held an Amateur Extra Class Ham Radio License and enjoyed conducting the tests for others to become Ham Radio operators. During the 2015 fire at Woodland, Ken’s communication ability and equipment at his house were a great asset for the fire crews for communicating with other firefighters in different areas where normal radio signals were inaccessible. The firefighters parked two water tankers and crews there to protect his home and property because it was so important to them. Ken married Linda Tuning in 1993 and they later divorced. Ken began a relationship with Korina Vermilya in 2001 and parted after ten years. In late 2019 Ken met Elisa Martel and they became engaged shortly thereafter. They shared a dream of helping displaced veterans and by starting an organization called Tuning Veterans Mission to assist them with a variety of needs. Elisa plans to continue to work toward this goal and fulfill this dream for Ken. Family and friends are constantly saying how much Ken enjoyed helping and giving to others. Despite his physically weakened heart, he gave his all to love and care for many friends. Around 2015 he received a Doctor of Religious Studies Degree from World Christianship Ministries and became an ordained minister. He performed several weddings, and many people were blessed by his services and ministries. He truly taught all of us the importance of being thankful and positive and seeing some humor in most any situation. Kenneth is survived by his mother Roberta, brothers Nathan and Kevin, stepchildren Tina Cardosa, David Shorb, and Melinda Rustimier and their families, aunts and uncles Ernie and Diane Tuning, Steve and Gwen Tuning, and Mary (George) Skinner. He was preceded in death by his father James, grandparents Ray and Violet Tuning, grandparents Arden and Hazel George, and Uncle Leetus George, and Aunt Dorothy (Tuning) Grove. A service to honor Kenneth’s life will be held on March 14, 2020, at the Woodland Friends Church, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a graveside service and military honors at the Woodland Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to the family expenses or the American Bible Society who give Bibles to service men and women in the military. Arrangements by Trenary Funeral Home, Kooskia, Idaho.