Joo Wol 'Kim' Silva

Joo Wol “Kim” Silva, 72, longtime Moses Lake resident passed away Friday, February 19, 2010 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, February 26, 2010 at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories with Dr. Paul Wagner, officiating. Viewing will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 25th at Kayser’s. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at

Melvin J. Stalberger

Dad was tired and went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 30th, 2010. He was born July 21st, 1918, the eldest son to Joe & Mary Stalberger. Dad raised sheep at a young age, and farmed the rest of his years. He married the neighbor girl, Rose Meyer on October 17th, 1944. They raised six children on the family dairy farm. In 1978 he and Mom moved to Othello WA, and settled into semi-retirement years, working for a couple of farmers to pass the time. He took great pride in his yard and garden. We are sure most of you received something from his vegetable garden or some of his walnuts. His first greatest joy was his family and friends, which included going to Saddle Mountain Farm Supply each morning to have coffee and visit. Dad was preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Mary Stalberger.

Darlene Schwahn (Hartman)

Darlene Schwahn (Hartman) passed away February 18, 2010 peacefully at the age of 71 in her home. The funeral service will be held at the chapel at St. Joseph Cemetery at17825 E. Trent in the Spokane Valley on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. with graveside service to follow directly after the funeral. In lieu of flowers please make contributions in her name to either Cancer Care Northwest in Spokane, WA or Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation in Moses Lake, WA. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at

Dorothy Helen (Steelman) Groff

Dorothy Helen (Steelman) Groff went to her Heavenly reward on February 16th at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Dorothy was born January 15, 1925, in Richland, Oregon, to Conrad Jefferson (C.J.) and Erna (Decker) Steelman. She was the youngest of three children. She attended school in Richland and found the man of her life, Morris Groff, there. They were married August 18, 1939, in Weiser, Idaho, and spent the first few years of their married life in Richland. All three of their children were born there. They moved to Unity, Oregon, to live on a cattle ranch for a short time, then Dorothy’s father purchased raw farm land in the Block 40 area of Moses Lake and they all moved there in the fall of 1951. Before long, many other family members moved to the Moses Lake area to farm, also. It was a hard life of picking up rocks, grubbing sagebrush and killing rattle snakes, but the families soon had green fields. It was while they lived there that Mom worked for a short time at the IGA grocery store, then started driving school bus, which lasted for 35 years! Dad decided he wanted his own land after about three years so he bought a farm in Block 42 and farmed there for several years before buying a farm in the Lind Coulee area. Mom continued driving school bus in Block 42. They moved from there to Potato Hill Road when Dad retired and lived there until 1988, when Mom moved to Cascade Valley. By this time Dad was in a nursing home. Mom sold that home in 2006 because of declining health and lived in various homes after that.

Geoffrey Jon Gilbert

Geoffrey Jon Gilbert, 42, died as a result of a tragic motorcycle accident on February 9, 2010 near his home in Napavine, Washington. Geoff was born on April 27, 1967 in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. Richard E. and Sharron M. Gilbert. He grew up in Gig Harbor, WA where he attended Peninsula High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Central Washington University. Geoff performed with the U.S. Navy Band for nearly 10 years. An accomplished jazz musician, he was a jazz band director and trumpet counselor at Burton and Porter Music Camps. In addition, he performed with the Yakima Symphony and Brass Ensemble. Since his employment with the Chehalis School District at W.F. West High School in August 2006, Geoff was involved with the Northwest Wind Symphony, as president and trumpeter, was the Southwest Washington Music Educators Association President-Elect and was recently accepted into the Olympia Jazz Senators.

Raymond Lee Burkett

Raymond Lee Burkett, 61, Othello, Washington passed away February 12, 2010 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 2, 1948 in Porter, Oklahoma to Randolph and Elsie (Buster) Burkett. His family immediately moved to California to work in the crops that were ready for harvest. The family moved a lot so he wasn't able to finish his secondary education. Later in life he had a strong desire to finish his education. He attended Big Bend Community College, Moses Lake, Washington to successfully earn his G.E.D. Raymond and Janet were married November 18, 1967 in Sayre, Oklahoma. They first met in a cotton field in California when Janet was fourteen and Raymond was sixteen. Three years passed before they tied the knot. Born to this union were two daughters Cynthia and Sandy. Raymond and Janet had 42 wonderful years together. A few years after their marriage they traveled to Othello to work picking cherries and later apples. When they first arrived they camped and later moved into town. In 1973 Raymond began working for Kent Farms, then McKay farms and later for Darrell Dixson. He eventually begin working for Land of Lakes and after 25 years he retired. Raymond took a job with Adams County Consolidated Waste for a few years after retiring from Land of Lakes. During his growing up years Raymond loved to climb trees. Later some of his main interests were hunting, fishing, skeet shooting and playing on the Land of Lakes softball team. He especially enjoyed flowers, roses and zinnias were his favorite. He loved watching the Hummingbirds when they gathered by their porch. Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, brother LeRoy and sister Barbara.

Judith Ann (Kelley) Thorne

Judith Ann (Kelley) Thorne passed away at The Holy Family Hospital on Saturday, Feb. 06, 2010. She was born May 28, 1944 in Moscow, Idaho to Theodore and Goldie Kelley.

Jun Yamane

Jun Yamane, 78, longtime Warden resident, passed away Monday, February 8, 2010 at Samaritan Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 15, 2010 at the Moses Lake Event Center, 1475 Nelson Road with Rinban Hoshu Matsubayashi presiding. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. You may sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at

Mike Gallaway

Mike Gallaway, 62, a lifelong resident of Moses Lake, died early Monday morning February 08, 2010 at his home.

Maxine E. Inks

Maxine E. Inks lost her brief battle with ovarian cancer on Thursday, February 4, 2010 in Moses Lake Washington. She was 82 years old.

Ruben Gonzales

1959 - 2010

Ruben Gonzales 50, of Eagle, Idaho, passed away Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at home surrounded by family members. A viewing for family and friends will be held Friday February 5th, 2010 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm and also Saturday February 6th, 2010 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Donelson Fir Lawn Memorial Center 1070 W. Main Street Hillsboro, Oregon 97123. Funeral Services will be held immediately following the Saturday viewing at the same location. Ruben was born on April 21, 1959 in Mt. Vernon, Washington the youngest son of Jesus and Isidora Gonzales. Ruben was raised in Washington, spent most of his life in Oregon, and completed his life in Idaho. He Married Julie Backman on September 6, 1980 and together they have three children and two grandsons. Ruben was a dedicated and loving dad and his family was the single most important part of his life. His greatest joy other than his family was the 30 years he spent in the oil industry. He held positions at Union 76, Shell Oil Company and most recently completed his climb up the corporate ladder as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jackson Oil Company. Throughout the 29 years of marriage Ruben moved his family 11times and had many great experiences. Some of Ruben’s favorite experiences were spending time with his grandsons, driving his corvette, enjoying good times with friends, and always being the first out on the dance floor with his wife Julie. Ruben is survived by his wife of 29 years Julie, his three children Cacye and her husband Jerry, Adam and his wife Khrinda, R. Zachary Gonzales and his two grandsons Jackson and Jacoby. He is also survived by his father Jesus, siblings Maria, Jesus Jr, and Roberto and there families. Ruben was preceded in death by his mother Isidora Gonzales. The family would like to thank Dr Zuckerman and staff, Andrea and the MSTI nurses, Dr Billingsley and staff at OHSU and the wonderful support of Kathy Alkire. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the St Lukes Hospital, MSTI, 520 South Eagle Road Meridian, ID 83642.

Ethel L. Montague

Ethel L. Montague went to meet her maker on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at age 88. Ethel was born on June 29, 1921 to Ephriam and Caroline (Webster) Bendixen. She was the seventh of eight children.

Linda Walker

Linda M. Walker, 75, longtime Moses Lake resident passed away Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Samaritan Hospital. 

Thanks given for help with memorial

GUEST EDITORIAL

MOSES LAKE — On the evening of Jan. 3, 2010, the Grant County Deputy Sheriffs Association lost more than a member – we lost a friend, a partner, and a father. Since that time, a group of many people worked day and night to create a ceremony that would honor Deputy Bernard and his family. On Monday, Jan. 11 at noon, we mourned the loss of our friend.

Charles Bernard Simons, 'Chuck'

It is with the deepest love and respect that we, Norm, Jerry and Terry Simons write this last story of our brother, Charles Bernard Simons, “Chuck”.

Frank C. DeLaRosa

In Loving Memory:

Mary Lou (Kaufman) Penhallurick

Beloved mother, Mary Lou (Kaufman) Penhallurick passed away on January 23, 2010. Mary Louise was born in Portland, OR on September 16, 1924 to Nicholas and Laura Kaufman; she was the fourth child of one son and four daughters.

Eric A. 'Payaso' Cantu

Eric A. “Payaso” Cantu, age 25, returned home to Heaven on Friday, January 15, 2010 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was born December 5, 1984 in Mission, Texas.

Veteran's ashes are woman's father

Michele Dailey says urn was stolen from her ca

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake women stepped forward to claim the urn containing a veteran’s ashes, found in the back of Sgt. Justin Morris’ Hummer last week.

Homer Cloyd Brooks, Jr

Homer Cloyd Brooks Jr., 69, of Ephrata, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2010, at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee from complications due to cancer.