From Yavapai County, Arizona:
Blanche Koleske
Blanche Claeys Koleske, 82, formerly of Prescott, died Thursday, June 17, 1999.
She was born Jan. 1, 1917, in Utica, N.Y., to Jules and Leonie DeClerck.
Mrs. Koleske moved to Prescott in 1979, where she lived until 1998, then moved to New Hartford to be near her family.
She was a member of the NYS Teachers' Association. She was an avid world traveler, and loved the arts, especially the opera.
Survivors include her daughters, Janice Ferris of Clinton, N.Y., and Genia Hollander of Saline, Mich.; sister, Marie Brue of New Hartford; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in 1995, and sister, Marion Claeys.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at the Heintz Funeral Home, 10 E. Park Row, Clinton, N.Y., with the Rev. Paul Drobin officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the charity of one's choice.
Heintz Funeral Service in Utica, N.Y., helped the family with arrangements.
Marion Johnson
Marion Elizabeth Johnson, 80, died Saturday, June 19, 1999, at her home in Phoenix.
She was born March 30, 1919, in Roswell, N.M., to Alvin and Mary Elizabeth (Nuernberger) Voegerl.
Mrs. Johnson moved to Phoenix from Madison, Wis. in 1987, and to Prescott in 1981. She recently moved back to Phoenix to be near her daughter.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, past president of the Altar Society, a Eucharistic minister, and a past president of the Legion of Mary, both of Sacred Heart. She was librarian for Casa Grande Union High School for 19 years, retiring in 1981. She loved teaching and being with her children and grandchildren. She was proud of her family and their accomplishments.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary Gaut of Phoenix; sons, Dennis, Lynn and Blaine, all of Phoenix; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, on Nov. 9, 1991.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today, at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury St., with Fr. Fred LeClaire, C.M.F., presiding. Final commendation and farewell will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Vera Shaffer
Vera Mae Shaffer, 99, died Wednesday, June 16, 1999, in Prescott.
She was born April 12, 1900, in Hillsdale, Iowa, to George Alfred and Cynthia (Miller) Phelps.
Mrs. Shaffer was a graduate and benefactor of Cornell College in Iowa. She and her husband, Sherman, traveled extensively prior to his death in 1967. She moved to Prescott from San Rafael, Calif., in 1980.
Survivors include her half-brother, Walter Phelps of Prescott, and sister, Lucille Jones of Pendleton, Ore.
A private cremation was held at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley. Inurnment will be in the Tabor Cemetery in Tabor, Iowa.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Billie Leite
Billie Myrle Leite, 70, died Thursday, June 17, 1999, in Prescott Valley.
She was born Jan. 17, 1929, in Nocona, Texas, to William and Ollie (Evans) Wilson.
Mrs. Leite and her husband, Joseph, were married Feb. 6, 1961, in San Antonio, Texas. They moved from New Mexico to Avondale 49 years ago. In 1996, the couple moved to Prescott Valley.
She was loved by everyone who knew her.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph of Prescott Valley; sons, Randall of Peoria and Michael Spain of Goodyear; daughters, Coleen Atkinson of East Lynn, W. Va., Rhonda Zwiener of Tempe, Phyllis Spain of Phoenix, and Paula Bishop of Prescott Valley; sisters, Marie of Belen, N.M., Doris of New Mexico, Ouida of Missouri, and Ima and Kathy, both of South Carolina; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Sunrise Funeral Home, 8167 E. Highway 69, in Prescott Valley, with Pastor Eunice Pearson officiating.
Sunrise Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Dale Carson
Dale O. Carson, 64, died Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at Las Fuentes Care Center.
He was born Nov. 4, 1934, in Flint, Mich., to Oscar F. and Florence (Mingee) Carson.
Mr. Carson worked as a skilled trade journey electrician for the A.C. Spark Plug Corp. for 25 years. He married Judith Kuehnell on Sept. 25, 1954, and they moved to Prescott from Grand Blanc, Mich., in November 1988.
He was a Cub Master and Scout Master, and helped with the P.T.A. He served a term as Exalted Ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. He served on the board of directors for Heritage Park, and served with his wife on St. Mark's Catholic Church Parish Council in Goodrich, Mich.
Mr. Carson was a certified National Rifle Association instructor. He enjoyed skiing and golfing, as well as bowling. He enjoyed dancing with his wife, but his true passion was the outdoors fishing and hunting with his son, and camping and traveling with his family.
He was proud of his family, and of being a member of the Prescott community.
Survivors include his wife, Judith of Prescott; daughters, Susan Martineau of Allen Park, Mich., Linda Johnson of Goodrich, Mich., and Teresa Flowers of Prescott; sisters, Joan Hayes of Flint, Mich., and Stella Mair of Wickfield, Mich.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Dale Anthony, in 1998, and a great-grandchild.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St. A scripture rosary will follow at 7 p.m., with Deacon Bill Davis presiding.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury Ave., with the Rev. Fred LeClaire, C.M.F., presiding.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Yavapai County Sheriff Response Team, Search Dog Unit, YCSRT Search Dog Unit, 255 E. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ 86303.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Grover Tarvin III
Grover F. Tarvin III, 37, died Saturday, June 12, 1999, at his home in Wilhoit.
He was born Aug. 21, 1961, in Phoenix, to Grover and Olive (McEuen) Tarvin II.
Mr. Tarvin attended the First Southern Baptist Church of Wilhoit. He was very community-oriented and enjoyed working at the food bank. He was always there for anybody who needed him. His passion in life was rock-'n'-roll music and his CD collection.
Survivors include his wife, Kathie of Wilhoit, whom he married on July 21, 1994; son, Grover Tarvin IV of Phoenix; daughter, Chawntel of Wilhoit; stepdaughter, Stacey Davis of Fallon, Nev.; brother, John of Phoenix; sisters, Kate Lehman, Crystal Dodd, and Melissa Anderson, all of Phoenix; and his parents, Grover and Lynn, also of Phoenix.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at the First Southern Baptist Church of Wilhoit, Walden Boulevard and Highway 89. Pastor Wayne Hawley will officiate.
Concluding services will be at Genung Cemetery in Peeples Valley.
The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Laura Dillenbeck
Laura Dillenbeck, 102, of Chino Valley, died Wednesday, June 16, 1999, in Prescott.
She was born Sept. 18, 1896, in Wheeler, Mich., to Charles and Nellie (Nye) Buck.
Mrs. Dillenbeck was born in a log cabin. She married Kenneth Dillenbeck on July 26, 1917, in Detroit, Mich. He preceded her in death in 1965.
Survivors include her son, Albert of Chino Valley; sister, Leata Griswold of Duran, Mich.; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hope Lutheran Church in Chino Valley, with Pastor David Karow officiating.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hope Lutheran Church Building Fund, 1010 N. Road 1 East, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.
Sunrise Funeral Home helped the family with arrangements.
Correction
Laura Dillenbeck
Laura Dillenbeck, 102, of Chino Valley, died Wednesday, June 16, 1999, in Prescott.
Mrs. Dillenbeck's obituary ran in the Friday, June 18 edition of the Courier. The funeral home failed to list son, Charles of Apache Junction as a survivor.
Richard Banning
Richard Chester Banning, 77, died Thursday, June 17, 1999, in Humboldt.
He was born Nov. 14, 1921, in Toledo, Ohio, to David Chester and Rowena Margaret (Maehlman) Banning.
Mr. Banning was a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during World War II and Korea.
He married Mary Dean on June 9, 1973. He spent his career in wholesale delivery, working for Foremost Foods, retiring in 1973 after 30 years of service. He and his wife moved to Prescott in 1973 from Santa Ana, Calif.
Mr. Banning was a 50-year member of the BPOE, and long-time member of the Prescott BPOE #330, and was a member of the Yavapai Trails Association. He enjoyed camping and traveling, and was proud of his family and of his service in the Marine Corps.
Survivors include his wife, Mary of Humboldt; sons, David of Trabuco, Calif., Robert of Prescott Valley, William of San Diego, Calif., and Donald of Prescott; daughters, Mary Whitaker of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Diane Pribble of Chino Valley; brother, Charles of Navajo Dam, N.M.; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at the Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel at the corner of Navajo Drive and Valley Road in Prescott Valley. Cremation was private, and inurnment will be at the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix.
Memorial contributions are suggested to YRMC Hospice, Restricted Fund, 3262 Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314.
The Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel helped the family with arrangements.
