Obituaries

May 31, 1913 - May 24, 2006

Beloved father, grandfather, friend and mentor to many, Pastor Ruben Edward Spannaus, longtime resident of West Seattle died May 24, 2006, just one week short of his 93rd birthday.

Born May 31, 1913 in Loveland, Colorado, to Emma Schulengberg Spannaus and Edward Spannaus, Ruben completed high school in Woodland, California, entering the University of California, Berkeley, at age 16 and graduating with honors in 1934, majoring in math and science.

Born in Vera, Texas, July 8, 1927, died May 17, 2006. Raised in Sentinel, Oklahoma. Attended Oklahoma St. Moved to West Seattle and married Barbara J. Wickering in 1951. Survived by three brothers. Father to Curtis (Sandy), Eric (Dawn). Grandfather to Christie Steed, Danny, Michael Keith and Geoffrey Hodo. Five great grandchildren. Worked for HACK 19 years, 16 years as manager of Park Lake Homes and Sr. High Rises in the South end. After a long battle with Parkinson's, he was laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery.

1907-2006

Helen Iona Deets passed away May 10, 2006 in Burien, Washington at 98. Helen was born May 15, 1907, the daughter of Iona Carolus Deetsand Charles and Tiden Deets, in Davenport, Washington. She worked for many years for the City of Seattle until her retirement in 1972. Helen shared residence and travel with Alpha Ritchey in West Seattle. Helen is survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Deets of Bellingham, Washington.

1928-2006

Harry Belanger Retired USMC First Sergeant passed away on May 20, 2006 after a long battle with cancer. He was born on February 26, 1928 to Alaric Ellen Lomis Belanger in Seattle, Washington. He served as a Marine in WWII and the Korean War.

Memorial Services have been scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2006 at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in SeaTac, Washington.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Allene, four children Diane Belanger, Sharon (Al) Chafin, Harry Jr. (Karey) Belanger, and David Belanger.

Born January 11, 1927 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and grew up in Washington DC. Passed away peacefully in her sleep at Providence Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home on May 12, 2006 Moved to Seattle in 1953 after marrying M.O. Spotanske in 1950. Her sisters, Edna, May, Dorothy and Florence preceded her in death. She is survived by her remaining sister, Alice Ford of Churchton, MD. Her children: Martin and his wife Sharon; Patricia; Roger and his wife Sue; and Catherine Spotanske Betts. Grandchildren: Lenny Vinson and his wife Michelle; Aaron and Justin Spotanske; and Billy Langdon.

Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend

Passed away May 13, 2006. Born in Everett to parents Leo and Leone Hayden, Dorothy became a life-long resident of West Seattle. She dearly loved her family and nurtured home and hearth with great care and devotion. Dorothy and her husband, Howard, maintained a family business in West Seattle for over 40 years.

1907 - 2006

Helen Iona Deets passed away May 10, 2006, in Burien, Wash. at 98. Helen was born May 15, 1907, the daughter of Iona Carolus Deets and Charles Tilden Deets, in Davenport, Wash. She worked for many years for the City of Seattle until her retirement in 1972. Helen shared residence and travel with Alpha Ritchey in West Seattle.

Helen is survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Deets of Bellingham, Wash.

Kathleen Metta (Morgan) Alberts passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in the Helena Valley of Montana on May 10, 2006. She had waged a courageous battle against myleo fibrosis.

Kathy was born in Helena, Mont., to Charles T. and Metta "Bobbie" (Johnson) Morgan on Feb. 28, 1941. She attended St. Helena's grade school and Cathedral High School, graduating in the Class of 1959. She briefly attended Carroll College, and in the early 1960s moved to Seattle where she was employed as a claims supervisor for King County Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

John E. Sandmark, 88, died May 13, 2006, at Highline Medical Center, Burien. Born June 2, 1917, in Moline, Ill., he was a 1935 graduate of Moline High School and a 1939 graduate of University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana. He lived in Kent from 1965 to 1990, and in Des Moines since 1990.

He was a retired financial analyst and a member of Saltwater Unitarian Church and the Puget Sound Jazz Society.

Born in 1918 in Silverton, Ore., Lloyd Cooley passed away peacefully on March 29 in Mt. Vernon.

He was a retired U.S. Navy and United Airlines captain, a former Highline School Board member and Washington State School Directors president, a college track star, and fisherman extraordinaire.

Lloyd was always more interesting than his accomplishments.