2011 Garfield County, Washington,
Funeral Notices and Obituaries
Roberta Antoinette (Diener) Breithaupt
Roberta Antoinette Breithaupt, 93, died Oct. 25, 2011, at Garfield County Memorial Hospital in Pomeroy due to congestive heart failure.
She was born Jan. 13, 1918, to Charles Diener and Mary Macklin in Spokane. Growing up and attending school at Otis Orchards, Roberta went into high school at age 12. She completed high school by age 16, in 1934, with honors. With scholarships she attended Spokane Junior College and Eastern Washington University, graduating in 1937 with a three-year degree in music, and a four-year degree in education in 1938. By attending college in the summers, as well as the school year, this was completed by age 19. From 1937 to 1941, Roberta taught elementary school in Albion, Rosalia and Teoka, all in Washington, and Orchard Park in Spokane.
In January 1941, she moved to Seattle to attend Northwest Bible Institute, where she met and later married Harold H. Breithaupt on July 20, 1942. Ten children were brought into this union. Together they pioneered churches in western Washington, finishing pastoring in Hay, Wash., in 1955. Harold was employed by farmers and the railroad, which included many moves. In 1957, the family moved to Pomeroy and settled in Pataha in 1959.
Roberta was part of the Assemblies of God from 1941 to 2009, when the local church closed, having served in the music and teaching Sunday school.
Her hobbies were listening to the radio, writing, making birthday cards for her family, art and gardening.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Winafred Diener; parents, Charles and Mary Diener; daughter, Sarah Naomi; and her husband of 59 years, Harold.
Roberta is survived by nine of her children, Paul Harold of Rockhill, S.C., Philip David of Columbia, Mo., Daniel Joseph of Omak, Wash., Elisabeth Esther Ward of Russellville, Ark., Stephen Samuel of Japan, Rebekah Ruth Titus of Sioux Falls, S.D., Reuben Benjamin of Pomeroy, Wash., Hannah Mary Czoski of Fort Meyer, Fla., and Evangeline Roberta Workman of Pomeroy; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Services were held at the Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene, with Pastors Dan Lewis and David Knittel officiating, and a graveside service officiated by son, Stephen.
Memorials may be given to the Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene youth group. Richardson-Brown Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Barbara Lee (Parris) Christopherson
Barbara Lee Christopherson, 71, resident of Montesano and former cook at Grays Harbor Convalescent Center in Aberdeen, died Wednesday evening, September 14, 2011, at her home in Montesano. Barbara was born in Pomeroy on July 29, 1940, to Elmer and Marjorie (Bowles) Parris. Her family moved to Ocean City when she was young and then to Hoquiam at age 12.
On March 23, 1956, Barbara married Ronald Christopherson in Aberdeen, WA. He resides at the family home. She worked for Dairy Queen as a cook for four years retiring in 1991. Before that she had worked at several nursing homes including Grays Harbor Convalescent Center in Aberdeen as a cook for many years. Barbara and Ron had been Foster Parents for many years, having taken care of dozens of children during that time.
Barbara liked to cook and try different recipes, collecting roosters and at one time Beanie Babies and Salt & Pepper Shakers. She also enjoyed going to Woman’s Bible Studies at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam. Barbara is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ronald Christopherson of Montesano; three sons: Ken and his companion Patty of Aberdeen, Phil and wife Maria of Hoquiam and Ron and wife Stacy also of Hoquiam; daughters: Candice and husband Lyndon Cozzutto of Aberdeen and Rhonda and husband Byron Anderson of Hoquiam; Mother: Marjorie Parris of Pomeroy; Brothers Larry and wife Linda Parris of Vernonia, OR and Tom Parris of Pomeroy, WA; Ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Gonvick.
There was a celebration of life held for Barbara on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam.
Raymond Guy Munns
Raymond Guy Munns of Pomeroy died from cardiogenesis on July 29, 2011, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. Ray was born June 11, 1916, to Guy and Eva Dodson Munns, in Touchet, Wash. He was the first of 11 children.
Ray lived an energetic, committed, accomplished, integrity-filled and loving 95 years as a family man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, great-grandfather, friend, World War II Marine, professional man, contributor to civic life, fun-loving golfer, card player and jester.
Ray's early years were spent in the farming communities of Touchet-Gardena, where he spent much time on the farm working with his father and his brothers. In Ray's own words, "During my teen years, I seemed to always have a good time, usually with escapades familiar with all teenagers." In 1935, Ray graduated from Touchet High School. He graduated from Beauty College in 1939 and became a licensed cosmetologist. Ray married Shirley Rae Dixon of Pomeroy on Oct. 31, 1942. Ray described their 53 years together as a "long, happy and loving marriage."
Ray joined the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1940. World War II of course began in December 1941. Ray spent the next four years in the Pacific Theater, spending time in some of the most vicious battles of the war, including Guam and Iwo Jima. It was on Iwo Jima that Ray learned that his 18-year-old brother Ivan, a medic in the Marines, had been killed shortly before Ray arrived. Ray spent most of his time in the Marines as a staff sergeant in the Combat Engineer Regiment, in charge of organizing and training his section. He was finally discharged in November 1946.
In 1958, Ray began his entrepreneurial career in earnest when he bought Obenland Insurance Agency in Pomeroy. He owned that insurance agency until 1979, when he sold it.
Ray's long list of community service includes, but is not limited to the following: Past President of the Jaycees; Past Commander of the American Legion; Past Master of the Evening Star Lodge; Past High Priest of the Evergreen Chapter no. 10; 61-year life member, Elks of Lewiston.
Those preceding Ray in death include: his beloved wife, Shirley Rae Dixon Munns; his daughter, Ruby Layne DeWitz; his parents; three sisters; and three brothers.
Survivors include three grandchildren: Dhebi DeWitz, Jenny DeWitz, and Joseph DeWitz; four grandchildren, Danika Walter, Steven Jensen, Nick Lonien, and Ruby DeWitz; and one great-grandson, Ronan Walter; one sister, Janice Peppley; three brothers, Harvey Munns, Delbert Munns, and Kay Munns; and 65 nieces and nephews.
A service by the Masons will be conducted at a later date. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that any contributions in Ray's honor be made to the Shiners' Hospitals for Children.