May 7
Ron Ruddell, 93
Ron Ruddell was born in Pomeroy in 1931. At 3 months old, he and his family moved to Idaho. Most of Ron’s younger years were spent on a farm in Cottonwood Creek, where he rode his horse to Blewett School. That school was closed, so he then went to Culdesac.
Ron farmed with his dad for several years, then spent 20 years at Potlatch Forest Inc., built houses and then remodeled homes until he retired. In “retirement,” he drove the city bus for awhile, then demonstrated food at Costco, finally quitting at age 85 to take care of his wife.
He and his wife were married 70 years before she passed in 2019.
May 10
Louise LaVoie, 99
Louise LaVoie was born May 10, 1925, in Lewiston to Ralph and Madeline Largent.
She attended nursing school in Spokane and became a nurse. She was always involved with civic activities, such as Meals on Wheels and the Birders Association. She was on the board at Holy Family School when her six boys attended there. She was also a leader in an exercise class at church.
Her hobbies included writing, bird-watching, walking the levees and reading.
She married her spouse, George LaVoie, in Lewiston. George passed away Aug. 19, 2014. Between her six boys, she has 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Louise moved to Spokane to live at Fairwinds in 2022. Her new home has given her many new friends, travel opportunities and the ability to volunteer her time to share with others. Moving to Spokane has inspired her to enjoy life and her family believes she will celebrate her 100th birthday on May 10, 2025.
She will have a birthday celebration in her honor in Spokane later this summer.
May 14
James ‘Bud’ Holt, 90
James was born May 14, 1934, in Galena, Mo., to Hardy and Viola Holt. The family moved to Kendrick when he was 5, and he has lived there since.
He and Patricia Horting Christianson were married June 10, 1977. She passed March 6, 2009.
James worked in sawmills and was a rancher in Kendrick for many years. He retired in 1996 after 42 years at Gem State Lumber Co. in Juliaetta.
He has two daughters, one son, numerous granchildren and great-grandchildren. One daughter died in 2011.
His family will host a 90th birthday celebration from 2-4 p.m. May 11 at the Kendrick Senior Center, 104 Sixth St.
May 14
Gayle Way, 95
Gayle Yvonne (Pratt) Way was born May 14, 1929, to Gaylerd and Neva Pratt at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston. She grew up near Craigmont and attended Kittrell, a one-room school, for seven years. Gayle then traveled to the big town of Craigmont to finish high school.
She married James Way in 1947. They had seven children; Linda (Kevin) Riley, Judy (Larry) Bodmer, Barbara (Dave) Uberuaga, Kyle (Joan) Way, Richard (Eileen) Way, Robert (Tricia) Way and Paul (Natalie) Way.
In 1969, at age 40, Gayle returned to school, getting her education degree from Lewis-Clark State College and then her master’s from the University of Idaho. She taught at Highland Elementary for 19 years.
Jim passed away in 2000. Gayle spent the years since traveling, watching Mariners games, visiting her family, and being active in her community and church. Recently, she sold her house in Craigmont and moved in with her daughter in Lewiston. She keeps a presence on social media and sends letters and greeting cards to her children (7), their spouses, grandchildren (17), great-grandchildren (34), and great-great-grandchildren (5). It’s a lot of mail.
Please feel free to send Gayle best wishes on Facebook.
May 16
Mildred Norah Channel, 103
Mildred Norah Channel, of Lewiston, will celebrate her 103rd birthday May 16 with a family gathering.
She was born May 16, 1921, in Clarkston to Walter and Constance Preston.
For 15 years she worked as a cook at Club Chateau and then for 20 years for John R. Daily, a meat-packing company. Both are in Missoula, Mont.
She and Art Channel were married Sept. 26, 1949, in Pineview, Idaho.
In 1984, she retired and the couple moved to Lewiston.
In her younger years, she enjoyed playing pinochle at the Pautler Senior Center (now Valley Community Center) in Clarkston.
Her hobbies include crocheting, playing cards with friends and family, and, until about a year ago, embroidering.
Her husband died in 1986 and one daughter died in 1992.
She has two sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
May 20
Anna Marie ‘Marie’ Eier, 97
Anna Marie “Marie” Eier of Lewiston was born on May 20, 1927, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Marie is the oldest child of J.B. and Opal Whitehead.
When she was a senior at Sandpoint High School, the war was raging in the Pacific. She was accepted to attend Lewis-Clark Normal School to become a registered nurse for the U.S. military. She completed her nurse’s training paid for by the military and went to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
She was married to Frank Biddiscombe, of Lewiston. Her three children are Jeanette, John and Joan. She divorced Frank and was raising her three blond-haired children on her own while working as a nurse. She loved working at St. Joseph’s Hospital, especially in the new baby ward.
She went to work for Dr. John Braddock so she could have regular work hours. In 1961, Douglas S. Eier, a businessman and widower, met her while he was calling Dr. Braddock to schedule life insurance physicals for Mutual of New York customers. Doug loved to play golf with Dr. Braddock and Marie had to approve of the request to talk to the doctor. Marie married Doug in September 1962. She became the stepmother to Douglas D., Janet, Bob and Tom Eier. She saw to it that all seven children attended college or trade school. Douglas S. Eier passed away peacefully on Aug. 9, 2005, at age 90 in his own bed. She vows she will live in her home just like her husband Doug until the good Lord calls her home. She tells us she wants to live to age 106. She is happy to live in her own home along 15th Avenue in Lewiston.
Marie is going to welcome two more great-great-grandchildren into the world this summer. Her two cats Boots and Sassy are her constant companions. She says Boots wakes her up when there is someone at the door.
Her good friend Brenda Belieu does an incredible job keeping her house uncluttered — these two love to go shopping together. Her son Thomas Eier makes sure she attends Congregational Presbyterian Church every Sunday. Jim Osborn, a retired minister, leads the senior citizens of Congregational Presbyterian church Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Fit and Fall Proof exercise classes.
On May 20, she plans to treat the 20 or more seniors to birthday cake after they do their stretching. The family will have dinner with Mom that afternoon. The day will be a success for the 97-year-old.
May 23
Albert ‘Al’ J. Haener, 95
Albert “Al” J. Haener will celebrate his 95th birthday on May 23. He was the sixth of seven children born to Albert and Amelia Haener in Grangeville. Al attended schools in Grangeville and Cottonwood.
On Valentine’s Day in 1950, he married Bonnie Wasson and together they had four children and eight grandchildren. Upon graduating from the University of Idaho, they settled back in Grangeville.
Owning and operating a crane business and getting into real estate kept him busy until COVID-19 hit and he finally slowed down. He enjoyed playing rounds of golf throughout the L-C Valley and being physically active.
A family celebration will be held over Memorial Day weekend.
To submit birthdays: Birthday announcements starting at age 70 are accepted for free publication in the month of the birthday only. Length limit is 200 words. All submissions must include the name and contact information of the person submitting the announcement. Current photos are welcome — please no dated pictures. To have photos returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Submissions may be sent to goldentimes@lmtribune.com or Golden Times, P.O. Box 957, Lewiston, ID 83501. June birthday announcements must be received by 5 p.m. May 15.
