Obituary

Ruth Fanshier
May 30, 1922--July 1, 2023

Funeral service for Ruth Jeanette Fanshier, age 101, of Coeur d'Alene will be Saturday, July 8, at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Lutheran Church at 1700 E. Pennsylvania Avenue. Private interment will be at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton, Oregon.

Memorials may be directed to Christ The King Lutheran Church.

Ruth Jeanette (Domschot) Fanshier was born May 30, 1922 in Brainerd, Minnesota to Albert and Ethel (Wolleat) Domschot. She was the fourth of six children.

As an infant, the family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and when a teenager, the family moved to Pendleton, Oregon in 1937. A graduate of Pendleton High School, she married William A. Fanshier of Pendleton in 1946. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater in New Guinea. They moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 1949 and her husband, who was a partner in Maskelyne Transfer and Storage for many years, passed away in 1976. They were blessed with four daughters.

Ruth moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1987 to be near family and being a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, she was currently a member of Christ The King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene.

Prior to her marriage, Ruth worked for the Oregon State College Extension Service, and the Agricultural; Adjustment Agency in Pendleton. She then took time off to be a stay-at-home mom. After her husband's death, she worked as a secretary for the architectural firm of Gessel-Smith-Mosman in Walla Walla, and also a supervisor in the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Walla Walla.

Ruth was a charter member of the Walla Walla Lioness Club and served many years as secretary and board member. She was a member of the Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Spokane chapter; also the Coeur d'Alene Rambling Rovers senior travel club where she served as secretary and office manager for 24 years. She was a member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League for over 60 years and served in many offices on the district, zone, and local levels; also a past member of Kootenai Medical Center Auxiliary; the American Legion Auxilary; the NRA, the Tri-State Steelheaders' Association, and Campfire Girls of America.

Surviving are her daughters, Susan Fanshier of Spokane, Washington, Elaine Phillips of Rathdrum, Idaho, Juliane Cole, and Mary Fanshier West (and Bill Hallett) of Maple Valley, Washington; five grandchildren, James Oswald (and Dena) of Sacramento, Elizabeth Fanshier of Longmont, Colorado, Cori Newland (Bill) of Spokane, William Oswald (Jessica) of Spirt Lake, Guy Oswald of Coeur d'Alene; seven great-grandchildren, James, Kayla, Luke, Meghan, Nicole, Bransen and Bryce; numerous nieces and nephews. Extended family-Michael Phillips (Donna), Teri Tanner (Morgan), Amanda Camin (Mike) and their families. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, William; parents, Albert and Ethel Domschot; sisters, Evelyn Harman and Adele Voetberg; and brothers, Sam, Bill and Tom Domschot; and two sons-in-law; Skip Cole, and William T. Phillips.