Stephen E. Bennett, 83, United States Air Force, retired, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Holmes Regional Medical Center. 

He was born in Dansville, N.Y., and moved to Brevard Country, Fla., in the 1980s from Weeping Water, Neb. He and his wife, Beatrice Van Amburg-Bennett, spent summers with their daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Odin Langford in Liberty Lake. Steve was a veteran of the Korean War and served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Stephen was a former commander of the American Legion and a previous member of Wally Byam Air Stream International. 

Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife, Beatrice Van Amburg of Melbourne, Fla.; children, Jackie and Allen Bauers of Weeping Water, Neb.; David Bennett of Kansas; Jill and Odin Langford of Liberty Lake; Wm. D. and Beverley Van Amburg of Tempe, Ariz.; Craig and Beverly Van Amburg of Fairbanks, Alaska; Bruce Van Amburg of Richmond, Va.; daughter-in-law Renee Sheehan of Weeping Water, Neb., and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Carol, in 2005.

A memorial service was held Jan. 27 at Peace Lutheran Church in Palm Bay, Fla., with arrangements by Life Event Center at Florida Memorial. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Disabled American Veterans.

Thelma Bernice (Bateman) Mellick, 94, entered into rest on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in Spokane. She was a lifetime resident of the area. 

She was born Oct. 5, 1919, to William and Pearl (Seichepine) Bateman in Spokane. Thelma graduated from Rogers High School in 1937, where she was the salutatorian. She was queen of the first "Spokane Stampede" Rodeo in 1939. She married Fran Mellick in 1941 in Spokane, and they were married for 59 years before Fran passed away. She worked for Tull & Gibbs department store early on and part time at James J. Williams Trucking Company where Fran worked. She worked as a volunteer at Sacred Heart Hospital Gift Shop for more than 35 years. She and Fran enjoyed playing tennis and square dancing and were both avid travelers, having crisscrossed the United States numerous times. 

Thelma was known as the pink lady as she always was wearing pink and she was a fantastic pie maker.  She and Fran lived their whole married lives in the Spokane Valley, with Liberty Lake being their home since 1975. Thelma is survived by sons: Jerry Mellick, Will (Angel) Mellick, John (Kori) Mellick; daughters: Susan (Randy) Jewett, Patty (Jim) Ewing - all from Spokane; 13 grandchildren: Scott Mellick, Chad Mellick, Joeli Mellick, Kailyn Mellick, Holli Mellick, Chris Mellick, Thomas Hale, Justin Hale, Loren Mellick, Sherrie Orvik Stradley, Steven Orvik, Eric Ewing, Angela Ewing Hubbard; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Fran Mellick, her sister, Wilma Moffatt, and her parents, Will and Pearl Bateman. 

A funeral service was held Feb. 3 at Heritage Funeral Home in Spokane. Interment followed at Riverside Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Gift Shop - P.O. Box 2555, Spokane, WA  99220.