Ruth Lorraine (Washburn) Nieman Cossairt
Published in the Bonners Ferry Herald September 1, 2005
Another version was published on the website - Kootenai Valley Press - August 29, 2005
http://www.kvpress.com/obituaries/2005/0825cossairt.htm
Services for Ruth Lorraine (Washburn) Nieman Cossairt, 86, Naples, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 3, at the Bonners Ferry Lutheran Church. She died of a heart attack August 25, 2005. A gathering will be held in the church basement following the service, hosted by the Lutheran Ladies, and burial will be in the Porthill Cemetery, with a potluck following at Mom’s house near Naples on Highway 95, milepost 500.
Lorraine was born January 4, 1919, to Charlie and Nellie (Johnson) Washburn, the fourth born of several sons and daughters; Harriet, Howard, Bruce, Bessie, Helen, Don and Peggy precede her in death. Lura (Gif) Dinning and Betty (Leroy) Kelson are surviving sisters.
Lorraine was born in a cabin in the woods north of Meadow Creek. She attended grade school at Bonner Tie and later Bonners Ferry High School, graduating in 1938.
While working at Kootenai Valley Farms, she met and married Douglas W. Nieman in June, 1938. They had a farm on 80 acres near Porthill. Three sons were born; Bill (Jacki), Joe and Stuart (Ginger).
During the boys' school years, she enjoyed card parties and was active in Mt. Hall PTA. Doug passed away March 28, 1958. Lorraine and the boys remained on the farm several more years. In September, 1963, Lorraine married Carl A. Cossairt.
Mom worked at the hospital and at Naples School as a cook, and she enjoyed both very much. She and Carl were members of the Bonners Ferry Lutheran Church. They enjoyed traveling in their RV, home, and their friends at Bashford’s Spa in Southern California.
Mom liked working outdoors, fishing, gardening and sharing. Carl passed away February 7, 2004. Carl's children are Marilyn (Jerry) Bauman, Audrey (Don) Spaulding, Wanda (Collins) Lefebvre and Mike (Thea) Cossairt.
Lorraine is survived by her three sons and Carl's four children, her sisters and their husbands and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.