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Obituary from The Bonners Ferry Herald for Frank Speece

The community was deeply saddened Monday morning by the death of former mayor Frank Speece. Death occurred in Spokane where he was under treatment for heart and liver trouble.

Several months ago Mr. Speece was taken ill, but in recent weeks his condition seemed to be improved. Relatives and friends were totally unprepared for the shock of his death.

Funeral services are being held from the Crouch chapel this afternoon at two o'clock, the Rev. C. E. Weldner, of Vera, Wash., former pastor of the local Union church, officiating. Interment will be in Grandview cemetery with Masonic rites.

Mr. Speece was born at Norfolk, Nebr., June 8, 1892. His early live was spent in the middle west. He took up the garage business and was employed at North field, Minn., for a number of years before coming west in 1919.

He worked in Spokane, at Olympia and Grandview, Wash., and later held the Ford agency at Newport, Wash., selling out in the fall of 1926 to take over the Ford agency in Bonners Ferry.

Al De Lashmutt, a brother-in-law, was associated with him at the time in the organization of the Bonner Motors. Victor De Lashmutt, a brother of Al, was also interested in the business for a time. The Bonner Motors operated under the management of Mr. Speece in the Estlund building until about a year ago when the Ford agency was sold to the Kempf Motors, the Bonners Motors moving to the Shell Service Station, at First and Bonner streets.

Mr. Speece had acquired the local distributing agency for the Shell Oil company, and this he retained.

In April 1933, Mr. Speece was elected a member of the village board of trustees for a four-year term. In 1935 he was elected chairman of the board, serving in that office the remainder of his term.

During his residence here Mr. Speece was active in all community affairs. He was also active in fraternal groups, being a member of the Masonic Lodges, including the Royal Arch chapter and the Knights Templar, as well as the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.

He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Norma Jean and Shirley Ann, at the home here, by his father, residing in Spokane, and two brothers, Charles Speece, Spokane, and Ray Speece, of Ashland, Ore.

Honorable in his business dealings, the possessor of a pleasing personality and cheerful disposition, Mr. Speece made and held friendships easily and firmly. His untimely death is a matter of deep regret throughout the entire district. All will join with the Herald in extending heartfelt condolence to the bereaved relatives.