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People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Pam Marks:
Frank was an entrepreneur and businessman. He had a good start early on in his career working for General Mills.
Note from Kathy Pinna - When my father graduated from San Jose State, he was sent a few telegrams offering him a job. I don't have the telegrams but I've seen them.
In any case, I was told that he was weighing an offer from San Jose State to be a professor (in the philosophy dept?) and also from General Mills. He went to work for General Mills in their corporate office in San Francisco, as a buyer for the west coast.
Per an article in the San Francisco Examiner, Saturday, December 22, 1956:
"Here are the results of the course, which holds its last session next week:
One man, Frank E. Kroetch, an ingredient buyer for General Mills, has his reading speed up to 988 words per minute. That means he would be able to read better than two columns of this length in less than a minute.
The average reading speed of the men when they started this course was about 250 words a minute. They have boosted the average to 360 words per minute now.
Robert Conlin, the man who suggested the course and got $25 for the idea, started the sessions and then dropped out. Reason: He got promoted to general flour salesman midway through the course and had to concentrate on his new duties."
My mother, sister, and I used to take him to the train in Sunnyvale every day - we lived in Cupertino at the time and it was the fastest and easiest way for him to commute. As I recall, he worked there for a few years and I was told that he was the fastest rising executive at the time. He rose to the grain manager for the West Coast in that short time and he was told that no one had ever been promoted so quickly. They said that he would be president of General Mills within 20 years.
Well, Dad thought that 20 years was too far away so he quit! My memory of those days were the perks - we were sent "food baskets", in those days food boxes of General Mills products and we were able to purchase General Mills products through a employee catalogue. I saved up my allowance - I was about 8 and it was 10 cents a week - to buy a Tiny Tears doll. I loved it when he worked at General Mills.
He had a very sharp mind and knew how to see possibilities and opportunities in front of him. As a result, he was involved in numerous industries and owned many businesses over the years.
In 1960 he was the President of his company, Data Services Corporation.
In 1961, he and his brother Fred were supporters of a new magazine to be called "Northwest" that would use color photos to promote Washington tourism.
Frank also started a car rental service called "Letz Rent-a Car" in the early 1960's
He had a business in Idaho, owning a lodge at Coeur 'd Alene and was involved in many California businesses:
President of Golden Bear Land Company in Salinas (incorporated in Nevada)
Western Inns, Incorporated
Travel Lodge in San Jose
Several 'fast-food' restaurants
Later in life, he owned a few restaurants in Washington State.
Frank was also an author - having written a few short stories, one of which was a science fiction take on The Night Before Christmas.
(Note from Kathy: Dad always wanted to be a writer. He would write on yellow legal pads - remember, this was the 1950s and 1960s - and started books on such things as his theory about who the "real" Shakespeare was. My theory is that he just couldn't sit still long enough to write an entire book. But there were lots of starts on books. He also wanted to be a lawyer and even applied to - and was accepted by - San Francisco University Law School. We ended up moving to Seattle, however, and he never went to law school.)
Marc Mason:
Marc Mason was born October 22 1986 to Lori R. Whalen and Jeffrey D. Mason in the city of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, United States.
In Marc's early years he attended Sorenson Elementary School. During his younger elementary years Marc participated in concert choir. He was also in special education classes for a learning disability.
Marc's home life was chaotic and he often ran away or found himself in trouble. His favorite place to run away to was his grandfather's house David Lowell Mason.
After elementary school Marc attended Canfield Middle School where he joined the football team and the after school program Young Marines.
After middle school Marc attended Coeur d' Alene High School and played high school football.
During this time in his life he was in and out of trouble with law enforcement and consequently because of it in and out of juvenile detention.
During Marc's high school years he ended up being sentenced to 18 months in juvenile prison and spent his time at JCC Nampa and North West Childers Home and then the Anchor House of the Idaho Youth Ranch.
After Marc was released he shortly had his first child. Marc had a daughter with Linda D. O'Hara from Kellogg Idaho. They named her Zoey Elizabeth O'Hara-Mason. Marc was 17 years old at the time. When he turned 18 he applied to be a police officer with the Kellogg Police Department. He was given an official job offer but later messed it up for himself. He ended up working many jobs to try to support his child, but failed and became restless and went on the move living out of this backpack and tent.
When his daughter turned a year old Marc decided to better his life for himself and child. Marc joined Job Corps. He was sent to Curlew Job Corps Center (CCCJC) Operated by the United States Forest Service. During his stay at Job Corps Marc studied Forestry. However Marc was kicked out of the program after making A Veiled Threat to the safety of staff and students in a moment of anger.
Job Corps before he was kicked out however trained Marc and fully certified him as a United States Wildland Firefighter. Marc upon his return got together with a old friend Mellisa K. Norris and married her having two more children a year apart from each other. His son Tristen Samuel Mason (Norris) and his daughter Danielle Elizabeth Mason (Norris). Marc and Mellisa eventually separated.
Marc and his family moved away from Coeur d' Alene to Rapid City South Dakota in 2007 before moving back to Coeur d' Alene Idaho in 2008.
Marc was shortly hired after coming back from South Dakota at Five Star Security in Coeur d' Alene becoming the vice president. TobyJoe McCastland was the owner of Five Star Security.
Marc then went to work for Eagle Eye Security in Post Falls Idaho.
Marc then opened up his own security company called Global Hawk Security. He opened it with a business partner Adam.
Marc after separating from his wife moved to Boise Idaho and was homeless on and off for several years working multiple jobs during that time. He also drifted to Canada and Mexico for awhile.
Marc stayed for a short time back in Coeur d' Alene and became a bail bondsman and Bounty Hunter with All American Bail Bonds.
Marc eventually started drifting again.
When Marc stopped drifting around he and his father Jeffrey David Mason started a paranormal investigation outfit together soon finding themselves on various adventures across the country and finding themselves on television on a television program broadcasting their paranormal investigations. They named there investigations company Apparitions Paranormal Investigations Group (APIG) and shortly after created API Media as a documentary and television media outlet. Marc would later on write a book about the paranormal titled Apparitions Paranormal Ghost Hunting 101. His book became a top seller and became the standard training manual for paranormal investigators across the world.
Marc eventually meant another women Tia Bolton also having a child with her a son they named Zehdikiss Daveid Mason. After this child was born Marc decided he was done with having children and had a vasectomy performed at Planned Parenthood in Boise Idaho.
During this time Marc launched an initiative to reactive the Idaho State Guard, Idaho's inactive state defense force. In order to help lunch the initiative Marc joined the State Guard Association of the United States to help network with other state agencies and with Idaho state representative Sage Dixon that wrote legislation to introduce to the floor. Unfortunately Dixon never introduced it.
Marc would move to Coos Bay Oregon in 2017 and lived with his mother Lori Owens and step father Darwin Leon Owens Jr.
Marc would then once more travel two various places before coming back to Idaho where he would then later open a hot dog vending stand customizing in gourmet hot dogs.
Marc eventually moved back to his hometown of Coeur d' Alene. Once again down on his luck and homeless. It was during this time he found a new lady whom the two of them fell in love. Her name Miki R Bails. The tow of them started dating then eventually got married April of 2025.
Marc started building out a new food trailer. Instead of focusing on hotdogs he updated his menu to include handmade smash burgers, sausages, and Nordic and Scandinavian foods. He named his food trailer Grillpolser's. Marc also started a web development services agency specializing in building websites for small businesses and start ups. He called his website company CyberMason. Marc also launched the Food Truck Association of North Idaho.
Marc also reintroduced himself to the state to reestablish the Idaho State Guard. He launched a Facebook page called Idaho State Guard Reactivation Project and also launched a petition on change.org
Marc was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 2, with intellectual impairment Borderline Intellectual Functioning
And Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly inattentive presentation
Kathy Pinna:
James, a veteran, served in the United States Army during World War II, from March of 1942 through September of 1945.
His service record was as follows:
Military serial#: 34193028
Enlisted: March 15, 1942 in Ft Oglethorpe Georgia
Military branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, Usa
Rank: Private, Selectees (enlisted Men)
Terms of enlistment: Enlistment For The Duration Of The War Or Other Emergency, Plus Six Months, Subject To The Discretion Of The President Or Otherwise According To Law
Kathy Pinna:
Michael Thomas Trumble was born on December 21st, 1949 in Napa, California to Alvin Arnold Trumble (1928 - 2008) and Doris Margaret Ostrus (1930 - 2007) and he had four brothers, including Billy Dean and Dennis R, and five half-siblings: two half-sisters and three half-brothers.
Michael Trumble, who was 25 years old, married Anita G Bell, who was 22 years old, on December 21st, 1975 in Marin County, California.
He had one son.
Roma Gryte:
21 July 2025 - I found out through a DNA match that I am Dell's daughter. I know very little about him. He died when I was a senior in high school. I was adopted at 7 days and did not meet my biological mother until I was 24 years old. She only knew Dell's name. They met as neighbors in Merced, CA.
My half sister shared that there were 6 children. I was the second oldest and she is third. The youngest girl passed away. I believe both, she and my father, died of heart attacks. He was an accountant and musician. The musical talent seems to be shared by all the siblings.
Any information would be welcome.
Marilyn Keough:
Quite a Character - Gramma was beautiful and kind. She spoke English quite well, but couldn’t spell (including our names:) correctly for beans. She could cook (and sew and crochet) like nobody else’s business! We all probably lost 10 pounds after she passed away… and she had quite a “leadfoot” while driving, which we always would kid her about.
She had a smile that could light up the room, and hugs that could cure just about anything.
I will love you forever, Gramma 💕
Stephen West:
Stephen’s memories - I was barely 6 years old when he passed away. There are only a handful of memories I can recall:
Getting to sit in his trainer jet seat when we took him to the Homestead, FL air base one morning.
Him killing a cottonmouth snake by the house, and playing badminton with the neighbors.
Studying at night on the couch of our trailer house.
Him giving me my first taste of coffee with sugar and cream, along with scrambled eggs and a little salt and black pepper. I wanted extra pepper.
He lit off a bunch of fireworks behind the big building across the driveway in front of our trailer.
When we traded in out ‘58 Chevy station wagon for a ‘63 Plymouth Valiant station wagon, which was given to my mother by the dealership after only one payment, when Dad passed away.
Rosa Mendoza:
Mrs. Stella Sevier was a great educator. - Mrs. Sevier was a great teacher at Ascarate School in El Paso. All her students learned and enjoyed her as a teacher for first grade students. Stella was very a very fun and educated woman, we all learned something new from her. I enjoyed working with her and learned a lot from her. Stella was a great cook also for her family and church members. She is missed greatly. May she rest in peace. 😭
Frederick Frank:
A friendly man of many skills - Leonard was a family friend and skilled tradesman who helped out in many ways whether it was helping my aging grandfather to update our former apartment, to help my Dad and Unc when they needed a bartender in a pinch in their Bungalow Inn restaurant , or to help my Unc in remodeling his Fox Lake summer cottage into a year round home. .(which offered Leonard some weekend getaway fringe benefits ).We had several rides in his Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. whatta cool car! I knew he lived w and was taking care of his Mom We lost touch and saddened to hear of his passing
Sabrina Lane:
My grandfather's aunt - My papa told me stories about his Aunt Clara babysitting him when he was a young boy. Aunt Clara was blind and the family checked on her, but she was very independent. Her walls had the wallpaper worn down in a line from walking with her hands along them, and when her groceries were put away everything was in the same place so she could find exactly what she needed. She was loving and gentle with my papa when she watched him.
Frank Willson:
Milan B obrenovitch - Milan was my biological father he and my mother met back in the 70s I entered the world in 73 I have found my half sister melissa who was born in 74 I never got to meet Milan if any of you know Milan or have a Pic or?? I would be forever gratefull thank you sincerely Frank willson
