Obituary - Peter Unruh

Rev. Peter Unruh succumbs at 73

COLFAX -- A graveside service for the Rev. Peter D. Unruh, 73, a former Lewiston, Genesee and Colfax minister, will be held at the Onecho Cemetery near Colfax Saturday at 10 a.m. The Rev. Roderick Pence of the Onecho Bible Church will officiate.

A memorial service will follow at the Onecho Bible Church, with the Rev. David Underhill of Spokane officiating.

Unruh died Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. at Sacred Heart Medical Center of Spokane.

He was born March 31, 1903, at Innman [sic], Kan., to Hinrich and Gertrude Unruh. He spent his childhood in Kansas. He was a graduate of the Inman Bible School at Inman, Kans.

He married Marie Siebert March 17, 1923, at Hillsboro, Kans. In 1925, the Unruhs moved to Susanville, Calif., where he worked in a sawmill. They later moved to Newport, Wash., where they operated a ranch.

Unruh accepted a position in 1935 as pastor of the Spring Valley Mennonite Church, where he was ordained a minister. In 1946, he became minister of the Onecho Bible School, where he served until 1961, when he became pastor of the Lewiston Orchards Congregational Community Church. He was minister at Lewiston until August, 1970, when he accepted a position with the Genesee Community Church. He retired in 1974 and moved to Spokane.

Unruh was a member of the Home Missions Committee of the Pacific District Mennonite Conference and of the Spokane Christian Schools Board.

Survivors in addition to his widow at Spokane, include four sons, the Rev. Eldon Unruh of Seattle, the Rev. Melvin Unruh of Bremerton, Wash., Harley Unruh of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and Harold Unruh of Spokane; five daughters, Majorie [sic] Schluneger of Pateros, Wash., Phyllis Tompkins of Spokane, Mary Ann Largent of Colfax, Betty Boldt of Troutsdale, Ore., and Naomi Rossman of Spokane; a brother, Ernest Unruh of Coeur d'Alene; three sisters, Mrs. Gerald Mott of Sandpoint, Mrs. Henry J. Janzen of Goessel, Kans., and Mrs. Henry P. Nachtigal of Nixa, Mo., and 27 grandchildren.

The family suggests any memorials be donations to the Gideons American Bible Society.

Unknown newspaper, (handwritten date May 1976)
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock

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