Dear Family,

The following is a quick update for my Dad's funeral. Thank you all for your support and prayers. We are planning on the service on Saturday June 9, at 1:00 our time with a graveside service and reception following. I'll add more later, but here is the obituary that will be in the Spokesman's Review tomorrow.

Bernie Dean Fellin passed away peacefully at home June 3, 2007 at the age of 78. He was born in Marshfield, Missouri, June 28, 1928. When he was 17 years old, Bernie left the family farm and joined the Army to support his mother and younger siblings after his father died suddenly. He served in the Army Signal Corps in Korea. Shortly after completing his pilot’s training in the Army Air Corp, he was diagnosed with diabetes and was honorably discharged with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 1954.

Bernie married Maudie (Larimore) Fellin on October 6, 1951 in Conway, Missouri. He moved his young family to the Spokane area, settling on Moran Prairie in 1960 where they remained until his death. The last five of their eleven children were born in Spokane. He is survived by his wife, Maudie, his children Anna, Steve, Sandra, Kaye Peterson, Doug, Glenn, Mike, Tammy, and Cyndi Langston, fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two of his children, Randy Eugene in 1957 and Shirley Jean Mattox in 2003.

Bernie was the oldest of eight children. He is survived by three brothers; Joseph of Springfield, Missouri, John (Pete) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Donald of Birmingham, Alabama, and three sisters Margaret Ann Abbott of St Peters, Missouri, Rose Emma Holt and Martha Sue Boaz both of St. Louis Missouri, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert (Bob) of St John, Kansas.

He worked for the Spokesman Review as a typesetter for 22 years. In 1980 he purchased A & B Printing, turning it into a family-run business and teaching his children the trade until retiring in 1989. Two of his children continue to operate the business today.

He was known to all as a forceful, but generous, man who never met anyone he wouldn’t help and never found anything he couldn’t build or fix. To help support his family, he raised cattle, did custom-farming and taught his children how to drive combines, tractors, bale and load hay, and to find satisfaction in hard work.

He was active in many organizations including the Moran Prairie and Pomona Granges, the Spokampers Camping Club, and the Jim Beam Club. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW 1435 and DAV. At one time he served as president of the local chapter of the International Typographical Union. He enjoyed many activities including square dancing, playing card games with his family and friends, watching wildlife on his farm and rooting for the Mariners.

He will be remembered in a ceremony on Saturday, June 9th, 1:00 p.m. at the Hazen & Jaeger funeral home at 1306 N. Monroe. Friday, June 8, 2007, there will be an open casket viewing from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hazen & Jaeger.

Bernie will be interred at the Moran cemetery with a reception following at Moran United Methodist Church, 3601 E. 65th Avenue, Spokane, Washington.

Donations may be made to American Diabetes Association in Bernie Fellin’s name at P.O. Box 10835, Spokane, WA 99209.