Funeral services for Albert Bruce, Jr., age 89, will be held Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at the Farmington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Farmington, WA with Pastor Hal Whitman officiating.  Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Farmington.  A luncheon will follow the burial service.  Mr. Bruce passed away August 3, 2017 in Spokane, WA. Viewing will be Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. at Kramer Funeral Home, Tekoa.

Albert Byron Bruce, Jr. was born on February 21, 1928 at Seltice, WA to Albert and Irene (Lipp) Bruce.  He was the 4th of 5 siblings born to Albert and Irene.  He attended grades 1 – 3 at the Seltice School, 4th grade at the Farmington School, then grades 5 through 12 at Tekoa.  In high school, Albert played in the band, lettered in several sports, and excelled in basketball & boxing.  Following graduation from Tekoa High School in 1946, he attended 1 semester at Eastern Washington College.  Musical, through the years Albert played the saxophone in the Eastern Washington College Band, performed in the Spokane Symphony, and was a member of the Fevrel Pratt Dance Band.

Albert started farming in 1945 in the Farmington area, and has completed 81 harvests in his lifetime.

On June 12, 1949, he married Ilene Pennell.  They made their home in Pigeon Hollow, in Latah County, ID near Farmington for 68 years, where they farmed and raised their family.

Albert and Ilene enjoyed traveling the world together.  He had an extreme passion for his family and farming as well as grafting and working with his fruit trees.  Junior sport fished in Alaska, hunted in the Selway Wilderness, and spent numerous trips hunting behind his house with family and friends.  Junior was a former Boy Scout Leader.  He loved watching the grandkids and great grandkids attend their annual family pumpkin carving / cider making party, and the annual Christmas Tree decorating party.   He also enjoyed many years of attending sporting events of his sons, grandkids, and great grandkids.

Survivors include his wife Ilene of 68 years, three sons; Lynn (Sharon) Bruce of LaCrosse, Doug (Cathy) Bruce of Farmington, and Dan (Sara) Bruce of Spokane Valley; daughter-in-law , JoAnn Bruce Barber of Spokane; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his four siblings, Lawrence Bruce, Donald Bruce, Lenora Nelson, and Evelyn Crowe.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Mountain View Cemetery, c/o Jerry Wagner, 2952 Reuben Schultz Rd., Farmington, WA, 99128, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Kramer Funeral Home of Tekoa, WA is caring for the family.  Online condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com. 

 Service Information