June Annette Vinther Bech Linke

June 16, 1911 - July 01, 2011

June Annette Vinther Bech Linke Obituary (Age 100) June died Friday evening, July 1, at Riverview Terrace Care Center in Spokane. A lifelong resident of Spokane, June was born June 16, 1911, the granddaughter and daughter of early Spokane residents. Her maternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark when her mother, Magdalene, was a child. Her father, Samuel H. Vinther, immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark, arriving in Spokane about 1890 where he and his cousin Nels Nelson founded Vinther & Nelson Hardware store in 1892. In 1900 the partners purchased a cabin at Priest Lake, ID, where June's family has spent summers throughout her life. As a youth, June graduated from Emerson Grade School and North Central High School, continuing her education at Kinman Business University. Subsequently she was employed as secretary for the insurance firm, W.S. McCrea Company. She also worked for a time with The Spokesman-Review and was a secretary with the Dorothy Dean program. In 1936 she married Raymond Bech, who had immigrated to Spokane from Denmark in 1928 and was employed in the service station business, eventually as partner in the Bech & Nelson Service Station. They were together for 35 years, spending summer times at Priest Lake and raising their family of four sons until Mr. Bech's death in February of 1972. In late 1973 June married widower Frederick H. Linke, of the Linke Ranch in Greenacres, Washington. She welcomed and enjoyed her new role as stepmother and grandmother to his adult daughters Patsy and Norma and their children Pam and Mike, and Kim and Susie and their families. June and Fred moved into Riverview Terrace condominiums in 1987 where June continued her love of swimming, rising at 5:00 a.m. to get her swim in before "the kids" (in their 60s) from the other residences arrived. Traveling together was June and Fred's great joy, spending winters in Mexico in their motor home and enjoying many tours abroad throughout their 22 years together. Mr. Linke passed away in January of 1996. June enjoyed entertaining her grandchildren in her condo, and especially in the pool. She transferred to Assisted Living at Riverview Terrace in December 2003 where she resided until moving into the nursing care center a year and four months ago. June's parents were founding members of Grace Baptist Church, where June was raised and where she raised her children; she maintained a lifelong membership and commitment to her church, and to her faith, serving as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, and women's missionary society member, etc. She was Past-President of the High View Garden Club and active in the North Central High School Survivor's Club for years 1928-30, as well as a member of the former Theta Phi Literary Club. Her participation in the Spokane E2 chapter of P.E.O. and her service as president held a revered place in her heart. As Fred's wife she enjoyed being active in the Auxiliary to the Shrine Caravaners and the Spokane Valley Banditos. June was preceded in death by her husband Ray Bech, her second husband Fred Linke, and by her granddaughter Annapurna Bech. She is survived by her sons: Terence R. Bech and wife Martine of The Netherlands, James W. Bech and wife Gay of Spokane, Steven D. Bech and wife Eileen of Kalispell, MT, and Stanley V. Bech and wife Margaret of Spokane; by eight grandchildren: Daniel, Cory, Delsey, Aaron, Nathaniel, Patrick, Katrina, and Megan Bech; by six great-grandchildren: Kaitlin N.W. Bech, Eva Bech, Tabitha Gonday, Mara and Ari Bech, and Annika Bech; and by her sister Jeanne Vinther Corbin and son Kelly of Spokane, as well as many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Christ the Redeemer Church (formerly Grace Baptist Church), on Friday, July 8th at 1:00 p.m. with long-time family friend Rev. Jerry Malone officiating. Private burial at Fairmount Memorial Park will follow.