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Kust, Josephine

Last Name: Kust
First Name: Josephine
Dates:
*22.7.1944 (Date of Death)
Biography/History: Ancestry.com shows one family with the surname Kust in Spokane during the period 1910 to 1950. The 1910 census reports the family at 903 Chelan in Spokane; household residents were Andrew J. Kust (43), Josephine A. Kust (41), Helen I. Kust (14), Sophie Kust (67). Sophie is listed as mother-in-law to the head of household (Andrew), but her name Kust must be an error, as she was likely Josephine's mother Sophia Brule Peltier. After 1910, Sophie disappears from the record. Andrew J. Kust was born in Bohemia c. 1865 and immigrated to the US in 1887, settling in Wisconsin. On 19 June 1895, he married Josephine A. Peltier, born c. 1869 in Wisconsin. Josephine's parents were Joseph Peltier and Sophia Brule Peltier, both French Canadians. Andrew and Josephine's only daughter, Helen Irene, was born in Wisconsin on 19 March 1896. At some point before 1910, the family left Wisconsin. According to the 1920 census, the family, comprising Andrew, Josephine, and Helen, were living in Wallowa, Oregon. By the 1930 census, Josephine and Helen are living together in Latah, ID. By this time, Helen was working as a public school teacher. Josephine is listed as being married, but Andrew is found in Tacoma, WA, listed as divorced. While the couple may not have been legally divorced, they clearly had separated. Andrew died in 1949 in Tacoma. By the 1940 census, Josephine (72) has returned to Spokane and is living alone at N4505 Jefferson Ave. Her marital status is listed as divorced, but this is likely another error. Her death certificate lists her as married to Andrew, and as a practicing Catholic it is unlikely she and Andrew obtained a divorce. In 1940, Helen appears to be living in Metaline Falls and working as a teacher. Josephine A. Kust died in Spokane on 22 July 1944. Her obituary ran in the Spokesman-Review on 25 July 1944: Survived by daughter Helen Irene Kust, Spokane; 5 sisters, Mrs. J. Churchill, Lincoln, NE, Mrs. Frances Bennell, Spokane, Mrs. Delia Duce, Lincoln, NE, Mrs. Gertrude Kingsbury, Green Bay, WI, Mrs. Isabelle Housewetz (?), Coeur D'Alene, ID; 1 brother, Edward Peltier, Cloquel, MN. She was a member of Third Order of St. Francis and the Alter Society of St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. Helen Irene Kust passed away on 6 January 1978 in Newport, WA. Her obituary ran in the 8 January 1978 Spokesman-Review: Retired school teacher and former owner of the DeSales Catholic Book Store, Spokane, from 1942-1961. She received her M.A. degree from Gonzaga University. She was a member of Third Order of St. Francis and St. Anthony's Parish. Survivors include a cousin, Mar. . . . . Bishop, Chula Vista, CA and close friend and companion of 50 years, Evelyn Peterson, Newport.
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Related Objects:
2962.336 (Quilt, Dove at the Crossroads Quilt, 1920-1940)