Robert A. Bieker

---SPOKANE Robert A. Bieker, 57, a former Ferdinand, Idaho, resident and a teacher, died Saturday at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Spokane of cancer.

He had taught 31 years in Spokane School District 81.

He was born Nov. 16, 1932, to Frank and Loretta Hochgesang at Ferdinand, where he graduated from high school in 1950. He graduated from Eastern Oregon State College in 1954 and received his master's degree from Eastern Washington University in 1960. He taught at Rainier, Ore., for two years and then joined Spokane School District 81 in 1958 and taught at Lidgerwood Elementary School and Glover Junior High School.

He married Sharon Smith in 1960 at Spokane.

He was a communicant of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church at Spokane. He was a member of the Spokane Elks Lodge No. 228 and was involved with fund-raising for the Spokane Rehabilitation Center, Elks Children's Therapy Program and the Elks National Foundation.

He also was involved in the Elks scholarship fund for a number of years and organized the annual hoop shoot program.

Survivors include his wife at Spokane; a son, Kraig Bieker of Spokane; four daughters, Kimberley Coombs and Kathi Bieker, both of Spokane; Kari Cornelius of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Marcine Bieker of Coeur d'Alene; three brothers, Frank Bieker of Spokane, Don Bieker of Ferdinand and Jim Bieker of Ontario, Ore.; two sisters, Dorothy Arnzen of Cottonwood and Marlene Zodrow of Lewiston; and two grandchildren.

Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Curch. Vigil service was held Monday at the church.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the new St. Luke's Cancer Care Facility or Hospice of Spokane.

Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home at Spokane was in charge of arrangements.