La Grande, Oregon
Fern E. Killingbeck, 94, died Aug. 21 at Richland Rehabilitation Center in Richland, Wash. A private family graveside service will be held at the Redmond Memorial Cemetery in Redmond.
Mrs. Killingbeck was born July 8, 1912, at Madras to Thomas Jefferson and Etta Mora Parsley Fields. She lived in Longview, Wash., and The Dalles before moving to Redmond, where she graduated from high school. On Dec. 22, 1930, she married Clarence Herbert Killingbeck in Bend.
She owned and cooked at her restaurant in Redmond for several years. In 1949 she moved to La Grande and operated the lunch counter at Pay Less Drug Store for many years. Mrs. Killingbeck won the Union County Wheat League cake baking contest several times.
In 1994 she moved to Milton-Freewater, and in 1995 her husband died. She moved to Hermiston in 2003. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, crafts and cooking.
Survivors include children, Thad Killingbeck of Boardman, Clareen Coblens of Milton-Freewater and Carolyn Gibbs of Redmond; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Three brothers, Glen, Ned and Thomas, and two sisters, Ona and Blanche, died earlier.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Aug. 26, 2006, Published: August 28, 2006