Eugene “Gene” Deiter, 66, died June 18, 2004, at his daughter’s home in Vancouver, Wash. He had been ill for the last few years.
There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 349 South Egan in Vancouver, Wash.
Gene was born on Oct. 17, 1937, at Rifle, Colo., to Edwin and Pearl Nichols Deiter. He attended grammar school in Colorado until 1949, when the family moved to Burns, where he continued his education. When he was 17, he joined the military and served during the Korean War.
During his military service, he married Elaine Williams in 1955. Later, they divorced. In 1974, he married Joann Kennedy. They had two children, Rose and Tracy.
For 19 years he was employed by Edward Hines Lumber Co. Gene enjoyed gardening, working, traveling and talking with people.
Survivors include his wife, Joann of St. Helens; mother, Pearl Deiter of Burns; brothers and sisters, Lana and Bob Barber and Vivian and Brent Drury of Hines and Dennis and Novell Deiter of Burns; children, Albert Deiter of Burns, Kelly and Ray Gregg of Redmond, Danny and Lou Ann Deiter of Burns, and Rose Quigley and Tracy Deiter of Vancouver, Wash.; stepsons, Joseph Fox and Jason Tryon of Vancouver, Wash.; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Deiter; brothers, Ronald Deiter and James Deiter; and a sister, Karen Deiter.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 25, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor