Mrs. Alice Balter, aged pioneer of Wallowa County, passed quietly away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Guy Mitchell, just before midnight, Tuesday September 6,1932.
Mrs. Balter had been in poor health for some time and following an illness of flu in Montana last winter has been much worse. August 29 she was stricken with paralysis and never recovered complete consciousness before the end.
Alice Beith was born Sept. 7,1856 in Batavia, Illinois and died Sept 6, 1932 at the age of 76 years.
When she was a small child, the Beith family moved to Waseca, Minn., and at the age of 16 she again moved, this time to El Dorado, Kansas. She was married in El Dorado, Kansas, to Julius Balter May 16,1877 and in 1883 with two small children Mr. and Mrs. Balter came to Wallowa county.
There they made a home on Prairie Creek and lived mostly in or near Joseph until death came.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Balter: Mrs. J.E. Lay of Bozeman, Montana: Mrs. Guy Mitchell of Joseph William who died in 1904, at the age of 25, and Birdine, who died when a small child.
Mrs. Balter was a devoted wife and mother, a good neighbor and friend. She endured the hardships of a pioneer life with courage and fortitude. She united with the Methodist church in Joseph many years ago and to the time of her death was a faithful Christian.
She leaves to mourn her loss her two daughters, three sisters Mrs. Jessie Shievely of Stillwater, Oklahoma : Mrs. Murat Blevans, Mrs. J.A. Blevans and one brother, W.G. Beith all of Joseph. There were six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and some other relatives living in the East, and many friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the M.E. church in Joseph at 2:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon and interment in Prairie Creek cemetery beside her husband and children and her mother. There were many lovely flowers, a testimony of affection and respect.
Alice Viola Beith Balter
Mrs. Alice Balter, a resident of this section for almost 50 years, died Tuesday just before midnight at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Guy Mitchell. Mrs. Balter had been in failing health for some time, but about two weeks ago became suddenly worse and her condition declined steadily until the time of her death. Funeral services are being held this afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist Episcopal church with the Rev. S. E. Smutz in charge. Interment will be in Prairie creek cemetery.
Alice Viola Beith was born September 7,1856, in Batavia, Illinois and died in Joseph, Oregon September 6,1932 at the age of 76 years.
Her parents , Robert and Emma Beith, moved while Alice was a small child to Minnesota, and remained there until she was 16 years old, when they went to Towanda, Kansas. She was married in 1876 to Julius Balter at El Dorado, Kansas and lived in that city about ten years with her husband.
In March 1883, Mr and Mrs Balter and two small children moved to Wallowa County, Oregon locating on Prairie Creek on the farm now operated by Norman McClain. They lived on this farm and in various other places in the county, including about five years on the Imnaha at the Park, during the ensuing years. They also lived for a short time at Hood River and Grandview, Washington.
Mr Balter died September 12,1920 , and since that time Mrs Balter had spent most of her time with her two daughters.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Balter, two of whom survive, Mrs. Guy Mitchell of Joseph, Oregon and Mrs. Nellie Lay of Bozeman, Montana. A daughter, Birdine died when about 2 1/2 years old, and William Lawrence was killed at the age of 25 when a horse fell on him while the family was living on the Imnaha.
Other survivors are six Grand Children and six Great Grand Children, one brother and three sisters as follows: W.G. Beith, Mrs. J. A. Blevans, and Mrs. Murat Blevans all of Joseph, Oregon and Mrs. Al Shively of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Mrs Balter had been a follower of the Christian religion since a young girl . Her passing takes another from the thinning ranks of those who pioneered in the settlement of the Wallowa country.