Promise, Wallowa County, Oregon
Promise Pioneer Laid To Rest
Death came Friday to another Wallowa county pioneer, Mrs. Bertha Doud Carper, who died in Wallowa Memorial hospital after an illness of five months.
Funeral services were held Monday morning at 11 in the Christian church at Wallowa. Rev. O. W. Jones in charge and Rev. Gene Robinson of the Christian church in La Grande assisting. The choir sang “Standing on the Promises” and “Under His Wings.” Burial was in the Promise cemetery by the side of her husband. All of her 14 living children were present for the services. One son, William Dale, passed away in childhood. Due to illness, her sister, Mrs. I. S. McDonald, was unable to be present.
Mrs. Carper was born in Kansas, Dec. 5, 1878. She was married to Charles Carper in 1897, and most of their married life was spent at Promise. The last seven years she had lived at Wallowa.
Bertha Jane Doud came to Wallowa county in 1894 with her parents. She was the first school teacher in Promise. Among her first pupils were A. B. (Burton) Miller and the Maxwell boys. After she and Charles P. Carper were married on May 12, 1897 they made their home on a homestead in Promise and fifteen children were born there.
In early life she united with the Christian Church, and was a faithful and active member since she was also a teacher of a Sunday school class in the Christian church until her illness. She took an interest in good literature and current events. Her chief interest, however, was her Bible. Her kindness and cheerfulness won the love of all who knew her.
The following children survive: Edith Lindsey, Pendleton; Emma Lindsey, Wallowa; Ethel Burnett, Portland; Lillian Garrett, Union; Luella Skillings, Wallowa, Howard, Cove. Harold, Baker; Robert, Ahsahka, Idaho; Ralph, La Grande, Roy, Melvin, Orval, Ivan, and Louis, all of Wallowa. She is also survived by 36 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Wallowa County Chieftain, Front and Back Page, Thursday December 11, 1952