Dixon, Elwood J. – Obituary

Resident Here Since 1882, Former Mail Carrier Dies Sunday. Death came to another pioneer resident of the Kittitas valley here Sunday when Elwood J. Dixon, 82, died at the Ellensburg General hospital following a major operation [died May 9, 1937]. A resident of this valley since 1882, and one of the earliest rural mail carriers here, Mr. Dixon was widely known throughout this section. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on October 3, 1854 and came west to Vancouver, W., with his parents [John Wesley Dixon and Sarah E. Smith] when he was 24 years old. The family came … Read more

Davis, Darnell – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Darnell Davis, 54, of Huntington, died July 8, 2005, at his home. His memorial service will be scheduled later at Vancouver, Wash. Darnell Davis was born on April 10, 1951, at Fort Towson, Okla. He was raised and educated in Oklahoma. He started working outside of the home at the age of 13 to help support his family. Darnell was awarded a football scholarship and attended college in Oklahoma. Earning his degree, he joined the U.S. Navy, completing his tour of duty in 1974. After serving in the Navy, Darnell began driving truck in Oklahoma. … Read more

Anderson, Alan Endre – Obituary

Alan Endre Anderson of Eugene died March 29, 2009 of age related causes. He was 83. A private family celebration will be later. He was born Nov. 21, 1925, in Alpine, Wash., to Endre and Beulah Thompson Anderson. He married Judith Mann on June 21, 1957, in Olympia. Anderson graduated from Enumclaw High School in Washington in 1944. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946, including service in World War II in the Phillipines and Japan. He attained the rank of sergeant and received the Bronze Star. He worked as an insurance secretary for Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance … Read more

Dixon, Melinda Banister – Obituary

Mrs. Melinda B. Dixon, pioneer of Kittitas Valley, died at Bernath’s Nursing Home early today at the age of 91 years January 13, 1964. Melinda Banister, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Banister, was born Feb. 6, 1872 in Clark County, Washington and came to Ellensburg with her parents in 1870. Because of the Indian disturbance in the valley they moved to Walla Walla, returning here in 1884, making the trip in a covered wagon. She was married to Elwood J. Dixon, Dec. 18, 1890 in Ellensburg. He died here in 1937. She was also preceded in … Read more

Shreffler, Clem – Obituary

Clem Shreffler, 96, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 6, 2006, at Prairie City. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Darrell Johnson of Grace Chapel at Prairie City and Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church at Baker City will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Clem E. Shreffler was born to Ferd and Mary Shreffler in Culdesac, Idaho, on Feb. 22, 1909. Clem was the fourth of six children in the family. At … Read more

Ahma, LaWanda Estelle Lambeth Mrs. – Obituary

LaWanda Estelle Lambeth (Ahma), 87, was born on Nov. 14, 1918, and passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving grandchildren on March 3, 2006. She lived in Michigan, Calif., and Oregon until the passing of her second husband, Lt. Col. William F. Lambeth on April 12, 2003. She then moved to Vancouver, Wash., to live with her grandchildren, Pamela and Roger Spence. She is survived by 20 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. Special thanks to Dana Parker, her caregiver, for the loving treatment she provided to our grandmother. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Chaf; mother, Addie Becker; … Read more

Biography of Catherine S. Davis

CATHERINE S. DAVIS. – One of the beautiful and happy lives among the pioneer women of our state is that of the lady named above. It has, to some extent, been spent amid the utmost dangers, difficulties and privations, but nevertheless has been constantly adorned by works of devotion and benevolence. Hers is a life made beautiful not so much by wealth or technical culture as by patience, fortitude and good works. She was born of Dutch parentage in the State of New York, January 23, 1811. Her father, William K. Sluyter, one of the Knickerbockers, moved to Pennsylvania when … Read more

Kidder, William Ross “Bill” – Obituary

William Ross “Bill” Kidder, 85, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, from complications related to age at the Lewiston Veterans Home, where he had been a resident for the last five years. Bill was born Dec. 26, 1919, in Ridgefield, Wash., to David and Olive Kidder. He attended grade school in Oregon and graduated in 1937 from Pendleton High School. He joined the U.S. Navy the same year and served for more than seven years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant (jg) with many decorations for his efforts. … Read more

Fix, Stella F. Hall – Obituary

Mrs. Stella F. Fix, 93, of 112 S. 36th St., Tacoma, died in a local hospital Wednesday [February 12]. She was born in Battle Ground, and had lived in this area all her life. She is survived by a son-in-law, Fred Ferritti of Tacoma; and a cousin, Bill Burt of Portland. Services are announced by Orting Funeral Home. [Interment Orting Cemetery] Tacoma News Tribune, February 14, 1969 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Auren G. Redway

For thirty-six years Auren G. Redway has been a resident of Boise, and for many years was prominently connected with her banking interests, but is now living retired, enjoying that well earned rest which is the fitting reward of an honorable and active business career. He comes from the far-off east and is a representative of a family that was established in America in colonial days. His grandfather, Preserved Redway, served his country throughout the war of the Revolution, was one of General Washington’s bodyguard, and had the honor of being a corporal of the guard at the time of … Read more

Deiter, Eugene “Gene” – Obituary

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 … Read more

Youngman, Barbara J. Woodbeck Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barbara J. Youngman, 80, a longtime Pendleton resident, died Sept. 6, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center in Baker City surrounded by her family. There was a private memorial service for her immediate family Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in Baker City. Pastor Dennis Hickman officiated. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Crematory. Interment will be with her family in Vancouver, Wash. Mrs. Youngman was born on Jan. 15, 1921, to Henry and Jennie Woodbeck. She was raised at Vancouver, Wash. She married Walter J. Youngman on March 16, 1940. She made … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. William Proebstel

DR. WILLIAM PROEBSTEL. – Few among our early residents have been more serviceable to society than the gentleman whose name appears above. He was born in Germany in 1829, and is the son of a wine-grower. He received his primary education in the old country, and at the age of thirteen migrated to America, locating in Missouri, remaining there ten years, and receiving from the common schools the rudiments of an English education. He also took a course in dentistry. In 1852 he crossed the plains to Oregon, locating at Portland. The next spring, with two brothers, he purchased the … Read more

Biography of Joseph Holman

JOSEPH HOLMAN. – This pioneer of the North Pacific was born in Devonshire, England, in 1817, and came to the United States when nineteen years of age. Three years later he was at Peoria, Illinois, at which place he listened to a lecture on Oregon by Reverend Jason Lee, and was one of the party organized to cross the plains which left early in the spring of 1839, reaching the Willamette after fourteen months of travel, toil, hardships and privation. Many of the incidents of his trip are mentioned in the biographical sketch of Francis Fletcher in this book, he … Read more

Biography of John Krall

Few lives have been more active or more thoroughly filled with incidents of interest and of unusual nature than has that of John Krall, one of the pioneers of Idaho, and for about thirty-five years a resident in the vicinity of Boise City. Now a wealthy man, he is indebted to himself alone for his fortune, for he started out in youth to fight the battle of life, a poor boy, and by the exercise of industry and perseverance, in the face of great difficulties, he came off victor over all. Mr. Krall is a native of Germany, born December … Read more

Biography of John Marshall McCall

JOHN MARSHALL McCALL. – Among the substantial and favorably known residents of Southern Oregon, none have occupied a more useful place in the upbuilding of the state since the days of its infancy than the gentleman whose name is the heading of this brief memoir. His is one of those aggressive, go ahead dispositions that is an example of that time-honored adage, that “God helps those who help themselves;” and his whole life has bristled with instances of this belief. A man of strong convictions and honest prejudices, scorning hypocrisy in all things and in his dealings with friend, foe … Read more

Brown, Sandra Nadine “Sandy” Larson Mrs. – Obituary

Sandra Nadine “Sandy” Brown, 58, a resident of Clark County, Wash., since 1989, and a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 31, 2001, at a Portland hospital. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Vancouver Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Brown was born on Sept. 7, 1943, at Baker City. She was a 1961 Baker High School graduate. She moved to Woodland, Wash., in 1968 and to Vancouver, Wash., in 1989. She was employed as a production worker for several companies in the area. She enjoyed her family and friends, flowers and trips to the mountains and the … Read more

Brothers, Gloria A. Newall Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gloria Brothers, 78, of Newberg died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, at her home. Attrell’s Funeral Home of Newberg was in charge of arrangements with inurnment in Valley View Memorial Park in Newberg. Mrs. Brothers was born Nov. 1, 1923, in Port Angeles, Wash., the daughter of Evah and Edgar C. Newall. The family resettled in the Newberg area where landmarks like Newall Road and others record the family’s influence in the community. After graduation from high school in Vancouver, Wash., she attended the University of Oregon to obtain a degree in English. She was a member of … Read more

Backlund, Donna Ratliff Kowing Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Donna Kowing Backlund, 61, of Baker City, died Sept. 27, 2002, at John Day. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Shiela Kowing, who live up Laycock Creek in the John Day area. Mrs. Backlund was born May 4, 1941, at Tillamook to Lawrence and Frieda Ammeter Ratliff. She grew up on a homestead near Washougal, Wash., where she was schooled. She later attended Blue Mountain Community College and was a certified dental assistant employed at Baker City for several years. On Dec. … Read more

Cook, Etta Lorene Hilbert Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Etta Lorene Cook, 89, a long-time Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2003, at her home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. There will be a reception at the Baker City Eagles Aerie, No. 3456, 2935 H St., after the memorial service. Etta was born Jan. 20, 1914, at Pine Town to Roy E. and Hazel L. Schultz Hilbert. Her grandmother, Mary Marr, came to Pine Valley in a wagon in 1812. Etta was one of five daughters. Her sisters were … Read more