Biography of Lewis C. Rinehart

It is a pleasant task to scan the career of a successful man and to note the places where he has overcome the obstacles of life’s pathway and where he has made worthy achievements: and for a short time it is our good pleasure to thus contemplate the salient points of the life of the worthy gentleman, whose name initiates this article and who has been and is now one of the substantial and capable men of Wallowa County, having wrought for the development and advancement of the same in a manner that demonstrates both his ability and his integrity, … Read more

Biography of Louis B. Rinehart

LOUIS B. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart was born in Illinois in 1844, and ten years later accompanied his parents across the plains to Oregon. They followed the track s of 1853 from the mouth of the Malheur to Eugene City via Harney Lake. Ten miles west of Eugene the elder Rinehart located a half section of land, and provided a home for his family. Louis remained there until 1862, but that spring came with his brothers to the Grande Ronde valley. After living in a tent three months, he hauled the logs and assisted in the erection of the third … Read more

Biography of Edward W. Imbler

Among the earliest pioneers of this state the subject of this sketch, together with his father, has been identified with the opening for settlement of various fertile portions of the state, and in these places he has labored, with his father, in the pioneer undertakings that occupy the frontiersman and those who would make from the wilds of nature the opulent farms and comfortable residences of civilization. Edward W. was born in Muhlenburgh County, Kentucky, in 1843, being the son of David and Hester (Jackson) Imbler, natives respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky. In 1844 they migrated from their home … Read more

Scott, Donald Duane – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Donald Duane Scott, 76, a longtime Halfway resident, died Dec. 20, 2003, at his home. There will be a graveside celebration of his life at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7847, will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the VFW Hall. In case of bad weather, the service will be at the VFW hall. Don was born at Medford on Aug. 4, 1927, to Leo and Mary Key Scott. He attended school at Walterville and Springfield before joining the U.S. Navy in 1944. He served in the … Read more

McKim, Carol Andrea (Hesus) Mrs. – Obituary

Carol Andrea McKim, 50, of Eugene, a former Halfway resident, died July 31, 2007, after an aggressive four-month battle with throat cancer. There will be a service celebrating her life at 12:15 p.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eugene. The family will gather at Halfway to honor her memory next summer. Carol Andrea McKim was born at Baker City in 1957. She attended Baker schools and was a graduate of Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway. She met Frederick Hesus while attending Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande (now Eastern Oregon University). They married in 1978 and moved … Read more

Hanson, Richard Lee “Dick” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Richard Lee “Dick” Hanson, 69, died May 7, 2005 at Pacific Specialty & Rehab Care in Vancouver, Wash., from complications of a stroke. Disposition was by cremation. There will be no funeral. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later this spring in Baker City to allow distant friends and relatives to attend. Dick was born on Feb. 21, 1936, at Des Moines, Iowa. He attended high school at Des Moines and graduated from Iowa State University at Ames with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He married Laura Sue McCollum on June 14, 1959. … Read more

Austin “Bud” Ragle – Obituary

This is the obituary for Donald Gordon Olsen, age 86, who died on May 30, 2008. It was initially published by the Record Courier in Baker City, Oregon on June 26, 2008.

Vollmer, Thomas Wesley – Obituary

Thomas Wesley Vollmer, 25, of Portland, died May 19, 2002. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. Mr. Vollmer was born on June 1, 1976, at Baker City to Andrea Nicholson Wiggins and Wesley Vollmer. He moved with his family to McMinnville in 1980 where he lived until 1985 when they moved to Corvallis. He lived there until 1989 and then moved to Eugene where he lived before moving to Portland in 2001. He worked at Starbucks and Renner’s Grill in the Multnomah Village of Portland. He also worked at the … Read more

Spears, Claude Allen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Claude Allen Spears, 75, of Boise and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 22 at a Boise hospital after a short illness. A memorial service took place Feb. 26 at Redeemer Lutheran in Boise. Burial will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel of Boise. Mr. Spears was born Jan. 18, 1932, to Leonard and Frances Katherine (Berry) Spears in Eugene. He grew up and attended school in La Grande and later worked for Boise Cascade Corp. Drafted in 1952, he served two years … Read more