Grant County OR

Miles, Elizabeth E. “Betty” Mrs. – Obituary

Elizabeth E. “Betty” Miles, 70, of Salem, a former longtime Granite resident, died Dec. 29, 2004, after a long battle with lung disease. At her request, there will be no memorial service. She was born on Lopus Island, Wash., on Oct. 26, 1934, and spent her early years in the Puget Sound area. She married James L. Miles on Nov. 3, 1956. Jim was in the U.S. Air Force. As a military family, they lived in Japan for several years where they adopted two daughters, Tammie from Japan and Linda from South Korea. They returned to the United States and … Read more

Rice, Lennie Juliet – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Formerly of Enterprise 1945-2000 Lennie Juliet Hearing Rice, 54, of Colville, Wash., and formerly of Enterprise, died April 20. A memorial service will be scheduled later at the Wallowa Cemetery. Mrs. Rice was born July 23, 1945, in Enterprise to Fred and Clara White Hearing. She was raised in Wallowa County and educated at home until the seventh grade. She graduated from Enterprise High School, attended beauty college and one year of veterinary school. She married Ron Rice on September 3, 1963, in Unity. She had a hair salon for some years in John Day. She … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Howard M. Basford

One of the best and most successfully managed flourmills in this district is located at John Day. It is owned by the subject of our sketch, who has been a resident of Grant County since 1879. The mill has it capacity of fifty barrels, being equipped with a full roller process of the latest type. Although doing some custom work, Mr. Basford makes a specialty of the merchant trade making a leader of his family flour “The Best” and in the opinion of consumers it does not belie its name. Every sack is warranted extra quality, and full weight. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. V. C. Balkans

A well known and popular physician of Prairie City, and one whose kind, attentive treatment of the sick, and geniality of manner towards the well have made hint deservedly the favorite of all classes, was born near Corvallis, Ore, in 1871. He received his preliminary education in the schools of Prineville, and later in Portland. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1894, and then practiced for a while in the hospital there. In January 1895, he located at Prairie City, where he is still practicing. He is married to Miss Clara McHaley, and his home is the … Read more

Baldridge, Ruby Anna – Obituary

Imnaha, Wallowa County, Oregon A private family service was held for Ruby Anna Baldridge, 68, a longtime Central Oregon resident in earlier years that returned to Prineville nine months ago. She died Tuesday, June 19, 1984 at the Crook County Nursing Home. Mrs. Baldridge’s activities were centered largely in her home, but she had worked for a time as a hospital cook. She was married April 25, 1934 in Park Falls Wis. to Henry T. Baldridge, who survives. They moved to Oregon in 1938 and settled in Hines, where they lived for five years before moving to Prineville. They moved … Read more

Wright, Guy Lloyd – Obituary

Guy Lloyd Wright, 81, of Prairie City, Ore., died Thursday, July 20, 2006, at his residence. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2006, at Prairie City Cemetery with Pastor Darrell Johnson officiating. A reception will follow at the Strawberry Mountain Grange. Guy was born May 30, 1925, in Baker City, Ore., to Earl and Ann (Grabill) Wright. He attended school in Baker City through the 11th grade. He married Emiline Zemmer on June 10, 1946. He was a security guard at a mill for many years and retired as one. Guy loved gardening roses, and … Read more

Schlegel, Maxine Nicely Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Maxine Schlegel, 81, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 19, 2004, at Nampa, Idaho. At her request there will be no services. Disposition was by cremation. Maxine was born June 17, 1923, at Charleston, W.Va., to P.O. and Mae Carnes Nicely. She received her education at Fort Saint Jones, Canada. She graduated from Grant Union High School in John Day. Maxine worked at several restaurants in Baker City and Elgin. She is survived by her son, Dean Schouten of Nampa; a brother and sister-in-law, Phil and Polly Nicely of Baker City; and several grandchildren, nieces and … Read more

Jackson, William David “Bill” – Obituary

William “Bill” David Jackson, 57, of Prairie City, Ore., passed away April 8, 2008, in Richland, Wash. A graveside service was held 1 p.m., Monday, April 14, at the Prairie City Cemetery. Bill was born Sept. 27, 1950, in Baker City, Ore. to David M. and Elaine (Spiropolas) Jackson. He graduated from Baker High School in 1969 and achieved a BS from Eastern Oregon University in 1974. He also received a Masters. On October 24, 1981, Bill married Cynthia Beck in Portland, Ore. The couple had two sons, Kyle and Jason. Bill loved the out of doors and was an … Read more

Johnson, James

News of the sudden death of James Johnson of Dale, Oregon, reached Mrs. W.W. Kuhn last Thursday. She and sister, Mrs. H.A. Kuhn, and nephew, Marion Pearce, departed for the funeral which was held at Pendleton Friday, December 6, with interment in the Pendleton cemetery. Mr. Johnson was born on Butter Creek January 16, 1875, to Felix and Katherine Johnson who came from Ireland during their youth, and after settling in central Oregon they engaged in cattle raising. “Jimmie” was married to Rebecca McCubbin May22, 1903, and immediately departed for his home near Crane in Grant county. He and wife … Read more

Hankins, Robert D. “Bob” – Obituary

Granite, Oregon Robert D. “Bob” Hankins, 77, a longtime Granite resident died Nov. 23, 2002, in Tonopah, Nev., from injuries received in a single car accident when he swerved to miss a herd of wild horses. There will be a memorial service in Granite on Memorial Day and his ashes will be scattered in Granite. Cremation was in Hawthorne, Nev. Mr. Hankins was born Jan. 27, 1925 and served in World War II and the Korean War. He was wounded in World War II. Survivors include son and daughter in Houston, Texas; daughter in Umatilla; brother, James in Prineville; and … Read more

Keener, John William – Obituary

John William “Bill” Keener, 86, of John Day, who had logged in Northeastern Oregon for more than 46 years, died Sept. 19, 2009, at his home. His memorial service and a celebration of Bill’s life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bible Way Church in John Day. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the John Day Senior Center. Bill was born on April 15, 1923, at Franklin, N.C., to James Ulric and Fannie Clementine Williams Keener. He was the fifth child of six children. He left home when he was about 12 … Read more

Anderson, Charles “Chuck” – Obituary

Charles “Chuck” Anderson, 57, of Plevna, Mont., a former Baker City resident, died April 30, 2006, at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, Mont. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Baker United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St., Pastor Jack Bynum of the church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There was a service today at Peace Lutheran Church at Plevna, Mont. Chuck was born on Aug. 6, 1948, at The Dalles to Eldon James and Roberta May Griffin Anderson. He grew up and attended elementary school and high school at Condon, where … Read more

Battrick, Robin Louise – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robin Louise Battrick, 56, formerly of La Grande, died July 31 at her home in Coffey, Mo., following a 10-month battle with cancer. A funeral service and burial will be in Coffey, with memorial services to follow in Corvallis and La Grande. Robin was born July 17, 1951, in Bloomington, Ind. After a transient childhood with stops from Florida to Alaska, her family settled in La Grande in September 1965. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1969 as co-valedictorian. She attended Reed College in Portland and Oregon State University. Robin served a mission for the … Read more

Biography of John Howard

JOHN HOWARD. – Certainly one of the earliest pioneers of this favored region and a man who has endured the deprivations and hardships incident to that life, meanwhile laboring for the opening up of the frontier and the establishment of good government, the subject of this sketch has earned for himself a place in the history of Union county that is enviable and prominent, while personally he has ever manifested a good spirit and uprightness coupled with stanch principles and practical judgment in both the efforts put forth to build up the county, and in the prosecution of his own … Read more

Teufel, Robert Calvin – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Calvin Teufel, 66, of Mount Vernon and formerly of La Grande, died April 20 at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Portland. Robert was born April 4,1942, to Robert and Marjorie (Corey) Teufel in Portland. Robert graduated from Beaverton High School in 1961 and later went on to serve two years in the Army as Private E-1, where he earned sharpshooter and expert rifle badges as well as good conduct and Vietnam service medals. In 1966, Robert married Joyce Hayden in Beaverton. He later … Read more

MacPherson, Alice Marie Ensminger Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Alice Marie Ensminger Mac-Pherson, 82, of Union died Oct. 15, 2002, at a La Grande care facility after a brief illness. There will be a memorial service in the spring and burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Union. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Alice was born Feb. 7, 1920, to Herschell R. and Harriett M. Ford Ensminger at Baker City. The family lived at Granite for several years before moving to Pondosa where she attended public school. She was a 1938 graduate of Union High School. In … Read more

Stanbro, Ione Sorensen Mrs. – Obituary

Unity, Oregon Ione Stanbro, 89, of Unity, died Feb. 8, 2002, at Unity. Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Unity Grange Hall with Pastor Matt Schentz of the Burnt River Community Church officiating. Mrs. Stanbro was born on Feb. 28, 1912, at Prairie City to Cyrus McKee and Christina A. Sorensen. She was raised and educated at Prairie City and was a Prairie City High School graduate. In 1932, she married Elwood Stanbro at Fallon, Nev. Soon after that, the couple homesteaded a place on the Little Malheur River. Though they continued to live at … Read more

Landweer, Vada Adelle Graves Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vada Adelle Landweer, 57, died Sept. 25, 2004, at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. There will be a celebration of her life at 3 p.m. (MDT) Friday at Bucky’s Cafe in Cambridge, Idaho. Vada was born on Oct. 13, 1946, at Baker City. She was raised at Sparta and attended the Sawmill Gulch school and Eagle Valley High School at Richland. She attended her last year of high school at Vale, where she graduated. During her life, she lived in Prairie City, and then moved to Richland. Her last years were near the Cambridge, Idaho, … Read more

Hilderbrand, Ashley Jean – Obituary

Ashley Hilderbrand, 22, a longtime resident of John Day and Baker City, died unexpectedly Dec. 19, 2006, at Salt Lake City Medical Center in Salt Lake City. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Baker City Christian Church, 650 Hwy. 7 in Baker City. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception following the services at the church. A funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Whispering Pines Funeral Home in Prineville. Interment will follow at Juniper Haven Cemetery. Ashley Jean was born June 21, 1984, in John Day to Mariann … Read more

Spain, Gladys Elaine “Gus” Cunningham Mrs. – Obituary

Gladys Elaine Spain, known as ‘Gus’ to those close to her, 75, passed away at her home in Canyon City, Ore., March 19, 2007. She was born on Oct. 28, 1931, in Kimberly, Idaho to Newton and Jean Cunningham. After her retirement from the phone company, Gus became an active member in her community as a volunteer and she created friends wherever she went. When not volunteering, Gus and her husband enjoyed fishing and camping together. At home she enjoyed tending to her garden and was an avid knitter and quilter. Gus was an open and loving person who will … Read more