La Grande Oregon

Keeney, Darlene ‘Cookie’ – Obituary

Darleen “Cookie” Keeney, 64, of La Grande, died Sept. 9 at her home of natural causes. There will be a memorial service on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Victory Christian Center, 1020 Jefferson Ave. in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Cookie was born on Dec. 25, 1942, to Fred and Thelma (Olsen) Hall in Medford. She was raised and educated in Redmond. She had a daughter, Laura, and a son, Patrick, both of La Grande. Cookie loved the outdoors, horseback riding, camping and fishing. She also enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports. She … Read more

Jewett, Helen M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Helen M. Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Aug. 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cove Christian Camp. Helen was born June 22, 1914, to Harold and Thena Mae Moak Fry in Montesano, Wash. Helen spent most of her childhood on a ranch on the Wynooche River near Montesano, with a brief time spent in Alberta, Canada. She attended a one-room school, and graduated high school in Montesano. She attended Eugene Bible College (now called Northwest Christian College) in Eugene. She and her husband, Joe, ministered during college … Read more

Dippold, Todd – Obituary

Union, Oregon Todd Dippold Todd Dippold, 31, of Union, died March 10 at his home. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007 Todd M. Dippold Union 1975-2007 Todd Milton Dippold, 31, of Union, died March 10 at his home. A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Union High School gym. A community potluck will follow. Todd was born March 13, 1975, to Robert and Judy (Allen) Dippold in La Grande. He … Read more

Leonard, Jonathon – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Staff Sgt. Jonathan Leonard, U.S. Air Force Reserve, 47, formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 22, 1996, along with nine other airmen aboard the HC-130 cargo aircraft, call sign King 56, which crashed in the Pacific Ocean 40 miles out from Cape Mendocino, Calif. Last year a black granite marble memorial to the crew was placed at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. A military honors service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, La Grande. Sgt. Leonard was born April 11, 1949, … Read more

Shen, Seu – Obituary

Chinaman Killed At La Grande Seu Shen, a Portland Chinaman was shot to death by Chin Mon Bue, in a Chinese lodging house at La Grande Sunday night. The trouble which caused the killing was over a white woman roomer in the house. The woman is said to have come from Portland several days ago. She had been a drug addict for the past several years and was registered as Mrs. Charles Jones. The woman has given all the information thus far obtained concerning the shooting. Admits that both principals in the tragedy were friends of hers and that she … Read more

McCoy, Elmer – Obituary

Elmer “Ellis” McCoy, 85, formerly of La Grande, died of natural causes March 1 in Klamath Falls. A memorial is planned for summer 2008 in La Grande. Elmer, also known as Ellis, was born in February 1923 in La Grande, the youngest son of Delmer and Mintie (Neal) McCoy. His parents operated a dairy on Mt. Glen Road. Ellis attended the Mt. Glen School and graduated from La Grande High School. He took over the family dairy and ran it for many years. Ellis married Rose Marie Buckley on Aug. 10, 1944. He enjoyed running the dairy, farming and operating … Read more

Albertson, Allie Broughton Mrs. – Obituary

Allie Albertson, 103, of Salem, and a former La Grande resident, died July 7, 2001, at a Salem care center. Her graveside funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Island City Cemetery. The Rev. Mark Schlessman of the La Grande First Christian Church will officiate. Mrs. Albertson was born Feb. 19, 1898, at Boreing, Ky. She was one of nine children born to John D. “JD” and Marian (Hammack) Broughton Sr. The family moved to Wallowa County, and she was educated in Enterprise. After high school she attended Western Oregon University at Monmouth and Eastern Oregon University at … Read more

Brandt, Shelby Lynn Strange – Obituary

Shelby Lynn Strange Brandt Shelby Brandt, a former Enterprise resident, died April 21, 2007, in La Grande. She was 23. A memorial service will be held in La Grande April 26 at 1 p.m. at Riverside Park. A complete obituary will follow at a later date. Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, April 26, 2007 Contributed By: Sue Wells Second Obit. Shelby Lynn Strange Brandt died suddenly April 21, 2007, in La Grande. She was 23. Ms. Brandt was born Feb. 7, 1984, in Eureka, Calif. She attended elementary schools in Humboldt County, and secondary schools in Eastern Oregon. She graduated … Read more

Wilson, Jane Mrs. – Obituary

Aged Pioneer Passes This Life Last Wednesday Mrs. Jane Wilson, aged 84 years, died at the Grande Ronde hospital in La Grande Wednesday morning. death was due to a complication of diseases induced by inflammatory rheumatism from which she had suffered for many years. Mrs. Wilson had been confined to her bed for the greater part of the last five years and for the past three years had been a patient in the hospital where she died. Mrs. Wilson was a native of Scotland. She had resided in the east for a time and later moved to Utah. About forty … Read more

Erwin, Hugh Gerald – Obituary

Union, Oregon Hugh Gerald Erwin, 95 of Union died June 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday June 26 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Mr. Erwin was born Oct. 25, 1910, to Hugh and Bertie Largent Erwin in Adrian, Mo. He worked on ranches in Pendleton, Summerville and North Powder, and graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1929. On Sept. 26, 1936, he married Fern Baxter in La Grande. The couple lived in Union for many years, and he worked for the Oregon Highway Department … Read more

Clegg, William N. “Bill” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon William N. “Bill” Clegg, 85, a longtime Baker City resident died June 6, 2003, at his home. His graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home. Mr. Clegg was born Aug. 25, 1917, at La Grande. He was a son of Elmo and Aurelia Nibley Clegg. He went through his junior year attending school at La Grande and graduated from Baker High School the next year. In 1937, he married Katherine … Read more

Buckley, Doris Gake – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Doris Gake Buckley Doris Gake Buckley, 75, of Phoenix, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande and Wallowa County, died Jan. 25 at a care home in Phoenix. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise. Mrs. Buckley was born in La Grande Sept. 18, 1931, to Albert and Anna Gake. She lived in La Grande for a few years until the family moved to Enterprise and then to Joseph, where she attended school. During World War II, the family moved to Huntington, where her father worked for the Union Pacific … Read more

Hug, Glen – Obituary

Many Attend Last Rites Of Late Glen Hug Friends and relatives from every neighborhood of the Elgin district and from many districts in Union county were present at the Christian church in Elgin at 2:30 Sunday afternoon to honor and pay a tribute of respect to the late Glenn Hug, who passed from this mortal life at Grande Ronde Hospital, early Thursday morning, September 24, 1942. Having been born near Elgin and having spent his entire life here, as well as being a member of one of the largest families in Union county, the attendance at the funeral services, and … Read more

Albertson, Allie – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Allie Albertson, 103, of Salem, and a former La Grande resident, died July 7, 2001, at a Salem care center. Her graveside funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Island City Cemetery. The Rev. Mark Schlessman of the La Grande First Christian Church will officiate. Mrs. Albertson was born Feb. 19, 1898, at Boreing, Ky. She was one of nine children born to John D. ?JD? and Marian (Hammack) Broughton Sr. The family moved to Wallowa County, and she was educated in Enterprise. After high school she attended Western Oregon University at Monmouth and Eastern Oregon … Read more

Creel, Linda Carol – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Linda Carol Creel, 66, died April 9 at her home in La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mrs. Creel was born Aug. 6, 1940, to Harry and Audra Elizabeth (Edwards) Monroe in Rawlins, Wyo. On July 18, 1959, she married Charles F. Creel in Los Angeles, Calif. In 1967 they moved to La Grande from Evanston, Wyo. She was a devoted wife and mother and dedicated her life to her family. Survivors include her husband, Charles Creel; children, Melinda, Janet, Wade, Carol and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Truesdale

JOSEPH TRUESDALE. – The name Truesdale is so well known throughout Oregon as designating the captain of the plains as to need little introduction here. The son Joseph was born in Illinois in 1850, and two years later made the journey to California with his father and mother, the latter of whom died the same year; while the former returned to Illinois in 1855, taking the boy with him. Marrying again in 1856, the Captain brought an ox-team across the Rocky Mountains in 1862 to form a settlement in the Grande Ronde valley. In 1865 young Truesdale went to the … Read more

Brizendine, Marian – Obituary

La Grande 1919-2004 Marian L. Brizendine, 85, of La Grande died May 26 at a local care center. A memorial service in Boise will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Summers Funeral Home. Mrs. Brizendine was born Jan. 26, 1919, to Archibald and Viola Jenkins in Bristow, Okla. On Sept. 3, 1938, she married David Brizendine in Ontario. The couple were divorced in 1972. She lived in La Grande from 1960 to 1969 and for the past four years and had worked for J.C. Penney in La Grande, Pendleton and Boise. She enjoyed traveling, softball and bridge and was considered … Read more

Cathey, Lawrence “Vern” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lawrence “Vern” Cathey, 75, of La Grande, died Nov. 27, 2004, at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the New Life Center in La Grande (behind Shop ‘n Kart). Burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Vern was born on Sept. 26, 1929, to Hugh and Laura Ray Cathey at Spearfish, S.D. He moved to Baker City where he joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was in the Signal Corps when he was discharged. He joined Labor … Read more

Bowen, Robert – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Robert “Blackie” Bowen, 81 of Island City died at his home Aug. 1. A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion in La Grande. Time and date will be announced at a later date. Blackie was born on Feb. 1, 1926, to John and Alberta Mills Bowen in Riverton, Wyo. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He married Betty Bretz of Nyssa, Idaho, on June 20, 1950, in Winnemucca, Nev. Blackie was a member of Operating Engineers Local 701 in Portland and Local 370 in Spokane. He was a 40-year member … Read more

Westenskow, Ronald W. – Obituary

Formerly of Imbler Ronald Wilford Westenskow, 87, of Walla Walla and formerly of Imbler, died Oct. 24. A private graveside service for family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Walla Walla. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Herring Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A full obituary will be available later. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, 99362. La Grande Observer – October 29, 2009 ____________________________ … Read more