La Grande Oregon

Irwin, Samuel H. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Samuel Hugh Irwin, 80, a retired farmer formerly of La Grande, died following an extended illness, Friday, in a Portland hospital. Funeral services will be held in the Daniels Funeral Home, Monday at 2 p.m. Bishops Vernon Bennion, Hermiston, and Henry Stoddard, Pendleton, of the LDS Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Irwin was born in Illinois, Oct. 22, 1879 and had been a resident of the La Grande and valley area most of his lifetime. In August of this year he went to live with his daughter in … Read more

Bay, Frank – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Killed By Electricity, Prominent La Grande Man Met Death Suddenly Yesterday, Held Light Socket Working Under House, Exact cause of Accident will be investigated by Public Service Commission Deceased was Prominent Elk–Funeral Sunday Afternoon Frank Bay, one of La Grande’s most popular citizens was electrocuted yesterday afternoon about 4:45 o’clock while he was at work with his partner, Nate Zweifel, installing plumbing at the residence of Brakeman Anderson on North Second street. The news soon spread and it cast a great gloom over the city. Hardly anything else was the topic of conversation last night … Read more

Von Winkler, Weimer – Obituary

Union Station Agent Dies  Weimer Von Winkler, station agent at Union, died Wednesday morning at the Grande Ronde hospital, following a short illness. It is reported that typhoid was the cause of death. Mr. Von Winkler was brought into La Grande last Saturday. He was aged 34 years and was employed at Union only about a week before his illness. Previous to that time, he was at the Bohnenkamp chapel, awaiting instructions from the father and mother who lived at Bellingham, Washington. La Grande Observer. North Powder News Saturday, November 29, 1919

Skillings, Marcella – Obituary

Marcella Lucinda Skillings, 80, died Dec. 2 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise. Mrs. Skillings was born June 20, 1924, to John and Eva DeClue in St. Louis, Mo. She lived in Alaska and California before coming to La Grande. She married Raymond Benjamin Skillings on May 21, 1955. She earned a nursing degree in 1968 and worked at Hot Lake for a while before settling in Wallowa. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, quilting and being with her husband and family. Survivors include her children, … Read more

Davis, Kathryn Fae – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kathryn Fae Davis of La Grande and formerly of St. Paul, died April 2 at a local care home. Kathryn was born in St. Helens to Fae and Lillie Irene (Rich) Harford. Her father died when she was a young girl, and her mother later remarried Tom Blum, who became a big part of her life. She and her husband, Lester “Sledge” Ernst, owned and operated Ernst Hardware Store in St. Paul until 1964. They had a son, Lester Fae Ernst, who died when he was a young child. Lester preceded her in death in 1969. On … Read more

Millman, Willie – Obituary

Willie Millman, of Cove, was kicked by a horse Friday evening of last week, and was later taken to La Grande for treatment and died on the operating table. The young man was about 17 years of age, and after he was injured insisted on finishing his chores, ate a hearty supper and was apparently getting along all right, but later was taken worse, resulting in his removal to La Grande. He was kicked in the stomach, and an investigation showed the injuries had been so severe that the only wonder was that he kept about at all. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alexander C. McClelland

ALEXANDER C. McCLELLAND. – The present registrar of the United States land-office at La Grande, Oregon, is a native of Indiana, having been born there in 1842. He received his education at the Berlin High School, Wisconsin, and in 1863 came west to Montana as a gold-seeker. He found the employment of his intellectual acquisition more profitable, however, and for a number of years engaged in school-teaching and educational work in the Willamette valley. In 1867 we find him in the mines at Baker City, looking after “lodes” and “leads,” and also in 1870 engaged in the stock business with … Read more

Fennell, Thomas D. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Thomas D. Fennell, 69, of Sutherlin and formerly of La Grande, died June 11. A memorial service is planned for June 28 in Sutherlin. Chapel of the Roses in Roseburg is in charge of arrangements. Thomas was born June 11, 1939, to Grady and Lorene (Priest) Fennell in Monticello, Ark. In 1947, the Fennell family moved to the Sutherlin area. Thomas graduated from Sutherlin High School in 1957, and enlisted in the Army 87th Airborne unit. He was stationed in Germany and while serving his country enjoyed parachute jumping. After completing his military service, he became a … Read more

Heitz, Betty Doris – Obituary

Betty Doris Heitz, 79, died on Oct. 20, 2007, of a stroke at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma , Ariz. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 8, at Burns Mortuary in Pendleton. Inurnment of ashes will be at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. She was born May 9, 1927, to Frank E. and Luva (Roberts) Messersmith in Alliance, Neb., one of seven children. She attended high school in Curtis and graduated in 1945. She studied for one year at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then taught at a country school in Box Butte County, Neb. She married Lyle … Read more

Rizor, Elvie – Obituary

1908-2003 Elvie I. Parks Rizor, 94, a longtime Union resident, died March 28, in Eugene, Oregon. A service will start a 1 p. m. Wednesday in Union at the United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jerry Peters will officiate. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery. Friends may call for viewing between 3 and 7 p. m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Rizor was born June 22, 1908, in Elgin, the daughter of Nathan R. and Ida E. Cummings Parks. She was raised and educated in Elgin. As a young girl she worked as a telephone operator in Elgin. She … Read more

Huntsman, Conrad C. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Conrad C. Huntsman, 88, of Boise, died Jan. 29, 2006. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Boise Cherry Lane LDS Chapel, 3020 Cherry Lane. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Relyea Funeral Chapel, and from noon to 12:45 p.m. at the church on Friday prior to the service. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande at noon PST Saturday. Conrad was born on Dec. 29, 1917, at Provo, Utah, to Emery Huntsman and Elsie Caroline Shipp. He grew up in Baker City and was … Read more

Carlson, Mardella Lee – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Mardella Lee Carlson, 56, of Coeur d’Alene and formerly of Summerville and La Grande, died Oct. 28 at Kootenai Medical Center. A memorial service is planned for Friday at 1 p.m. at the La Grande Nazarene Church. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Miss Carlson was born Feb. 8, 1950, in La Grande to Dale L. and Valera L. Robinette Carlson of Summerville. She grew up on the family farm and was active in local 4-H clubs and in Girl Scouts. As a child she loved picking huckleberries in the nearby mountains with her … Read more

Weber, Richard R. – Obituary

Richard “Dick” R. Weber, 77, of La Grande died Sept. 30 at his home. At Dick’s request, there will be no services. Dick was born Dec. 10, 1929, to Otto P. and Jewel B. (Cunningham) Weber in Wellston, Okla. He and his sister, Chrissy, later moved with their mom to Ventura, Calif., where they grew up. Dick later joined the Air Force and was stationed in Tillamook where he met Dorothy Wehinger. They were married for 26 years and she was a life-long friend for an additional 29 years. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Weber; their children, Sandra … Read more

Sanders, Elizabeth Janette “Betty” Waltz Mrs. – Obituary

Elizabeth Janette “Betty” Sanders, 80, of La Grande, and a former Baker City resident, died April 5, 2001, at a local care center. A celebration of life will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. The Rev. Vernon Slippy of the Grande Ronde Community Church officiating and with the participation of the American Legion. Ms. Sanders was born Oct. 27, 1920, at Toppenish, Wash., to Carlton Joseph Sr. and Elizabeth Sheppard Waltz. She graduated from Baker High School in 1938 and attended Linfield College before entering the Navy during World … Read more

Allen, Dolores May – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dolores May Allen, 80, of La Grande, died in her sleep Nov. 9 of cancer. A viewing will begin at 9 a.m. and a slide show celebration will begin at 10 Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Private burial will follow. Dolores was born Dec. 25, 1926, to C. Eugene (Smiley) Gibson and Nora Duckett Gibson in La Grande. A lifelong resident of La Grande, Dolores attended Eastern Oregon College. Those who knew her say she enjoyed an enduring tradition of love and learning with her family. She lived at Wildflower Lodge for a while. She is survived … Read more

Smith, Kenneth L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kenneth L. Smith, 78, died July 10 at the Veterans Hospital in Seattle after a lengthy illness. A funeral service was held on July 16 in Kirkland, Wash. He was born on Nov. 23, 1928, in La Grande. Ken barbered for many years in the Bothel area of Seattle. He was also a tree-topper in northeast Seattle for many years. Of the two occupations, he enjoyed tree-topping more. Ken was quick to make friends and never knew a stranger. He is survived by his wife, the former Sherril Bateman of Union; five sons and their wives, Frank … Read more

Newman, A. J. Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon The death of Mrs. A.J. Newman occurred at her home in La Grande Saturday morning after a long and painful sickness, the result of an accident. The deceased was aged about forty-six years and leaves a husband and daughter in bereavement. The funeral took place Saturday afternoon. Eastern Oregon Republican Wednesday, December 26, 1894

Hickman, Willa Chloe – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Willa Chloe Hickman, 86, of La Grande, died Thursday morning at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Cemetery. Arrangements are with Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Hickman was born on March 10, 1920, the daughter of Hezekiah and Pearl (Carlton) Villines in Ponca, Ark. In 1940 she married Bill Franklin Hickman, and they lived in California until his death in 1972. After his death she moved to La Grande to be near family. She was a member of the Assembly of God church. She enjoyed sewing, her … Read more

Baker, Joe Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon The death of Mrs. Joe Baker, wife of attorney Joe Baker of La grande, occurred at her son’s home near Wallowa the latter part of last week. The remains were conveyed to La Grande and interred in the Masonic cemetery Sunday. Elgin Recorder Friday June 2, 1905

Smith, Robert Norval – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Funeral services for Robert Norval Smith, 60, 408 Cedar Street, La Grande, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Dempsey’s Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Wendell M. Sullivan will officiate, and interment will be in the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Smith died from injuries received in an auto accident on Monday. He was sales manager for the M. J. Goss Motor Company up to his retirement. He was born Sept. 9, 1910, the son of Walter and Jeanette Smith. In 1936, he was married to Delda Elizabeth Gray in Pendleton. He was a member of Veterans … Read more