La Grande Oregon

Kolasinski, Gary – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Gary Kolasinski, 53, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande and Enterprise, died Aug. 24 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave., in La Grande. Following the service, friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the church. Gary was born Oct. 12, 1953, four minutes before his twin brother to Ardath Snitgen and Donald Kolasinski in Alpena, Mich. He lived in Alpena, St. John’s, Mich., Portland and La Grande where he spent his high … Read more

Hiatt, Alfred Charles – Obituary

Alfred Hiatt, of 1807 “V” Ave., died Saturday, March 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Mr. Hiatt was a retired truck driver for Union county. He was 75. Mr. Hiatt was born May 12, 1904, at Pinto, Utah, the son of Frank and Emma (Platt) Hiatt. He moved to La Grande, on January 25, 1925. On November 24, 1928 he was married to Alice Hoak at La Grande. Mr. Hiatt was a member of the Third Ward of the La Grande Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Knights of Pythias; AARPs and Senior Citizens. Survivors include his wife of La … Read more

Weber, William Francis, Jr. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon William “Bill” Francis Weber Jr., 62, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 11 at St. Elizabeth Health Services after a 10-year battle with cancer. Viewing will run from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and funeral services begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel in Baker City. A reception will follow at the Eagles Lodge. Bill was born Sept. 26, 1944, to William F. Weber Sr. and Norma R. (Olp) Weber in Baker City. He graduated in 1962 from Baker High School. He had a 22-year career with the … Read more

Blang, Patricia M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Patricia M. Blang, 63, of La Grande died Nov. 4 of natural causes at a care center in La Grande. There will be a celebration of life service at the Union County Senior Center at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Burial will be at Asotin Cemetery in Asotin, Wash. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Mrs. Blang was born to William Murphy Watkins and Opal Marie Truitt on July 20, 1943, in Lewiston, Idaho. She married Richard J. Blang on June 28, 1980. She enjoyed teddy bears, stuffed animals and singing. … Read more

Wagoner, Terry L. – Obituary

Terry L. Wagoner, 53, of Athena and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 23 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church in Pendleton with Pastor Mark Mullins officiating. An additional celebration of life will be planned at a later date in La Grande. Terry was born Oct. 24, 1954, to Paul D. and Barbara L. Newcomb Wagoner in La Grande. He attended area schools and graduated from Imbler High School in 1972. On Aug. 11, 1973, he married Tina Pugh in La Grande. Later that year, he began working … Read more

Streiff, Edward – Obituary

Services Tuesday For Edward Streiff Funeral services for Edward Streiff, 82, resident of 502 Spring St., who died Friday, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Funeral Home under auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Rev. Gordan Milldrum will officiate and burial takes place in Hillcrest cemetery. Born in Illinois, he was a member of the La Grande Lodge A.F. & A.M., Hope Chapter 13 Order of Eastern Star, Baker Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Al Kader Temple of the Shrine, and La Grande Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 9. Observer La Grande, Oregon Monday, November 29, 1965 Page … Read more

Luhrs, Sarah J. – Obituary

Sarah J. Luhrs, 88, formerly of North Powder and La Grande, died Tuesday March 11 in Eugene. A service will be start at noon Monday at West Lawn Funeral Home in Eugene. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon at West Lawn Funeral Home. Mrs. Luhrs was born March 1, 1920 in North Powder to Dick and Enolia (Gorham) Brothers. She married John Luhrs on Aug. 23, 1938 in Wallowa. They were married 47 years. John Luhrs died Feb. 16, 1984. She was a foster home care giver in La Grande, Corvallis, and Clarkston, Wash. She had lived in … Read more

Wise, James – Obituary

James Wise, of 905 Division St., died Monday, Aug. 25, at Grande Ronde Hospital. He was 90. Mr. Wise was born Feb. 24, 1890 in Marion County, Ky., the son of David Parker and Debby Ritter (Benningfield) Wise. He came to this area in 1904. He was married to Hattie Jeanette Dugan Oct. 3, 1914 at Summerville. She preceded her husband in death in 1975. Mr. Wise was a heavy equipment mechanic for Grande Ronde Lumber Co., and Mt. Emily Lumber Co. Survivors include his son Harold of La Grande, grandson James Calvin Wise of La Grande, and several nieces, … Read more

Burleigh, Eva L. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Eva L. Burleigh, 90, of Portland and a former long-time La Grande resident, died Wednesday at a Portland hospital. She was born on April 21, 1898 in Elgin to Dora and Fred Becker. She moved to La Grande from Enterprise in 1932. She was married to attorney Sylvester H. Burleigh who died Aug. 22, 1971. Mrs. Burleigh was past president of the American Legion Auxiliary of La Grande. She is survived by a daughter, Doris B. Kaiser, Portland; and grandchildren, Karen, Charles, and Clifford, Portland, and Mark and Mitchel Bass, Smyrna, GA. Private interment will … Read more

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

Maldonado, Audrey – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Audrey Maldonado, 89, of La Grande, died Feb. 28 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. March 16 at the La Grande Country Club, 10605 S. McAlister. Audrey was born Jan. 15, 1918, to L. W. and Adrian (House) Copeland in Pendleton. She was raised in Pendleton and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1935. After graduation she moved to the San Francisco Bay area to further her education and worked for several companies and at the 1938-1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island. While in California she met Jim Maldonado. They were married … Read more

Conaway, James Chancey – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Chancey Conaway passed away at his Portland home on April 16, 2004. He liked to be called “Jimbo” by his friends and family. He lived in Portland for a number of years. He also lived in La Grande and Baker City. He was born in Baker, now Baker City. In his early years he worked at construction jobs and also did janitor work for the school districts. He had lots of friends at his favorite place, Carrow’s Restaurant. He liked to chat with the waitresses and his friends. He’d spend lots of hours there. Everyone enjoyed … Read more

Conley, William ‘Tuck’ – Obituary

William “Tuck” Conley, 75, county maintenance employe of 2707 N. Fourth St., died Wednesday at Grande Ronde hospital. Services will be at Daniels Funeral Home, Saturday at 2 p.m. Rev. Danny Pyles will officiate and burial will be in Island City Cemetery. Mr. Conley was born in the Sand Ridge area of Union County and was a lifetime resident of the area. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Claudia Conley of La Grande; two brothers, Burl Conley of Cove and Jay Conley of La Grande; one sister, Mrs. Stella Grimmett of La Grande, and other relatives. Observer La Grande, Oregon Thursday, … Read more

Ragsdale, A. B. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs.. Anna H. Ragsdale Passes In Tacoma, Wash. Word that Mrs.. Anna Hadley Ragsdale, a daughter of one of the early pioneer families of this community, is dead in Tacoma, Wash., where she was making her home with a son has been received here. The body is to be shipped to La Grande for burial beside the decedent’s father and mother and her son, Leo Hearing, of an earlier marriage. Other details were not included in the message received by friends here. La Grande Evening Observer, Thursday, 28 January 1926, Page 1. Funeral services for the late Mrs. Anna B. … Read more

Wagner, Della – Obituary

Della Wagner Dies At Hospital Della C. Wagner, 82, resident of 1306 Fifth St., and a retired business woman, died at a local hospital Saturday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dempsey’s Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Keith Mills officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview cemetery. Born at Summerville July 28, 1878, Mrs. Wagner had resided in La Grande for 24 years. She was a member of the Methodist church, the Eastern Star and was past president of the Rebekah Assembly of Idaho. Mrs. Wagner and her husband operated a general store and ran the post office … Read more

Gaily, Christmas Jean (Tuttle) – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Christmas Jean (Tuttle) Gaily, 105, died Feb. 27 at a local care home. The burial will be private, and a memorial service is planned for a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Known as Jean, she was born Dec. 25, 1901, to Eddie Bruce and Verda Ethel (Woods) Tuttle on a farm in northwestern Union County. The farm was settled by her grandfather, Terry Tuttle, who came here by wagon train in 1862. She attended the one-room Willow Creek School through the seventh grade, and rode horseback to Imbler School … Read more

Kaup, George L. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon George L. Kaup of La Grande died at his home Saturday morning. He was 76. Mr. Kaup was born Sept. 20, 1909, at Agra,Okla., to Fred W. and Aurelia (Swigart) Kaup. On July 20, 1926, he married Twhellice Breedlove at Cushing, Okla. Mr. Kaup owned and operated College Grocery in La Grande until 1949 and then went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. He retired as an engineer in 1971. He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, the elks Club, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Golden Age … Read more

Neustel, Colleen Lyon – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Colleen Lyon Neustel, 71, of La Grande, died Jan. 7 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Neustel was born Sept. 12, 1935, in Promise to Gilbert and Sadie Carper Lyon. She was raised in Wallowa, graduating from Wallowa High School in 1953. She married Kendal Neustel and had four children. Mrs. Neustel lived in Wallowa and Union Counties all her life and had resided at 2102 Cove Ave. since 1969. Until poor … Read more

Satterwhite, Norma Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Norma Jean Satterwhite, 62, died Aug. 6 at her home in La Grande. A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth Street, La Grande. The Observer – August 8, 2008 ______________________________ Norma Jean Satterwhite, 62, of La Grande, died comfortably at her family’s home Aug. 6 in La Grande. A gathering of friends and family will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Norma was born in Los Angeles in 1964. She lived and attended school in Lancaster, Calif., graduating from high school in 1964. Norma lived … Read more

Province, Richard La Verne – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Richard “Dick” La Verne Province, 78, of Elgin, died Sept. 19 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Stampede Hall. Dick was born on Oct. 3, 1928, to Fred and Florence (Haustien) Province in Callaway, Neb. He served as a Seaman Second Class in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947. He was a long-time logger in Pierce, Idaho, La Grande, Elgin and Sumpter. He participated in all phases of the logging process and retired in 2006. He moved to Elgin from La Grande in 2005. Dick was a … Read more