Ontario Oregon

Jacobson, Ruth – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Oscar Jacobson Jr. died at the hospital in Ontario, Saturday, Dec. 24 following a very short illness. She took sick suddenly and was taken to the Ontario hospital where she was operated on three times but they were not successful. Ruth Watkins was born in La Grande in 1902 and has lived in this community practically her entire life where she was well known and highly respected by all. She was married to Oscar Jacobson Jr. in 1920. She is survived by her husband, also her father, two sisters and five brothers, her mother, … Read more

Weber, James S. “Jim” – Obituary

Richland, Oregon James S. “Jim” Weber, 85, died Jan. 1, 2002, at his home in Richland with his family by his side. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Richland Methodist Church. The Rev. Bill Shields will officiate. Interment will be in the Eagle Valley Cemetery at Richland. Jim was born on March 19, 1916, at Brownsville. He was a 1938 graduate of the University of Oregon at Eugene and shortly afterward married Florence Staggs. They moved to Baker County in 1940 and became partners in Staggs and Weber, a prominent cattle and sheep ranch in the … Read more

True, Etta Severns Mrs. – Obituary

Etta Severns True, 87, a former Baker City resident, died April 1, 2002, at Hermiston. Her graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Susan Barnes of the Presbyterian Church will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mrs. True was born on July 20, 1914, at Dillon, Mont., to James Monroe Severns and Myrtle Olive Jones Severns. She was a 1933 graduate of La Grande High School and then attended Drapers School of Commerce in La Grande. She married Glen True on Aug. 16, 1941, … Read more

Coles, Roger Duane Obituary

Haines, Oregon Roger Duane Coles, 86, of Vancouver, Wash., and a former Baker and Haines resident, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003. A celebration of life ceremony was held to honor him on Saturday, Jan. 25. The service was held at 3 p.m. at Felida Baptist Church located in Vancouver, Wash. Born in Haines, on June 2, 1916, he graduated from Haines High School and later attended Brooks Institute of Photography. He received an Honorary Master of Science in Photography from Brooks in 2001 for representing “our craft with diligence, fortitude, honesty, service, and … Read more

Phelps, James LeRoy Jr. – Obituary

Dad went to visit his Father in Heaven on October 8, 2007 after a brief illness. James was born in Weldona, Colorado on March 26, 1928 to James “Lee” and Gladys “Bernice” Phelps. The family arrived in Idaho in the late 1930’s, and he was raised on a farm on the hill outside of Roswell, Idaho. He graduated from Wilder High School spring of 1946 and entered the Navy that fall. He served his country in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S Midway. During those years he corresponded with Dorothy Burt and upon returning from the Navy he married Dorothy on … Read more

Dillman-Van Vleck, Luana Marie Baze Mrs.

Luana Marie Dillman-Van Vleck, 77, died Aug. 24, 2004, at Holy Rosary Hospital in Ontario, where she had been hospitalized the past few days for flu-like symptoms. Luana will be remembered in the Baker City and Halfway areas as Luana Dillman, and the mother of Walt Dillman Jr., Sammy (Nancy Dillman) Mercer, Lonnie Dillman and Dock Dillman. Luana’s graveside memorial service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Pastor Bill Shields of the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church will officiate. Interment will follow the services. Luana, the daughter of Dock and Armilda Baze, was born Sept. … Read more

Hoffman, Alvin C. “Si” – Obituary

Alvin C. “Si” Hoffman, 87, of Ontario, a former Baker County resident, died July 23, 2004, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. (MDT) Wednesday at Park Community Church in Ontario. Pastor Ed Renk will officiate. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Ontario. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight (MDT) at Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. Si was born at Powell, Wyo., on May 10, 1917, to Charles and Myrtle Hoffman. The family moved to Ontario in 1918. Si attended Cairo Elementary School and was an Ontario High School graduate. He married Maxine Cartwright in 1938. Si … Read more

Biography of Richard S. Rutherford

As a man among men, possessed of integrity, ability and perseverance; as a soldier, whose steady and constant service in the struggle for the punishment of treason and the wiping out of the insult to the stars and stripes was valiant and brave; as a business operator, whose wisdom and enterprise have been well manifested: the subject of this sketch stands, and it is fitting that a representation of him be granted space in this volume of Malheur’s history. Richard S. was born in Armagh county, near Bellfast, Ireland, on February 22, 1840, being the son of Thomas and Amelia … Read more

Pallis, Zella May Fisher Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Zella May Pallis, 78, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died June 7, 2001, at home with her family by her side. Visitations will be from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Colonial DeWitt Funeral Home at Walla Walla, Wash. There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mountain View Cemetery at Walla Walla. Mrs. Pallis was born on May 14, 1923, at Clayton, Idaho, to Guennie Fisher Geist and William Fisher. She married Woodrow Davis in 1941. He died in 1952. She then met Anthony John Pallis of Walla Walla, Wash. They were … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Farley

James H. Farley has led a life of activity and filled with enterprising and various labors, during which, also, he has manifested those rare qualities of integrity, up rightness, and perseverance, which together with his wise methods of procedure and Industry, have given him the competence of a prosperous business man and owner of real property. James H. was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 15, 1858, being the son of Patrick and Catherine Farleu, who settled at Dubuque when it was but a small hamlet, being natives of New York; state. The father served three years in the Civil … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charlie E. Amidon

This well known and representative farmer and stockman is a substantial and enterprising citizen of Malheur County, dwelling near Ontario, five and one-half miles southwest, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, well tilled and improved with buildings, orchards, and so forth in addition to which he owns one hundred acres of land in another place, besides other property. The birth of Mr. Amidon occurred at Flenn, Allegan County, Michigan in 1860, August 23, being the son of Edson and Electa (Tracy) Amidon. The father enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Michigan in October, 1861. He … Read more

Robertson, Helen Mae – Obituary

Helen Mae Robertson Dies after brief illness; Funeral Services Sunday. Miss Helen Mae Robertson, 14, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Robertson, died at the Holy Rosary Hospital Friday after an illness of five days. She was taken ill with appendicitis Sunday and rushed to the hospital, where an emergency operation was performed, during which it was discovered that peritonitis had set in, and hope for her recovery was deemed slight. Her father, Traffic Officer J. A. Robertson, was called from La Grande and reached here before she passed away. Funeral services were held from the St. Matthews … Read more

Forthman, Mable Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Services for Mable Forthman, of Ontario, who died Tuesday, May 10, 1983 at an Ontario, Oregon hospital, were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 13, 1983 at the Ontario ………. Chapel. (article smeared and unable to read minister’s name and name of church) Interment followed at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. She was born on January 3, 1902 in La Grande, Oregon, the daughter of James and Nancy ??(last name smeared). She was raised and educated in Day Ridge and La Grande. She married William T. Forthman on December 24, 1920 in Flora. They lived in … Read more

Holland, Edward A. – Obituary

Edward A. Holland, 71, of New Bridge, died on March 25, 2005, at the emergency room of St. Elizabeth Health Services en route home from St Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute at Fruitland. At his request, there will be no funeral. Edward Arlen was born on Feb. 18, 1934, at Ontario to May and William W. Holland of Harper. He attended Harper Grade School, and then in 1947 went to the New Bridge Grade School when his father transferred with the state Highway Division from Harper to Richland. Ed attended Eagle Valley High School at Richland for four years, graduating … Read more

Biography of Erwin A. Rieger

The subject of this sketch is one of the younger men who have achieved brilliant success in the business world of the west, being located in Ontario, where he has an important interest in the Oregon Forwarding Company. one of the largest general merchandise establishments of the eastern part of Oregon, which owes much of its unbounded success to the keen business ability- and fine executive force of Mr. Rieger. The birth of Erwin A. occurred in Ludwigburg, Germany, on January 28, 1873, being the son of Frederick J. and Mary (Kiesel) Rieger. The father was a leading attorney of … Read more

Smurthwaite, Paul Rey – Obituary

Paul Rey Smurthwaite, 72, a former Baker City resident, died peacefully at his home on April 5, 2006 after a battle with cancer. There will be a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. Monday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15555 S.W. 98th St., in Tigard. Paul was born on Feb. 24, 1934, at Baker City to Jesse Abraham and Zina Smurthwaite. He was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in Baker City where he enjoyed gymnastics, bowling, camping, fishing and hunting. He served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Korean conflict. … Read more

Fisher, David Cyrus – Obituary

Pioneer Who Crossed The Plains in 1859 Dies At Ontario  David Cyrus Fisher, resident of Oregon since 1862, died at Ontario, April 17, aged 75 years. Mr. Fisher was a native of Illinois and crossed Hate plains in 1859 to California, coming from that state to Oregon in 1862. He first settled in the Willamette Valley, later moving to the Grande Ronde Valley, where he passed the later years of his life. Mr. Fisher is survived by nine children; Hiram Fisher and Harvey Fisher of Wallowa; Mrs. Phemina Forman of Bidwell, Cal; Mrs. Mattie Henely, Portland; Mrs. Mary McKennon, Otis … Read more

Dinger, Margaret Hack Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Margaret Hack Smith Dinger, 84, of Ontario, died Sept. 9, 2003, at her home after an illness. At her request, there will be no funeral. Burial is under the direction of Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. Margaret was born on Jan. 20, 1919, at Jasper. She was the fourth daughter of Loyal R. and Frona Hills Hack. She graduated from high school at Springfield and later attended the University of Oregon at Eugene. She married Goff M. Smith in 1938. She worked in accounting for the U.S. Forest Service for many years, retiring in 1981. Goff died in 1975. She married Lloyd … Read more

Randall, Marjorie Baird Mrs. – Obituary

Marjorie Baird Randall, 90, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died March 2, 2002, at the Presbyterian Community Care Center in Ontario where she had been a resident for the past five years. Private cremation was under the direction of the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel in Ontario. Her memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the Presbyterian Community Care Center in Ontario. Interment for her and her husband, Jim, will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Marjorie and her twin sister, Margaret, were born to Frank D. Baird and Mary Lee Huyette Baird on Oct. 30, … Read more

Cole, Erma Willey Mrs. – Obituary

Erma Cole, 95, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2005, in a care home at Aloha. She was born on Feb. 26, 1909, and was raised at Baker City. She was the 11th child of Eva Lovina and John Dexter Willey. She was a tomboy growing up. She loved reading history and graduated from Baker High School. She met Leonard “Doc” Cole at a Grange Hall dance at Hereford where she was visiting a sister. Doc was working on the highway construction at that time. They were married on Feb. 2, 1929, at his sister’s home in Vale. … Read more