Pitts, Eleanor Marie Franklin Mrs. – Obituary

Eleanor Marie Franklin Pitts, 81, a former Baker City resident, died April 14, 2006, in Upland, Calif. Her funeral was held April 21 at Eagle Point. Pastor Lee Gregory of the Medford Neighborhood Church officiated. Internment was in the National Cemetery in Eagle Point beside her husband, a veteran of World War II. Arrangements were by Memory Gardens Mortuary, Medford. Mrs. Pitts was born in Pendleton on Sept. 7, 1924. She spent her early years in Baker City, attending Baker schools. She married Elton Best in 1942 and that union produced three children. They were later divorced, at which time … Read more

Bowman, Eugenia Decravel Hunot Blanchett – Obituary

Mrs. Walter S. Bowman, 79, Pendleton resident since 1901, well known here, died Sunday morning [December 5, 1954] in St. Anthony’s Hospital after an illness of 17 days. Mrs. Bowman, formerly Eugenia Ellenberger [adopted name] was born in Berne, Switzerland, and first came to Umatilla County when she was 13, living in Pilot Rock with her mother the last Mrs. Fritz Ellenberger. She came here in 1901. She and the late Mr. Bowman, a pioneer photographer, were married in 1934. She was a member of the First Christian Church, the Rebekah Lodge, and the Pioneer Ladies Club. Surviving relatives are … Read more

Wood, James Franklin – Obituary

James F. Wood passed away at Wallowa, Tuesday, May 03, 1938. He was born in Bloomington, Illinois, August 25, 1881, a son of George and Nancy (Bunney) Wood. Most of his younger days were spent in Nebraska. He was married to Clara Lureene Womack January 14, 1919 at Pendleton and Marjorie Ellen, Sarah La Vonne and Leland James were born to them. The family resided in Princeton, Idaho a short time, coming to Wallowa County the last time six years ago, and this has been his home since. His health had been very poor for several years, but he was … Read more

Bowman, Laura Evalena Stickler – Obituary

Mrs. O. P. Bowman, long time resident of Umatilla county, died on Sunday morning [August 31, 1930] at 7:00 at St. Anthony’s hospital after an illness of three weeks. Mrs. Bowman was 62 years of age, being born in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, on January 20, 1868. She crossed the plains at the age of 15 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Stickler. The family settled in Vancouver, Washington, later moving to Pendleton. She was married to Mr. Bowman on April 26, 1891 in Vancouver, WA. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Roy, Oscar, Hugh, … Read more

Akes, Esther Elaine – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Esther Elaine Akes of Milton-Freewater died June 27, 2006, at Evergreen Nursing Home. She was 86. Mrs. Akes was born August 23, 1919 in Pendleton to James Wallace and Lucia Mae Tilton Spencer. On February 27, 1943, she married Charles Leonard Akes, Sr. at Olympia, Wash. She worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle as a “Rosie the Riveter,” putting the metal skin on B-17 bombers, while her husband served overseas during World War II. After the war the couple ranched in Bickleton and Roosevelt, Wash and Mrs. Akes started Oasis Aviaries, marketing her birds in the area. They … Read more

Yokom, Mary Magdeline Van Beveren Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Magdeline Yokom, 88, of Pendleton, and a former Baker City resident, died April 16, 2001, at Covenant Care Homes in Pendleton. Recitation of the rosary will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave. in Hermiston. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Burial will follow at Hermiston Cemetery. Mrs. Yokom was born Nov. 5, 1912, at Empire, Mich., to Adolph and Elodie (Schonbert) Van Beveren. She grew up in Baker City and attended St. Francis Academy, where she excelled in playing … Read more

Vernholm, Willard Dale – Obituary

Willard Dale Vernholm, 73, of Baker City, died Sept. 25, 2005, at Idlewood Manor. At his request there will be no services. Cremation by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Dale was born on Feb. 11, 1932, in York, Neb., to Carl Willard and Lois Louetta Middleton Vernholm. When Dale was about 4 years old the family moved to Corvallis. He attended school at Lewisburg and Corvallis High School. In 1947, at 15, Dale’s family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. When Dale was only 16, but needing to be 18, he lied about his age and went to work for the Payette … Read more

Fischer, Kimberly Dawn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kimberly Dawn Fischer, 47, of Marysville, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died Sept. 9 at her home of natural causes. A service will be begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Marysville Senior Community Center, 514 Delta St. A memorial in Oregon will be conducted at a later date. Mrs. Fischer was born April 22, 1959, to Donna and Jerry Martin in Pendleton. She attended school in La Grande, and married Randy McKinnis. On April 28, 2002, she married Craig Fischer. She worked in food and beverage management for many years. She enjoyed rock and gem … Read more

Rhodes, William R. – Obituary

William R. Rhodes, a farmer in this area the last 50 years, died at Good Shepherd Hospital here Thursday [December 28, 1961] at the age of 90. Mr. Rhodes was born April 17, 1891, in Kansas. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church. Survivors include a nephew, Ralph Moody of Pendleton; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Al Moody of Pendleton; and two nieces, Bulah Harover and Margaret Melton. Funeral notice is in today’s paper. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Smith, Albert Britton – Obituary

Albert Britton Smith, 90, of Pendleton, a former Baker City resident and Safeway manager, died Feb. 2, 2001, at Willowbrook Terrace in Pendleton. His graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Smith was born on July 7, 1910, at Durango, Colo., to William Albert and Jessie Farrell Smith. He married Marguerite L. Coleman on Nov. 29, 1935, at Weiser, Idaho. The couple lived in Baker City for many years where he managed the Safeway store. He also was manager of Safeway in La Grande. During World War II, he left his job in La … Read more

Biography of Herman Rothchild

HERMAN ROTHCHILD. – Some of the leading mercantile and business establishments of Union county have been energized and built up largely by the new power infused into them from the later immigrants from the east, who brought with them from those centers of industry to these western points of distribution the sagacity, and successful methods of trade that have been learned by close and careful contact with keen competition and the wisest manipulators of finance and commerce. Among those who have made names for themselves and who have become established in the confidence of the people while they have built … Read more

Bowman, Josephine Rothlin – Obituary

Josephine “Josie” Bowman, 92, of Pendleton, died Saturday, April 24, 1993, at Delamarter Care Center in Pendleton. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bishop Funeral Chapel with interment at Olney Cemetery. Mrs. Bowman was born May 24, 1900, at Pendleton to Joseph and Minnie Gottfredsen Rothlin. She was raised on Upper McKay Creek and attended both McKay and Shaw schools. On Sept. 15, 1924, she married Kenneth E. Bowman at Pendleton. After their marriage, they lived at South Cold Spring before moving to the Enterprise-Lostine area for a short time. They returned to Pendleton where they lived for … Read more

Cleveland, Michael Gene – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Michael Gene Cleveland, 34, of La Grande died Aug. 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday Aug. 5 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mr. Cleveland was born July 25, 1972, to Robert and Deborah Beickel Cleveland in Medford. The family moved to Pendleton and then settled in La Grande in 1973. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1990 and from Eastern Oregon State College in 1995. On Aug., 30, 2003, he married Elizabeth Canfield in La Grande. He worked for Boise … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Boyce

JOHN H. BOYCE, – The vicissitudes and characteristic frontier life of this redoubtable miner and freighter are not easily expressed in a few sentences. He was born in Vermont in 1832, and in 1850 came around Cape Horn to California. The succession of his labors thereafter is thus stated; In 1851, he mined on the Stanislaus; in 1852 was freighting with a sixteen-mule team from Stockton to various points; in 1860 was hauling quartz in Nevada; in 1862 came to Elk Creek mines, Eastern Oregon; in 1863 was at Bannack, mining and packing; from 1864 to 1869 was engaged as … Read more

Bowman, LeRoy – Obituary

Funeral services for LeRoy Bowman, well-known Butter Creek rancher, will be conducted at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Folsom Chapel, here by the Rev. O. D. Harris, Christian Church minister. Ted Roy will sing. [Interment at Olney Cemetery.] Mr. Bowman, 55, died at St. Anthony’s hospital yesterday [May 14, 1947]. He was born Feb. 15, 1892 near Pendleton to the late Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Bowman, Umatilla County pioneers, who came to Oregon with their parents when they were both small children. Mr. Bowman was educated in the Pendleton and Portland schools and Feb. 28, 1914 married Gladys Van Orsdall, … Read more

Stahl, Donald – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Donald “Don” Stahl, 57, of Pendleton, died May 15 in a Richland, Wash., hospital. Funeral services were held today in the Burns Mortuary of Pendleton chapel. Don was born Aug. 4, 1950, to David and Lorna (Hallmark) Stahl in Cove. He was raised and educated in Cove. After high school, he enlisted into the United States Navy and served his country during the Vietnam Conflict. He won the National Defense Service Medal as well as the Bronze Star. After his discharge he returned to Cove for a time before he moved to Pendleton. He then began working as … Read more

Murray, Clifford G. – Obituary

Clifford G. Murray, 83, of Pendleton, a former Baker City police chief, died May 8, 2008, at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Faith Center Church, 108 S. Main St., in Pendleton. Cliff was born on April 14, 1925, at Perry to Levi Garrett Murray and Zrietta Morris Murray. He was the youngest of four children. He moved to Pendleton after his parents divorced. He was raised and educated at Pendleton. After a few years, his mother married Fred Kofford. They had a son, Jerry, giving Cliff a younger brother … Read more

Warner, Frederick Smith – Obituary

Frederick S. Warner, for twenty-two-years a resident of this county, aged about 72, and the father of Kenneth G. Warner, president of the Umatilla County Woolgrowers’ Association, passed away at his home in Freewater on the 17th [May 1911], and was buried in Olney Cemetery last evening, with the Episcopal service. Rev. Charles Quinney officiating. Mr. Warner was born in Vermont and engaged in business in that state before coming to Oregon. Upon his arrival here he and his brother, A. P. Warner, became partners in the sheep industry in which he continued until his health failed some twenty years … Read more

Molstrom, Elsie Lee Bowman – Obituary

Elsie Lee Molstrom, 85, died early Sunday morning [July 31, 1966] at the home of her son, Frank. Mrs. Molstrom was born in Pendleton Oct. 13, 1880. She was married to Abe Molstrom at Lee’s Crossing, now known as Sparks Station, June 16, 1901. He died June 2, 1946. She was the daughter of William Bowman and Xantippe Bowman. Survivors besides the son are a daughter, Daphne Schwenn of Seattle, Wash., and a sister, Rova Bomboy of Pendleton. Funeral notice will be published later. Burns Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. [Interment at Olney Cemetery.] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Graven, Geraldine “Gerry” Betsinger Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Geraldine “Gerry” Graven, 85, a longtime Richland resident, died April 26, 2005, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Father Rob Irwin of St. Francis Catholic Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. There will be a reception afterward at the Eagle Valley Grange in Richland. Gerry was born on May 30, 1919, at Pendleton. She married Herbert Betsinger in 1938. She married Walter Graven on Jan. 22, 1944. … Read more