Umatilla County OR

Nelson, Maria Hilda Molstrom – Obituary

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton, for Maria Hilda Nelson, Pendleton. Mrs. Nelson, 96, died Monday [December 9, 1974] at St. Anthony Hospital. She had lived in Umatilla County for 84 years. She was born at Centerville, Wash., Feb. 9, 1878. She was married Sept. 5, 1897, to David H. Nelson. He died in May 1939 and a son, Harry in 1960. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson farmed on the Umatilla Indian Reservation for a short time after their marriage, then in 1900 started farming on Cold Springs. Mrs. Nelson was a … Read more

Dickson, Mary Ellen – Obituary

Mary Ellen Dickson, 73, of La Grande, died March 7 following an extended illness. Mary was born May 13,1934, in Atlanta, Kan., to Charles and Alma Cunningham. The family moved to Weiser, Idaho, where she attended school. She married Frank Dickson of Homedale, Idaho, on Aug. 3, 1952. Mary and Frank moved to Umatilla, where Frank was employed at the Army Ordnance Depot. Following this, the family moved to Kinzua in Wheeler County, then to La Grande, where Frank worked for Boise Cascade and Mary for Sprouse-Reitz for many years. Mary was devoted to her family and enjoyed activities that … 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

Molstrom, Henry W. – Obituary

Funeral for Henry Molstrom of Pendleton, who died Friday night [September 12, 1975] at St. Anthony Hospital, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Burns Mortuary. He was born at Athena, February 9, 1891. He moved to DeSpain Gulch with his parents, Henry and Margaret Tengman Molstrom, who secured a homestead in 1898, and the same year purchased the Hartwell ranch. His parents built a new home in DeSpain Gulch in 1905. Mr. Molstrom farmed the home place until 1968, when he retired and moved to Pendleton. He was a member of the Elks, a life member of the Round-Up … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Jones

NELSON JONES. – Mr. Jones, one of the largest stock-raisers of Eastern Oregon, having besides his interest at Heppner, Oregon, large holdings on the main Malheur, was born in 1840 in Fleming county, Kentucky. Remaining there until 1849, he moved with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until 1858. In that year he left the paternal roof, and made the journey to Pike’s Peak, but continued on to Shasta county, California. In that county he engaged in mining, but in 1860 sought a more tranquil life, coming to Polk county, Oregon, and engaging in farming until 1866. In the … Read more

Lee, William – Obituary

At his residence on Birch Creek, Nov. 20th [1884], William Lee. Funeral at the house today at 11 a.m. William was born April 26, 1839 in Bartholomew Co., IN. He married Amy Lee on February 21, 1858 in Mahaska Co., Fremont, IA. Amy was only 15 and William was 19 years old when they married. In 1862 they came west to Oregon. Amy and William moved to Pendleton in 1869. Lee’s Crossing was named after William Lee. It is rather shocking that only a one line obituary was written. He and his mother and father-in-law, Mary and J. J. Lee, … Read more

Day, Chad Eric – Obituary

Chad Eric Day, 30, of Redmond, died August 15, 2003. A visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, 685 W. Hermiston Ave. A gathering will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the home of Vicki and Mike Koontz, 924 W. Alder St. in Hermiston. Private inurnment will be held at the Hermiston Cemetery. Chad was born Oct. 17, 1972, at Hermiston to Bob and Vicki Clark Day. He was raised and grew up in Hermiston, where he enjoyed playing baseball and soccer and attended Hermiston … Read more

Loney, Hazel Velma Wright – Obituary

Hazel Loney, 93, of 534 Boyer Ave. died Thursday [May 31] at the Odd Fellows Home. She had been a resident there for the past two years. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home Chapel, Milton-Freewater. Rev. Edward Morrison will officiate. Mrs. Loney was born March 17, 1891, in Umapine, Ore., to Robert and Frances Dugger Wright. She lived in Umapine for 10 years, then moved to Walla Walla and attended elementary schools here and Walla Walla High School. In 1918 she married Charles Loney in Pendleton. They farmed in Oregon, and also leased … Read more

Schmitz, John – Obituary

Death Claims John Schmitz, 96, Local Banker Long Career in Banking Spanned Fifty-Four Years; Came to Baker in 1889 Baker City’s oldest banking figure, John Schmitz, 96, died Wednesday at his home. He had been in failing health for sometime but had remained interested in current events until his death. Mr. Schmitz was born in Communia, Iowa, March 31, 1865, the son of Gearhardt and Elizabeth Schmitz. He came west to Pendleton in 1887 and on to Baker in 1889. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and had always taken an interest in civic affairs. He was first … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Rogers

NELSON ROGERS. – Born on a farm in Vermont in 1841, and early apprenticed to the trade of chair-making, Mr. Rogers determined to come to this coast, and arriving in California in 1858, there engaging in placer mining, and farming for the space of eight years. The discontinuance of his residence below was immediately succeeded by a removal to the Granite creek district, in Eastern Oregon, where he followed mining until 1873, when he located at Burke’s Hollow and farmed until 1882. Converting his entire property into money, he made advantageous loans until the reinvestment of his capital in a … Read more

Kononen, Norma Catherine Hunt – Obituary

Norma C. Kononen, 67, of Helix, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1992, at Amber Valley Care Center in Pendleton. A graveside funeral service will be held at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Friends may call at Burns Mortuary of Pendleton between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday. Mrs. Kononen was born May 19, 1925 at Athena to Frederick P. and Lulu Campbell Hunot. On Aug. 24, 1945, she married George L. Kononen at Walla Walla [married in Pendleton]. She had been a resident of Helix since 1945 and was deputy clerk for the Helix School District … Read more

Biography of William F. Smith, M. D.

The state of Idaho, with its pulsing industrial activities and rapid development, has attracted within its confines men of marked ability and high character in the various professional lines, and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability fostered. He whose name initiates this review has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of the state, and by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public. A representative physician and surgeon of Mountain Home, … Read more

Biography of Judge James H. Fee

JUDGE JAMES H. FEE. – The present judge of the circuit court of the sixth judicial district, although having attained an eminent position is still a young man, having been born in Wisconsin in 1858. His early opportunities were of the best character. At the upper Iowa University of Fayetteville, and at Waterloo, Iowa, he laid the foundations of his education. Coming to California in 1873, he completed his course at San Jose’, and began the study of law, enjoying in his preparatory work the instructions of a priest of that city; and in 1880, at Walla Walla, he concluded … Read more

Hunt, Allene J. Culbertson Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Allene J. Culbertson Hunt, 81, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 11, 2005, at Walla Walla,Wash. Burial was Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Her memorial service was Sept. 24 at the First Christian Church in Pendleton. Pastor Marc Mullins officiated. Allene was born March 15, 1924, at Baker City to Percy and Lelia Culbertson. She was a 1942 Baker High School graduate. As a pianist, she participated in several dance orchestras during her years in Baker City. During World War II, Allene joined the Cadet Nurses Corps. She took her training in Tacoma,Wash. She … Read more

Owen, Eldon Earl – Obituary

Eldon Earl Owen, 59, a longtime resident of Pendleton, died Aug. 7, 2007, at his home. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Eldon was born Feb. 4, 1948, to Leon L. and Charlotte (Millman) Owen in Baker City. He was raised and educated in Baker City, and graduated from Baker High School. He joined the U.S. Army in 1965 and served two and a half years in Germany, toured two active duties in Vietnam, served as Sergeant E-5, and was highly decorated. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1974. He was employed by Lam … Read more

Bowman, Walter Scott – Obituary

Walter S. Bowman, 76, native of Pendleton, was fatally injured and his wife suffered concussion of the brain as well as lacerations in an automobile accident on the Old Oregon Trail yesterday [November 27, 1938] at 3:15 p.m. when the car, driven by Mr. Bowman, skidded on the icy highway and plunged over an embankment at a point some 10 miles east of here. Mr. Bowman’s neck was broken and he died on the way to the hospital, where he and Mrs. Bowman were brought by passing motorists. Mrs. Bowman’s condition is very favorable, said a report from the hospital … Read more

Davis, Jack Burton “Ripper” – Obituary

Jack Burton “Ripper” Davis, 54, of Hermiston, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 31, 2005, at his home. There will be a celebration of his life later. His wish was to be cremated and to have his cremains placed in Crater Lake. Jack was born on March 6, 1951, at Silsbee, Texas, to Virgil Victor and Ruth Magdalene Park Davis. He was raised at Honey Island, Texas. He loved hunting and fishing in the piney woods of east Texas and especially at the hunting club at Hardin County. His parents owned and operated barbecue restaurants, which Jack and his … Read more

Forthman, Charles O. – Obituary

Charles O. Forthman died May 12, 2007, at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. He was 85. Mr. Forthman was born in a log house April 21, 1922, in Flora to William T. and Margery M. Ager Forthman. In 1940 he went to National Youth Association School in Pendleton for mechanics in heavy equipment and truck driving. In 1943 he attended five weeks of school for heavy equipment and truck driving. During World War II he was drafted in the Army Air Force and received his honorable discharge in January 1946. Mr. Forthman served … Read more

Cushman, Vivianne Velma Allison Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Vivianne Cushman, 92, died April 7, 2006, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and J.O. Maxwell of Haines. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be at Hermiston. Her other survivors include six grandchildren and their spouses: Kathie Maxwell and husband, Bruce Sickles, of Albuquerque, N.M., Howard Maxwell and Debbie Maxwell of Beaumont, Texas, Mark Sharp of Winnemucca, Nev., Raymond Sharp and Ginger Sharp, both of Tucson, Ariz., and George and Staci Sharp of Pullman, Wash.; and several great- and great-great- grandchildren. Vivianne was preceded in death her brother, Kenneth Robert Allison; a daughter, … Read more

Waid, Lloyd Alvin – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lloyd Alvin Waid, 93, died on July 30 at a care center in La Grande. A graveside service was conducted for the family at Stanfield Cemetery this morning. A celebration of life will take place at the Ukiah Senior Center for all of Lloyd’s friends and family. Time and date will be announced later. Lloyd was born Feb. 27, 1914, to Eda Frederickson and Claude J. Waid in Stanfield. The family moved to Sand Hollow on a homestead and raised wheat. Because Lloyd’s mother died in 1924 when Lloyd was 10 years old, he was raised by … Read more