Baker City, Oregon
Belva Harriet Staab, 94, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 8, 2003, at Bothell, Wash., where she was a resident of the Franciscan Health Nursing Home.
Disposition was by cremation at Acacia Memorial Park Funeral Home in Seattle, Wash. Her memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate.
Belva was born Jan. 5, 1909, to David and Harriet Scott of Ansley, Neb., where her family lived for many years. She was preceded in death by her brothers, George and Henry Scott; and sisters, Gladys Payne, Hazel Bristol and Evelyn Eloe.
She married Carlyle H. “Buster” Staab at Ansley, Neb., on March 25, l928. Carlyle died on Aug. 28, l990. After their marriage Carlyle and Belva moved to Lincoln, Neb., where they both attended the University of Nebraska. Carlyle played football for the university and received a commission in the U. S. Army upon graduation.
After Carlyle graduated from the University of Nebraska, he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps, and he and Belva lived at DeSoto, Paris and Monroe City, Mo.
When Carlyle went on active duty with the Army, they moved to Fort Smith, Ark., and Camp Chaffee Army Base. After completion of Army service, Carlyle and Belva moved to Baker City, where they lived for 40 years.
Belva was active in the Missouri Flat Grange, the Methodist Church and as a bookkeeper for Carlyle’s businesses. She was also involved in numerous other civic activities. Some years after retirement, they moved to Grande Ronde Retirement Center in La Grande.
After Carlyle’s death, Belva moved to an adult foster home. During retirement years, their love of family and roots took them back to Nebraska for several family reunions and other visits.
As her health failed, she moved to her son Tom’s assisted care home at Kennewick, Wash., and then to Bothell, Wash., when Tom moved his family there.
Survivors include her son, Carlyle D. Staab and his wife, Susan, of Chehalis, Wash., and their children, David Staab of Auburn, Wash., Ken Staab of Marysville, Wash., Laurie Painter of Amity, and Brad Staab of Chehalis, Wash.; her son Richard G. Staab and his wife, Joan, of La Grande, and their children, Larry Staab of Keizer, Bob Staab of Portland, and Sandra Staab of La Grande; her son, Thomas Staab, and his wife, Barbara of Bothell, Wash., and their children, David and Jennifer Staab, also of Bothell; and 13 great-grandchildren, with another one due in June.
Memorials for both Carlyle and Belva are being established by the children at the Baker Sports Complex and the Baker United Methodist Church. Send memorials to Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 16, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor