Dennis L. Bales, 61, a former Baker City resident, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at Good Shephard Hospital in Hermiston.
His funeral will be at at 11 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. There will a military service at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Dennis was born at Prairie City to Robert T. and Lila G. Friedly Bales on Nov. 16, 1945. He attended all 12 years of schooling in Baker City.
Dennis had an outgoing personality, enjoyed playing sports and served as student body president. He worked at J.C. Penney while in high school and remained friends with the manager and co-workers.
Dennis attended one year at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, but then was drafted into the Vietnam war where he served as a military policeman with headquarters in Saigon. While home on leave in 1966 he married his sweetheart, Rosanna Fenicottero at Payette, Idaho.
After returning from Vietnam, Dennis worked for lumber companies in Payette, Boise, and Portland and then retired from Hughes Payless Lumber Co. in Hermiston.
In the last years of his life one of his greatest joys was the arrival of a hummingbird he named Hunny. Each year she returned to build her nest and raise her family.
Dennis enjoyed watching her antics such as when she would flutter outside his window until he filled up her feeder. He anticipated her return each year and was quite concerned this year because she arrived a little late.
Dennis enjoyed the love of a second family when on July 6, 1991, he was married to Glenda G. Kloster at the historical St. Peter’s Catholic Church in The Dalles. She died on Feb. 10, 1998. Added to this marriage were five stepchildren, Mark Rogers, Sheri Buschke, Marti Porter, Todd Rogers and Heidi Hug; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family expressed a special thanks go to Heidi, Dave, and their three children, Samantha, Pamela and Logan, for making Dennis their special Dad and Grandpa.
Dennis was also preceded in death by his nephew, Kevin Moyes; his parents; and his sister, Roberta Bard, and her husband, Wayne.
Survivors include three children from his first marriage: two sons, Dean Bales and Chris Bales and his wife, Karla, of Payette, Idaho, and daughter, Colette of Lewiston, Idaho; four grandchildren, Jake Bales, Elijah and Ryan Bales, Tyler Bales and a special person, Tammy and her two children; two sisters, Sally Farmer and Patricia Moyes of Baker City; one brother, Darrell Bales, and his wife, Bertha, also of Baker City; nieces, Karen Eck and Kay Patterson; nephews, Kip Farmer, Michael Moyes, Brad and Brian Bales and Ray Patrick; the Rogers family as mentioned above; special friends, Cari and Fran. The family also extends a special thanks to his caregiver, Doris Kimbell.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to help with his sister Patty Moyes’ alternative cancer treatment.
There will be a basket at the church for Patty’s fund or contact the family for a mailing address.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 25, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor