Delma Dorthy Miles, 91, a lifetime Baker County resident, died April 24, 2009, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise with family members at her side.
A wake is scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Interment will be at the Sumpter Cemetery. There will be a reception and lunch afterward at McEwen Bible Fellowship Church.
Delma was born on Feb. 20, 1918, on the family homestead at Pleasant Valley. She was fifth in a family of seven children born to Ellis and Alteeny Rambo Hesner.
Her first years of grade school were at Pleasant Valley. After the family moved to Sumpter Valley her education continued at McEwen.
The Hesner family members were “regulars” at Saturday night dances where Delma met Kenneth Miles. They were married on Oct. 22, 1938, and lived at McEwen and Curry, a Sumpter Valley Railroad logging camp. After the war years, they moved to the Miles family ranch 13 miles south of Baker City on Highway 7 where they ranched and logged and raised their four children, Keith, Myron, Karen and Myrna.
Delma was a hard worker and very active her entire life. She and Kenneth had a love of life and a joy in working together, a legacy that they have passed on to their children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Throughout their 56 years together, they always had a project including completely rebuilding a D-6 Cat when most people are wanting to retire. In the early 1960s they bought 520 acres in Baker Valley dubbed “The Plantation.” Delma spent many long days helping develop those acres of sagebrush and anthills into farm ground. They had the first wheel line irrigation and first “bale wagon” in Baker Valley.
Delma loved being astride a horse, going fishing, and she was an avid hunter and a crack shot. She was a 4-H horse club leader and she and Kenny were active in the Oregon Trail Riders.
She was a member of the Baker County Cow Belles and the Baker County Cattle Women. She was a 50-year member of Alpine Chapter of Eastern Star where she was past worthy matron and also served as grand electa of the Grand Chapter of Oregon Eastern Star.
Delma made friends easily and she was known for her love of music and dancing. She was faithful and generous in loving acts of care for elderly friends and family members. Her last six years of life were made special with the close friendship and companionship of her loving brother-in-law, Norman Miles.
Survivors include her children, Keith and Anita Miles of Baker City, Myron and Dotty Miles of North Powder, and Myrna and Ralph Morgan of Bowen Valley near Baker City; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; her daughter, Karen Sipp; her parents; her four sisters and two brothers; her second husband of seven years, Joe Harrison; and one great-great-grandson, Isaac.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or Oregon Eastern Star Cancer Research Fund through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR, 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 30, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor