Baker City, Oregon
William Martin “Bill” Munkers, 77, of Baker City, died Nov. 8, 2004, at Settlers’ Park.
A graveside inurnment will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family at Lorraine’s home after the service for a reception.
Bill was born on March 28, 1927, at Ontario to William and Helen Munkers. He was raised in the Juntura and Burns area until 1966 when he moved to Baker City. Bill ranched and farmed his whole life; at one time his family ran and worked 300 head of mares.
He worked around horse and cattle all of his life. Bill worked on several cattle ranches in the Baker area until his health failed in the late 1990s.
Bill was always ready to help anyone and he always had a few extra minutes to visit and have coffee. He was active at one time in the Baker County 4-H Association.
Bill was president of the Blue Mountain Quarter Horse Association and was also president of the Haines Rodeo Association. Anytime there was a rodeo going, Bill would be there, maybe not up in the grandstands, but always behind the chutes helping the young cowboys. He was one of the last real cowboys and he loved every minute of it.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Lorraine; five children, Debbie McBroom, John McCue, Connie Andonne, Bob Munkers, and Wendy Munkers; nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepson, Richard McCue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Haines Rodeo Association through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 12, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
