Helen Sager, 83, a lifelong Baker County resident, died Feb. 26, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St. Pastor Mel Harris will officiate.
Helen was born on Oct. 19, 1921, at Richland to John and Magdalena Nave. She was the seventh of nine siblings who were raised at Richland.
She graduated as valedictorian from Eagle Valley High School at Richland. She married Lorenzil C. Raley on Sept. 30, 1939, at Weiser, Idaho.
The couple had two children. Helen enjoyed raising her children and taking care of her family.
On Jan. 29, 1968, she married John Sager. They spent many good years camping and fishing.
During her early years, Helen worked at the Oregon Lumber Co. Later she became the librarian at Brooklyn Elementary School where she worked until her retirement.
Helen was always ready for a game of pinochle with friends and family. She was also a loyal Trail Blazers fan and eagerly anticipated every game. She was a longtime member of the First Lutheran Church.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Magdalena Nave; Lorenzil Raley and John Sager; and six siblings, Anna Ballard, Claus Nave, Margaret Neuman, Walter Nave, Dora Hilzer, Christina Brown.
Survivors include daughter, Shila Hessler, and her husband, Gene, of Fairview; son, Larry Raley, and his wife, Beverly, of Baker City; sisters, Freda Johnston of Richland, Wash., and Betty Wieber of Hillsboro; granddaughters and their husbands, Cherie and Scott Ludwig of Milwaukie, Gail and Bob Hommel of Canby, and Stephanie and Chris Mays of Huntington; grandsons and their wives, Todd and Carol Wyatt of Portland and Lance and Denise Raley of Baker City; six treasured great-grandchildren, Courtney and Katelynne Raley, Jessica and Paul Wyatt, Hollie Mays, and Danielle Ludwig; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church or a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 4, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor