Baker City
Edgar Albert Scheloske, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2006, at Ontario.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Thomason Funeral Home in Weiser, Idaho. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho.
He was born on Jan. 20, 1927, at Weiser, Idaho, to Albert Antone and Addie Rose Glascock Scheloske. He was their fourth child, born after three older sisters: Helen, Georganna, and Maxine.
He was known as “Buster” to his family. He was raised on a farm at Weiser and at the family sawmill on Stacy/Manns Creek above Weiser.
He attended Sunnyside grade school and was a 1945 Weiser High School graduate. His nickname at Weiser High was “Pook.” During his high school years he was active in sports and student government.
In his freshman year the football team went undefeated and he lettered in three sports. His senior year he was captain of the football team, outstanding player of the year and named all-state quarterback. He lettered in baseball one year and then the sport was dropped because of the war. He lettered in track three years, was the basketball manager two years and lettered one year. He also boxed. Albert was junior class president. In his senior year he was student body president and lettermen’s club president.
While farming with his father and uncle, he officiated in Class A and B football, basketball, semi-pro basketball and lots of softball. As a young man, he learned to work with wood and was a master at making furniture. He designed and personally built three homes for his family after he married.
He was offered an athletic scholarship to the University of Idaho at Moscow, but was drafted into the U.S. Army the week after he graduated. He served his country for three years in Alaska.
After an honorable discharge, he came home to Weiser and worked with this father and uncle farming and moving buildings. He joined the Elks Lodge in 1948.
He married Marjorie Clare Steffens at Weiser on Nov. 19, 1950. Albert worked in Oregon on the McNary Dam for two years and for Union Pacific Railroad for four years in Washington.
The couple’s first daughter, Terry, was born in 1953. They moved to Baker City in 1956 and Albert went to work for the Chemical Lime Plant. Their second daughter, Debra, was born in 1956.
He worked for the lime plant until it closed in 1980. He then went to work for Baker County. He ran the rock crusher, grader, snowplow and various heavy equipment until he retired in 1989.
He then worked part time at Ingrams Farm at Haines, a job he loved. When he fully retired, he and Marge moved to Fruitland, Idaho, and then later to Ontario.
Albert loved his family and extended family and he had many friends. He loved to travel. He and Marge spent many happy weeks over the years touring the United States, visiting family and friends and seeing new places.
Albert loved life. He was very caring and compassionate to all he met.
Albert was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Helen Martin, Georganna Allen, and Maxine Carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie, of Ontario; daughters and their spouses, Terry and Doug Stoddard of Boise, and Debra and Dan Griffith of Pocatello, Idaho; six grandchildren and their spouses, Emily and Brendon Hill, Brent and Kelly Stoddard, Mark and Tarah Stoddard, Brian and Lori Stoddard, Melissa and Jeremy Moore and Paul Griffith; great grandchildren, Nathan and David Moore, Hailey Stoddard and Paige Hill.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 24, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor