System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!‘Ed’ Wilson
Edward B. “Ed” Wilson, 74, of La Grande died Oct. 20, 2001, at the Boise Veterans Hospital.
His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by the Baker City American Legion, Post No. 41. Vault interment will follow the services.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Mr. Wilson was born on July 18, 1927, at Richland to Victor O. and Mary Simonis Wilson. He was educated at schools on Brushy Flats and Pleasant Ridge near Richland.
Mr. Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945 and was discharged in 1947.
He married Nellie Moyer on Nov. 6, 1948, at Emmett, Idaho.
Mr. Wilson started work on a ranch at Whitebird, Idaho, later going to work in the mines above Yellow Pine, Idaho, for several years. He then started working for Boise Cascade at Emmett.
He then moved to California where he worked for a short time as a cook for his brother. With his family, he moved to Boise and returned to work for Boise Cascade.
He later was transferred to Boise Cascade in La Grande where he worked as a edgerman and sawyer until his retirement in 1980.
Mr. Wilson loved the outdoors and also loved to pick mushrooms. He enjoyed going to dances at the senior centers in Pendleton, Milton-Freewater, La Grande and Baker City.
He was a member of the La Grande Eagles and American Legion in La Grande.
Survivors include his children, Sheila and Skip Hardenbrook of Lyman, Wyo., and Irbin Wilson of La Grande; brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold and Susan Wilson of Gooding, Idaho, and Joe and Ada Wilson of Whitebird, Idaho; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lois and Chuck Britton of Baker City, and Anita and Hoot Smith of Whitebird, Idaho; sister, Erma Guyer of Boise; five grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, and a granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may made to Sheila Hardenbrook or the La Grande Senior Center through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814
Nora Niehaus
Nora Marie Niehaus, 41, of Baker City, died Oct. 15, 2001, at her home of natural causes.
There will be a private family service.
Disposition was by cremation at Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City.
Miss Niehaus was born Feb. 2, 1960, in Campbell, Ohio, to Fredrick Raymond Niehaus and Mary Lucille Riggs Niehaus. They moved to Fremont, Calif., in 1970, where Miss Niehaus attended school and graduated from Fremont High School. She moved to Hemet, Calif., in 1980 where she had her daughter, Rebecca Springston. She worked as a supervisor at a medical facility in Hemet.
After a disability in 1999 she moved to Baker City to be near her family. She will be missed dearly. She was a kind and free-spirited person with a gentle soul, and was known for being a devoted mother, daughter, sister and friend. She will always be loved and cherished by her family and friends.
She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Mary and Tom Thompson of Baker City; her daughter, Rebecca Springston of Baker City; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Angie Niehaus of Haines, and Gary Niehaus and Laura Adcock; a sister, Mary Susan Smith, and sister and brother-in-law, Tony and Cindy Boyd, all of Baker City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Fred Raymond Niehaus; her brother, John Matthew Niehaus, and his life partner, Kenneth Wayne Springston.
Contributions in Miss Niehaus’ memory may be made to the local chapter of the American Red Cross in care of Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
JoAnn Lee
JoAnn Sylvia Lee, 68, a longtime Baker City resident, died Oct. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A private family gathering will be held later.
Disposition was by cremation at Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City.
Mrs. Lee was born July 9, 1933, at Hardman to Harlan Nelson Adams and Opal Grace McDaniel.
She was married to Bill J. Lee on Nov. 7, 1977, and the two of them have played music together for many years, early on as the Moonlighters and in later years as Country Class.
She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, active in the Elks and the Powder River Sportsman’s Association. She belonged to the Christian Church in Baker City, and often would play music in church.
Some of her favorite things to do were camping, fishing in Hells Canyon, and trap shooting. She liked to garden and sew, and she was a very good cook. She loved playing with their dog, Sheba. She knew what a friend was, and was truly a good one. She had a passion for giving to those less fortunate than she, especially at the holiday season.
Her family and friends will miss her and will have a large void in their lives without her.
Mrs. Lee is survived by her husband, Bill Lee of Baker City; her mother, Opal Grace Cook of Baker City; sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Sarah Nelson of La Grande, and Rodney and Linda Nelson of Waynesboro, Va.; a daughter and son-in-law, Connie Morgan and Roy Clark of Yakima, Wash.; a brother and sister-in-law, Perry and Jackie Adams of Heppner; a sister and brother-in-law, Shirlee and Richard Van Roekel of Goldendale, Wash.; grandsons, Luke Morgan of Baker City and Mike and Jason Nelson of Portland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donald Wickert
Donald E. Wickert, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died Oct. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service was today at 2 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Father John Jasper of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral officiated. Vault interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, with a reception following at the Catholic parish.
Mr. Wickert was born June 26, 1921, at Weatherby to Louie and Eva Wickert.
After graduation from Huntington High School, he worked as a machinist for Boeing. He then entered the U.S. Navy in 1944. After getting out of the Navy in 1946, he worked as a machinist at Timm’s Machine Shop. When Timm’s closed he finished his career working for Ellingson Lumber Company, retiring in 1986.
He was married to Anne Margaret Williamson on March 11, 1949. They had four sons.
Mr. Wickert enjoyed his family, home and yard. Prior to the onset of severe arthritis, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Wickert; his children, John and Jerri Wickert of Baker City, Dale and Claudia Wickert of Ontario, Steve and Sherry Wickert of La Grande, and Mike Wickert of Baker City; a sister, Lorene Cave of Willets, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Contributions in Mr. Wickert’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association or Oregon Arthritis Foundation in care of Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Monsignor William Stone
Monsignor William Sherald Stone, 85, of The Dalles, and a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 15, 2001, at his home.
Office of the Dead will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday. Both services will be at St. Peter Catholic Church in The Dalles.
Interment will follow at The Dalles St. Peter Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home.
Monsignor Stone was born April 28, 1916, at Athena, the sixth of seven children of Dr. Alvin Bernard and Gertrude Ann (Burnham) Stone. He grew up in The Dalles, where he attended St. Mary’s Academy. After two years at the University of Portland, he entered St. Edward’s Seminary and completed philosophical and theological studies there. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1943.
After ordination he served as assistant pastor for four years at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City, and three years at Klamath Falls. He studied for one year at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for post-graduate studies in education, receiving a master of arts degree.
After 20 months as pastor at Dufur, he was assigned to the chancery office to assist Father Geis in the archives, and to teach at St. Francis Academy. In the summer of 1953 he became pastor at Chiloquin. In January 1955 he became the first resident pastor of St. Patrick Church in Madras, where he remained until October 1961. He then became pastor at Milton-Freewater, with his birthplace, Athena, as one of his missions.
In June 1969 Monsignor Stone was transferred to Redmond. An assignment to Lakeview was terminated after six weeks, after which he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Peter Church in The Dalles, where he replaced Monsignor McMahon, who had resigned because of illness in July 1972. He moved to the Dufur parish in 1981, then retired in 1983.
He served as Diocesan Superintendent of Schools from 1949 to 1962, from 1973 to 1977 and for an additional three years on a part-time basis after the chancery office moved to Bend. He was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor in 1980. He retired to Redmond, and then moved back to The Dalles in 1999.
In 1994 Monsignor Stone received the Bishop Francis P. Leipzig Award from the Archdiocese Historical Commission of Oregon. He authored the historical book, “The Cross in the Middle of Nowhere: The History of the Catholic Church in Eastern Oregon.”
He is survived by his sister, Genevieve Gutfleisch, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Alvin and Gertrude Stone; his sister, Sister Naadene Ann; and his brothers, Gail, Kenneth, Rolland and Ralph.
Contributions in Monsignor Stone’s memory may be made to the Msgr. William Stone Scholarship Fund at St. Mary’s Academy, 1112 Cherry Heights Road, The Dalles, OR 97058.
‘Geri’ Weise
Geraldine “Geri” Weise, 77, of Union, and a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 15, 2001, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
A celebration of her life was held Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Weise was born Aug. 17, 1924, at Baker City to Otto and Velma Lammert. She attended St. Elizabeth School for nursing, and graduated as a registered nurse in 1944. She worked at the hospital until she married Willard Weise in 1948. They were married in Boise, where he worked.
The couple moved to Union in 1954, where she worked for a Union doctor, and then she worked at Hot Lake when it was a care facility for five years. She went on to work for Valley View Manor, where she was the administrator of nurses for 21 years. She trained several nurses and aides. She belonged to the Union Business Women organization for 20 years and Caring Helpers for 13 years, both of Union. She also volunteered for several other organizations.
Mrs. Weise belonged to the Zion Lutheran Church since she moved to Union, and she was very active in the church.
She is survived by her husband, Willard, of Union; her son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Pauline Weise of Union; two grandchildren, Telva and Duane J., both of Union; brothers, Roy and Art Lammert, Gene Lammert and his wife, Marge, Bud Lammert and his wife, Dorothy; sisters, Evan Holland, Margaret Milford, Freida Ringer and her husband, Ed; and several nieces, nephews and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Alfred and John Lammert; and a sister, Peggy Satterberg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Zion Lutheran Church, 902 Fourth St., La Grande, Ore., 97850.
Marguerite Olson
Marguerite E. Olson, 86, of Baker City, died Oct. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
At her request, she was cremated, and there will be no services.
Mrs. Olson was born Oct. 18, 1914, at Great Falls, Mont., to Alfred and Jennie Gothenquist. She married Wesley G. Olson in 1935 in Spokane, Wash. They lived in Wenatchee, Wash., for many years before moving to Eugene and then to Portland.
Mrs. Olson moved to Baker City in 1975 following her husband’s death. She enjoyed sewing for her family, gardening, and going to a variety of sporting events.
She will be missed terribly by her family and friends.
Mrs. Olson is survived by her daughter, Edie McKim of Baker City; a sister, Edith Gothenquist of Baker City; a brother, Rudolph Gothenquist of Kingston, Wash.; three grandchildren and their spouses, Erik and Tena McKim of Baker City, Mark and Tammy McKim of Keiser, and Jennifer and Matt Still of Corvallis; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Contributions in Mrs. Olson’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Fund in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Ray’ Maher
Raymond J. “Ray” Maher, 70, of Sumpter died Oct. 11, 2001, at his home.
His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. A celebration of his life is scheduled at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Baker High School gymnasium, 2500 E St.
Mr. Maher was born Jan. 8, 1931, at Astoria to John C. “Jack” and Hanna Johansen Maher. He was raised and educated at Knappa. As a young boy, he worked as a veterinary apprentice and also worked a team of horses on the Columbia River, near Astoria, pulling in salmon fishnets.
He spent most of his life working in the timber industry. He also worked on the Astoria Bridge and dock area. And he worked as a vet assistant at the Cow Palace in Yakima, Wash.
Mr. Maher’s special love of life was his involvement with sports as both a participant, coach and as a “Number 1 fan” for the young people in his life. As a young man, he owned and played for a semi-pro baseball team at Astoria.
He has promoted sports of all kinds all of his life. He played against the Harlem Globetrotters, was involved in fund-raising with donkey basketball, concession stands with the Booster Club in John Day and, to the day of his death, was there to support the kids in the community.
He has worked with young students of all ages throughout his life in coaching, umpiring, keeping statistics, working the pits and timekeeping for baseball, softball, basketball, football, wrestling and some aspects of track and field.
While in the Baker community, Mr. Maher could be seen at practice and games offering that little bit of extra support, encouragement and advice. He traveled to the all-star softball games, continuing that support both here and away.
Mr. Maher always said, “The kids are everything.” He told the kids “win or lose, you learn by your mistakes, pick yourselves up and look to the future, not to the past.” Education was number one with him, the books came first, and the knowledge learned in sports activities would apply to life’s challenges. “An athlete needs to be a good business person and leader, ” he said.
Wherever life’s activities took him he became involved with the kids and sports. He always remarked that when he was in heaven, he would have the best seat in the house. As stated by one of the students, he was and still is, their guardian angel.
Mr. Maher married Darlene V. McCulley Huckleberry on Nov. 14, 1992, at Knappa-Svensen. They came to this area in 1993, owning a ranch for two years in Richland and then owning and operating the former Geiser Grand Gift & Gallery in Baker City and the Current Gold Dredge Gift Gallery at Sumpter.
He was a member of the Astoria Eagles and Moose lodges and was a member of the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene Maher of Sumpter; children, Gina and Robert Conn of Knappa-Svensen, Raymond “Butch” and Michelle Maher of Kelso, Wash., Devora and Brian Traylor of Albany, Marisa and Jeffrey Recklet of Baker City, Gloria and Rock Davis of Elma, Wash., and Jon and Jill Maher of Baker City; grandchildren, Derek and Beth Conn, Leah and Chris Campbell, Shane and Ty Maher, Jarrod Traylor, Jessica, Ford and Jake Davis; great-grandchildren, Katya and Caitlin Conn and Rylyn and Jenna Campbell; stepchildren, Roy and Mary Huckleberry of Castle Rock, Wash., and Gale and Ray Hull of Olympia, Wash.; two stepgrandsons and one stepgreat-granddaughter; a sister, Maria McKenna of Pittsfield, Ill.; and one niece.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker High School Athletic Fund through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814.
Ruth Carlyle
Ruth Carlyle, 72, of Baker City, died Oct. 9, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday at St. John’s Cemetery at Escolon, Calif.
Mrs. Carlyle was born on July 9, 1929, at Flagstaff, Ariz., to Richard and Ruth Flowers. She lived many years in California. She lived at Burns for 10 years before moving to Baker City where she had lived for the past five years.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, a son and one grandson. She will be buried next to her first husband, Daniel Joaquin.
She is survived by her three children, Elaine Harris and Dave and Dan Joaquin.
