System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Lawrence DelCurto
Lawrence DelCurto, 80, a longtime Pine Valley resident, died Jan. 19, 2002, at Wildflower Lodge in La Grande after an extended illness.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Halfway. Leonard Hill of Halfway will officiate. All relatives and friends are invited to a dinner and reception at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall after the service. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Lawrence was born on Sept. 13, 1921, at North Pine. He was the son of Lorenzo and Margherita Falcinella DelCurto. He attended schools at North Pine, Pine Town, and graduated from Pine Valley High School.
After high school, Lawrence took up ranching in a partnership with his father. On Nov. 27, 1950, he married Elba Pauline Rumley at Baker City. After his father’s death, Lawrence continued the ranch partnership with his brother, Jerry. He ranched until recently, when health concerns prompted retirement.
Lawrence was active with local stock grower groups, helped with local fair and rodeo events, and was active with events involving his children. He loved riding, hunting, camping, and gardening. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren, family and friends.
Survivors include his sons, Tim, and his wife, Tammi, of Cove, Joe of John Day, Tony of Halfway, and Lorenzo and his wife, Lois, of Baker City; sisters, Rosa Sargeant of La Grande and Catherine Wilson of Eugene; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elba Pauline “Cissy;” brothers, John, Jerry, and Reno; and sisters, Lena and Rita.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway Ambulance Service through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Wesley Mendenhall
Wesley Barrett Mendenhall, 64, of Baker City, died Jan. 20, 2002.
His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Robert Whiteman of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate.
Mr. Mendenhall was born March 18, 1937, at Mount Auburn, Ill. He was a son of Eva Mae Hardisty and Floyd C. Mendenhall. He was raised and educated in Mount Auburn.
He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1963. On July 3, 1963, he married Kay Borkhardt at Edinburg, Ill. They moved to Baker City in 1978.
Wes worked in house construction, door manufacturing and for 20 years at the Best Western Sunridge Inn as supervisor of maintenance. He also loved to mine and spent many years doing so.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved to fish, camp and prepare smoked fish and jerky. Then he became hooked on the computer.
He was very loyal to his family and friends. The last two years, he has been in close contact with his Air Force buddy of 30 years. They talked every night on the computer.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Mendenhall of Baker City; his daughter, Annette, and her husband, Phil Hansen, of Cedar City, Utah; son, Wesley Alan Mendenhall, and his wife, Julia, of Baker City; grandchildren, Tiffany Hansen, Taite and Tanner Mendenhall, Ashley and Cassie Main, Brittany, Candace and Paige Schmidt, and Caleb Marston; sisters, Vonnie Dodson, and her husband, George, of Dallas, Texas, and Sherry Frazier and her husband, Tom, of Elgin; brother, Larry Mendenhall, and his wife, Barb, of Illinois; his mother, Gladys Mendenhall of Pendleton; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Mae Peck, and his father, Floyd Mendenhall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, 1121 S.W. Salmon St. 201, Portland, OR 97205-2021, or to the charity of one’s choice. This may also be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Beth Rush
Beth Marie Rush, 45, of Baker City, died Jan. 21, 2002, at her home with her loved ones at her side.
At Beth’s request, the family will schedule private interment later.
Beth was born on Aug. 2, 1956, at Prairie City to Leslie Davis and Georgia Livermore Davis. She grew up and attended all of her school years in Baker City.
Beth loved animals of all kinds. She had a way with any animal she came across, but dogs were her favorite. Many dogs found their way to her home no matter where she lived. One dog would even run away from his home to come visit. When you heard that special knock on the door with his tail, you knew in a moment her little friend had arrived.
Her wit was always primed and ready, as well as her ability to clown around. She loved to laugh; if life was getting too serious, she had a special way of lightening things up. Even during the last hours of her life, she had a final little dance with her sister.
She taught her children and nieces and nephews how to have a good time, a good water fight and taught the kids some silly songs. She loved music, played the guitar, and was a fabulous cook. Getting out in the woods to hunt huckleberries, go fishing, and write poetry were her favorite things to do. She cared for the roses and flowers in the front yard, played with her special dog, Sassy, and was a loving grandmother.
Her family made this tribute to her: “We thank God for every day she was with us, and Beth we thank you too.”
Survivors include her father, Leslie Davis, and sister, Cheryl Davis, of Baker City; daughter, Annette Brake, and her husband, Chris, and children, Synca and Sebastian, of Nampa, Idaho; sons, Jason Rush of Baker City and Jessie Rush of Nampa; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia Davis; and brothers, Mike and Ronnie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neurofibromatosis Foundation, Pathway Hospice or a charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Florence Van Gaasbeck
Florence Gladys Van Gaasbeck 81, a longtime Arlington resident, died Jan. 17, 2002, at a foster care home in Baker City.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Arlington Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Van Gaasbeck was born on June 28, 1920, at Rufus to Glen and Jean Mathieson Thompson. She received her education at the Rufus Public School.
She married Clark Van Gaasbeck on March 27, 1939, at Goldendale, Wash. She was very active in music and was in several bands playing both the piano and the saxophone.
Florence was very active in the Eastern Star and in the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed painting, and doing various arts and crafts. Florence and Clark enjoyed camping and fishing, especially with their children and grandchildren. They were wheat ranchers for many years until leasing the ranch out in the 1960s.
Survivors include her brother, Jim Thompson of Gillette, Wyo.; a daughter, Betty Carr of Portland; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Judy Van Gaasbeck of Baker City; grandchildren, Melinda Plaschka and Chaundra Carr of Portland, Tina Carpenter of Boise, and Brad Van Gaasbeck and Andy Van Gaasbeck of Baker City; great-grandchildren, Rachel Carr, Brandy and Christine Plaschka, Stacy and Daric Carpenter, Matthew, Elizabeth, and Emily Van Gaasbeck; and Christian and Lauren Van Gaasbeck; and great-stepgranddaughter, Reyna Vaughn.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice or the Alzheimer’s Foundation through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Father Bob’ Simard
The Rev. Robert Simard, 70, affectionately known as Father Bob during his 46 years of service as a priest of the Diocese of Baker, died Jan. 17, 2002, in Prineville.
His vigil service will be at 7 o’clock tonight at St. Joseph Church in Prineville. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with the Rite of Committal afterward at Deschutes Memorial Gardens in Bend at 2:30 p.m.
Father Simard grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and attended St. John’s Seminary at Brighton, Mass. The Most Rev. Francis P. Leipzig ordained him to the priesthood on Feb. 25, 1956. For his first assignments, he served as assistant pastor in Ontario, Burns, Klamath Falls and Pendleton, where he also was chaplain to St. Anthony’s Hospital.
In February 1960, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Chiloquin. One year later he became pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church at John Day. He than served as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Elgin from 1968 to 1971.
In 1971 he was transferred to Nyssa where he served until 1976 when he was named rector of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral at Baker City. In 1983 he became the first pastor of the new parish of Holy Redeemer at LaPine. On July 1, 1989, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish at Prineville. He retired because of health reasons in 1999.
In the fall of 2000, he decided he had enough energy to devote himself again to pastoral ministry, so he was assigned to St. Augustine parish in Merrill, where he remained until undergoing surgery last August.
In addition to his parish service, Father Simard served on various diocesan committees and boards, including the Liturgical committee, Catholic Sentinel Committee, Priestly Education Committee, Senate of Priests, Board of Diocesan Consulters and Dean of the Northern Deanery and of the Central Deanery.
In an interview, he gave to The (Bend) Bulletin for its June 12, 1999, edition, Father Simard reflected on his numerous assignments and said: “So I was either a troublemaker or a real great priest.”
Father Simard was well-known for his simplicity of life, his gentle manner, his love of parish ministry, his ability to memorize each Sunday’s Gospel reading, his enthusiasm for golf and his well-honed wit. He summed up his experience of faith in the same interview for The Bulletin: “I knew God would take care of me and this has worked out real well. God promises to be with me always, no matter what happens. It is as St. Paul says, I always carry within me the wounds of life, and give glory to God.”
That same faith carried him through these last months, as he continued to manifest his typical gentleness and delightful sense of humor in the midst of growing debilitation.
Survivors include his sister, Sister Appoline Simard, of St. Catharine, Ky.; his brothers, Charles of Vero Beach, Fla., John of Winthrop, Mass., William of Lexington, Mass., and James of Manchester, N.H.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Appoline Gelinas Simard; his brother, Joseph; and his stepmother, Rita Benoit.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Prineville Funeral Home.
Larry Stiltz
Larry A. Stiltz, 60, of Baker City, a former Haines resident, died Jan. 14, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service was at 2 p.m. Friday in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly officiated. Private family interment will be later at the Haines Cemetery.
Mr. Stiltz was born on Dec. 28, 1941, at Baker City to Coleman and Irene Robbins Stiltz. He grew up in the Rock Creek area and as a child he liked school and playing by Rock Creek. He enjoyed taking care of the animals on the ranch and working with his dad. He lived there until he moved to Baker City and worked at Step Forward.
He enjoyed fishing and camping and trips out of town. He loved his bicycle, which he rode a lot. He would ride out of town to see his sister and her family and friends. He loved everyone and will be missed.
Survivors include his sisters, Gertrude Fell of Castro Valley, Calif., Annette Bracken of Baker City and Sharon Peterson of California; two nieces, one nephew, two great-nieces, three great-nephews, two aunts and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Monroe.
Memorial contributions may be made to Step Forward through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Bud’ Hutton
Billy Joe “Bud” Hutton, 69, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 14, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
There will be a family gathering later. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory.
Mr. Hutton was born Jan. 16, 1932, at Lebanon, Mo., to Claude and Gertie Caffey Hutton. He graduated from Phoenix High School in Phoenix, Ore. He was a member of the Honor Society and served as student body president. He received the Elks scholarship for “Most Valuable Student.”
He attended Southern Oregon University at Ashland, where he played freshman and varsity football. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on Dec. 4, 1952. He attended Southwestern Signal Regional Training Center at San Louis Obispo, Calif., where he received the highest score ever obtained on the final exam. He then served as a repeaterman until his discharge in June of 1954.
He married Jane Cooper in Reno, Nev., on Nov. 3, 1956. They made their home in the Rogue Valley until July of 1974 when they moved to Baker City.
Mr. Hutton worked for the Fountain Lumber Co. and Norman Lumber Co. at Phoenix, and Gardner’s Machine Shop in Medford. He was a partner with Bob Ferns in the auto tuneup business named Checkpoint.
After moving to Baker City he owned and operated Hutton Machine & Supply, H&M; Machine and Baker City Machine & Supply Inc. In October 1986 he began working for Marvin Wood Products. He would have retired at the end of January 2002 with a perfect attendance record.
Mr. Hutton was a former member of the Salvage Creek Archery Club, Rogue Valley Racing Association, Sumpter Valley Ghost Riders, and Oregon State Snowmobile Association. He was a life member of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, 25-year member of the Elks Lodge, No. 338, in Baker City, and the Baker County Historical Society.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Debra Lynn Hutton; his parents, Claude and Gertie Hutton; aunts and uncles; and a brother-in-law, Paul Betz.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Hutton of Baker City; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Debra Hutton and their children, Stephanie, Michelle and Brian Hutton, all of Baker City; a daughter, Billie Hopkins, and her children, Sierra and Cody Hopkins of Enterprise; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Jewell and Paul Inserra of Medford, and Claudia and Jim Perry of Eagle Point.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sumpter Valley Railroad, Billy Payton Memorial Fund, Phoenix High School Teens and 50’s Grant in Aid through Gray’s West & Co., P.O Box 726, Baker City OR 97814.
Larry Stiltz
Larry A. Stiltz, 60, of Baker City, a former Haines resident, died Jan. 14, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Private family interment will be later at the Haines Cemetery.
Mr. Stiltz was born on Dec. 28, 1941, at Baker City to Coleman and Irene Robbins Stiltz. He grew up in the Rock Creek area and as a child he liked school and playing by Rock Creek. He enjoyed taking care of the animals on the ranch and working with his dad. He lived there until he moved to Baker City and worked at Step Forward.
He enjoyed fishing and camping and trips out of town. He loved his bicycle, which he rode a lot. He would ride out of town to see his sister and her family and friends. He loved everyone and will be missed.
Survivors include his sisters, Gertrude Fell of Castro Valley, Calif., Annette Bracken of Baker City and Sharon Peterson of California; two nieces, one nephew, two great-nieces, three great-nephews, two aunts and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Monroe.
Memorial contributions may be made to Step Forward through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Eva Reinecke
Eva I. Reinecke, 85, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 14, 2002, at Meadowbrook Place.
The rosary will said at 6 o’clock tonight at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. The Rev. Rob Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception at St. Francis de Sales after the service.
Visitations will be until 4 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.
Eva was born in North Dakota on Aug. 20, 1916, and studied for her nursing degree in North Dakota. She met and married Roy C. Reinecke at Wallace, Idaho, on April 9, 1945.
They moved to Baker City in the 1940s where they owned and operated the Valley Dairy. Eva nursed for several years at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
She retired from nursing and helped her husband in his real estate business: Reinecke, Frisbie Real Estate and then Reinecke Real Estate.
She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral.
Survivors include her adopted son, R. Douglas Reinecke and his wife, Theresa, and their children and families, Sherri and Ron Enz, Damon and Pat Reinicke, Shawn and Mike Morse, Synthia Reinecke and Suzanne and David Schooler; grandchildren, Ryan Enz, Eric and Kate Reinecke, Amie Northrip, and Joseph, Elizabeth and Robert Schooler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy C. Reinecke.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Francis de Sales Elevator Fund through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
James Hull
James Freeman Hull, 58, of Baker City, died Dec. 30, 2001, at the Boise Veterans Hospital.
Burial was at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
Jim was born Dec. 12, 1943, in Baker City to Howard and Lillian Hull. He was one of 12 children. He was raised in Baker City and received his education here.
He served his country during the Vietnam conflict. He worked for Baker Redi-Mix and Ward Ranches. He loved fishing, mushrooming and all outdoor activities. He was a loving brother and a very giving person who was always thinking of others.
Survivors include his sons, Mike and Steve Hull, both of Baker City; one granddaughter of Baker City; brothers, Don Hull of Salem and Dick Hull of Baker City; three sisters, Carol Shives of Salem, Robin Morin of La Grande and Barbara Martinez of Baker City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mountain States Tumor Institute or the Boise Veterans Hospital.
