Dale "Herb" Carson
Dale "Herb" Carson, 74, of Molalla, died Friday, October 19, 2001 at an Oregon City hospital. Gravesdie services will be held on Wednesday, October 24 at 1 p.m. at Adams Cemetery. Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of services. Dale "Herb" Carson was born April 20, 1927 in Dunlop, Kansas. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and received a medical discharge in 1948. That same year he came to Molalla. On August 10, 1950 he married Arleen Sheets in Vancouver, Washington. Herb was involved in the trucking industry for over 30 years, retiring in 1984. He loved to fish and hunt. Survivors include his wife Arleen Carson of Molalla, his daughter Dayle McCool of Silverdale, Washington, his son Steve Carson of Chehalis, Washington, his sister Jessie Dann of Aurora and his brother Everett "Hap" Carson of Olpe, Kansas, and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Molalla Ambulance Fund or a charity of your choice.

Elvin Kimmel
REDMOND -- Elvin Kimmel of Redmond died on April 22, 2002, at the age of 94. Kimmel, who lived in the Union Mills area for 45 years, moved to Redmond in 1997 where he lived with his daughter. He was born Aug. 27, 1907 in Eugene, to Valentine and Leneva (Pope) Kimmel. He grew up on a farm and continued farming throughout his life. At the age of 37 he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his garden. survivors include his daughters, Leslie Ledbetter of Redmond and Pamela Fleskes of Molalla; sons, Robin of Canby and Randy of Beaverton; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nita, who died Jan. 11, 1997 after 48 years of marriage; and a sister and brother. A memorial service will be held May 25, 2002, 2 p.m. at the Molalla Church of the Nazarene, 920 E. Shirley St.

Wilbur Lee Seely
A funeral service for Wilbur Lee Seely will be at 1 p.m. May 22, 2002 at Cornwell Colonial Chapel-Woodburn. He died May 17, 2002 at the age of 76. He was born March 14, 1926 in Salem. He was a truck owner/operator and raised and hauled hay in the local area. He graduated from Molalla High School and lived in the Molalla area for many years. He is survived by a brother, Leonard Seely of Molalla; two nieces and one nephew. Remembrances may be made to Molalla Manor Care Center or Pheasant Point Living Center, Molalla. Arrangements were made by Cornwell Colonial Chapel of Woodburn.

Teresa Dukes
Teresa Dukes, of Mulino, died Saturday, May 18, 2002 at OHSU Hospital from a stroke. She was 53. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the Molalla Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will be at the Molalla Funeral Chapel on Tuesday from 1-5 p.m. Teresa was born in Ontario, Ore. on October 30, 1948 to Leland and Wilma Hoffman. She lived in various locations throughout Oregon before settling in the Molalla/Mulino area 27 years ago. She was a very colorful person as described by her family. Teresa loved playing Keno, watching stock car racing and gardening. She had been a bartender/manager for many years and even owned a couple bars. She was very into her family and friends. Taking trips to the coast was one of her favorite things to do. She loved being around her children and all the many nieces and nephews she had. She belonged to the Molalla Moose for many years as well. Survivors include her companion of many years, Tommy Davidson; two sons Kenneth Earl Long, of Oregon City; and Charles LeRoy Dukes, of Mulino; a daughter Kami Lynn Michaels, of Portland; six sisters Jill Smith, Pam Post, Mary Ann Kestler, Bobbie Dawn Keslar, Donna Gail Chandler and Wanda Denise Houtze; a brother Roy William Chandler; five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Contributions can be made to the Terri Dukes Memorial Fund at any Washington Mutual Bank branch. Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of the arrangements.

Lloyd Edison Hewitt
Lloyd Edison Hewitt, of Aurora, died July 8, 2002 from complications due to hypertension. He was 30. A graveside service was held Sunday, July 14, 2002 at the Molalla Memorial Cemetery on Wilhoit Road. Lloyd Edison Hewitt was born July 8, 1972 in Silverton, Oregon to Gary and Mona Hewitt. He attended Maple Grove Elementary School in Molalla and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Oregon City. Lloyd graduated from eighth grade at Maple Grove Elementary School in 1987. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America in Molalla and the Aurora Squadron of Civil Air Patrol in Aurora. Lloyd was a history buff, especially WWII, the Old Aurora Colony and historical trains, ships, and automobiles. He volunteered at the Aurora Colony Historical Society in Aurora and the Oregon Military Museum at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas. He was also active in the Jaycee's in Klamath Falls and the DeMolay's Multnomah Chapter. Lloyd also attended Klamath Falls Community College and was active on the student counsel. He loved hunting and fishing. Lloyd was proud to be an organ donor and at the time of his death he gave the ultimate gift. Survivors include his mother Mona Miller, of Molalla; father Gary Hewitt, of Aurora, brother Billy Hewitt, of Sun River; a sister Shirley Hewitt, of Aurora; a stepfather Kenneth Miller, also of Molalla. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and/or The Order of the Eastern Star Heart Fund. Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of the arrangements.

Mildred Axmaker
Mildred Emily Freeman Axmaker passed away on Friday, July 12,2002 in her home at 5:45 p.m. She was born to Charles and Jesse Phillips Freeman on November 10, 1917, the third of six children. Raised in the Colton countryside, she enjoyed picking blackberries and huckleberries with her family. She married Walter Axmaker on June 13, 1937 at the Colton Advent Christian Church. They had five children. Mildred worked from her home as a florist, later opening the Sandy Florist Shop, then moving the business back to Colton as Cedar Lake Florist. Walter preceded her in death in 1988. Mildred was a member of Canyon Creek Bible Fellowship. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, church clerk, youth director, pianist, head cook at many camps, teaching children, and much, much more. She lived a life of example and radiated a love for the Lord. The hallmark of her life was servanthood. She helped create the Colton Aid Network and was recognized as the citizen of the year by the Colton Fire District in 2001. She received the American Red Cross Community Hero Award in March 2002. She is survived by her five children, Robert Axmaker of Wilsonville, Gerald Axmaker of Colton, Carole Dunton of Molalla, Lucille Marsh of Colton, and Audrey Howe of Canby; two brothers, Charles Freeman of Eugene and Glenn Freeman of Medford; three sisters, Dorothy Moore of Medford, Blanche Frickey of Salem and Esther Hemphill of Medford; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. The memorial service will be held Saturday, July 20, 2002 at Molalla Church of the Nazarene at 2 p.m. Donations can be made to the Mildred Axmaker Memorial Fund and will be divided among Canyon Creek Bible Fellowship, Colton Aid Network, Colton Fire Department, and Willamette Falls Hospice.

Margaret Eva Henderer
Margaret Eva Henderer, of Molalla, died at French Prairie Care Center in Woodburn on July 11, 2002 from Alzheimers. A funeral service was held Monday, July 15, 2002 at the Country Church in Molalla at 10 a.m. Visitation was at the Molalla Funeral Chapel, Sunday, July 14, 2002 from 2-6 p.m. Margaret Eva Henderer was born on July 9, 1913 in Raymond, Wash., to Robert and Mary Hedden. Margaret graduated from Drain High School and went on to NW Christian College in Eugene from 1934-35. She became a registered nurse. Margaret worked in the Molalla Medical Clinic and several nursing homes, one being the Molalla Manor when it was on Molalla Ave., others being in Woodburn and Colton. Margaret married Ellis Henderer on March 31, 1938, in Stevenson, Wash. Ellis preceded her in death on July 7, 2001. She was very active with the Country Church, for which she was a member. She had been the President of the Business Professionals for Women and she started the same in Molalla in the 1950s. Margaret lived in Molalla in 1956-1960, then moved to the Eugene/Springfield areas from 1960-65 then moved back to Molalla in 1965 and stayed here until 1997 when she moved to the French Prairie Care Center. Margaret retired from nursing in 1976. She loved to knit and read. Survivors include a son, Stan Henderer, of Central Point, Ore.; daughter Pattie Wymore, of Molalla; a sister, Vesta Friday, of Springfield, Ore.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Contributions can be made to the Country Church and/or the Alzheimers Association. Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of the arrangements.

Neale Franklin Rigg
Neale Franklin Rigg, Molalla, died Sept. 22, 2002 at the Molalla Manor Care Center from Alzheimer's. He was 88. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002 at 10 a.m. at the Molalla Assembly of God Church. Neale Rigg will be buried with his wife at the Grand Mound Cemetery in Grand Mound, Wash. Neale Franklin Rigg was born on March 31, 1914 to William and Agnes Rigg in Syracuse, Kan. Neale graduated high school and attended college in Portland, pursuing a business degree in the early 1930s. He had spent a tour of duty for six years in the Army during World War II. He lived in Portland for about 40 years before moving to Rochester, Wash., living there for about 16 years, after which he moved to Molalla and spent 10 years here. He was an active member of the Assembly of God churches wherever he lived, last being a 10-year member of the Molalla Assembly of God Church. While he was in Rochester, Wash., he volunteered as a member of the Elks and Lions Clubs, worked with the Loaves and Fishes, helped elderly people prepare their taxes and performed many charitable acts for his community. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign War. Neale retired 26 years ago at the age of 62 from the Bonneville Power Authority as a record clerk. He loved fishing, hunting and leather crafts. Neale married Lois on Sept. 22, 1965 in Bellflower, Calif. She preceded Neale in death in February of 1992. Survivors include a stepson Roger Mabry, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Molalla Funeral Chapel is in care of the arrangements.

David Robert Berger
David Robert Berger, Mulino, died Sept. 27, 2002 at his home from a tractor accident. He was 52. No services will be held at this time. David Robert Berger was born on Sept. 26, 1950 in Portland, Ore. to Robert and Elaine Berger. David was raised in the Molalla area. He graduated from Molalla High School in 1968 where his father worked as a teacher. After school he was drafted in the Army and served during the Vietnam War, stationed in Germany for three years, until 1970. Upon his discharge from the Army he went to college at Oregon State for two years pursuing a Biology degree, but his college was cut short when he learned that his mother had cancer. He came home to be with her. David worked for about 10 years at the RSG Forest Products Mill in Molalla, working his way up from the green chain to the Precision Mill Manager. That was from the early 80s to the 90s. Currently he was working for Tri-Met as a Transit Operator. David married Karen Donarski on May 11, 1995 in Oregon City. They lived out on a farm in Mulino that has been in the Berger family for three generations. David was a quiet man that loved the outdoors, fishing and farming Christmas trees and raising horses at his farm. He is survived by his wife Karen, Mulino; a brother Mark Berger, Molalla, and many friends. Molalla Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Noreen Mary Bevens-Salem
Noreen Mary Bevens, 78, of Salem, died of cancer on Nov. 1, 2002. She was born May 22, 1924 in Portland. Noreen lived in Molalla for many years and then moved to Mt. Angel twenty years ago. She recently moved to Salem to be with her daughter. She taught elementary school at Molalla Grade School for 16 years. Her husband, Jack, preceded her in death in May of 1976. Survivors include her children, Molly Garrison of Clackamas; Mickey Bevens of Bellingham, Wash.; Dotty Cordill of Molalla; Terri Olmstead of Canby; Sally Gottfried of Beaverton; Peggy Huddart of Salem; Pat Lane of Troutdale; Ann Bevens of Tualatin; a sister, Rita Randall of Oregon City; 26 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. A vigil will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. with Funeral Mass to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 at Queen of Angels Monastery Chapel, Mt. Angel. Interment will follow Nov. 8, 3 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. Contributions made be made to the Benedictine Sisters. Arrangements are being handled by Unger Funeral Chapel, Mt. Angel.

Joyel Ruth Daniels
BEAVERCREEK -- Joyel Ruth Daniels, 27, of Beavercreek died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Wilsonville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Mulino Community Baptist Church. She was born Nov. 17, 1975, in Seoul, South Korea. At age eight months, she was adopted through the Holt Adoption Agency in Eugene. She lived in Canby-Beavercreek area since she was a young child. Joyel graduated from the New Covenant Christian School in Oregon City, and she earned a master showman award in the Clackamas County Fair's 4-H intermediate and senior division. She graduated from Warner Pacific College in 1999 with a bachelor of arts degree in music theory and composition, a bachelor of arts in music ministry, and a bachelor of science degree in business in music. Her passion was her music, and she was a devout Christian who loved God and her family. She worked at Music Man Studios in Wilsonville the last nine years. Joyel met Robert Oun at a Bible study group in 1995, and they were married Sept. 17, 1999. She was a member of the Mulino Community Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband of Beavercreek; parents Kermit and Carol Daniels of Beavercreek; brother Steven Jim Daniels of Milwaukie; sister Kailyn Mae Daniels of Beavercreek; grandmother Myrtle Daniels of Canby; three nieces; and a great-niece. The family suggests memorials may be made to the music department at Warner Pacific College in southeast Portland. Canby Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Barbara Gassner
Barbara "Biscuit" Gassner died March 9, 2003. Funeral Services will be Monday, March 17, 2003 at the Molalla Funeral Chapel at 11 a.m.

Ruby L. Gipson
ROSEBURG -- Ruby Lillian Gipson, age 92 of Roseburg, formerly of Molalla, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at a Roseburg care home. She was born June 7, 1910 in Lodi, Calif., daughter of Canby W. and Lillian (Hughes) Todd. She was raised and educated in California, graduating from Moorpark High School in Moorpark, Calif. She attended Training School for Christian Workers, which is now the Azusa University in Azusa, Calif. She was united in marriage to Claude William Gipson on June 4, 1935. They moved to Oregon in 1977 settling in Molalla. Ruby enjoyed flowers and her pets, but her life centered around church and family. She was a member of the Molalla Christian Church. She recently moved to Roseburg to be near family. She is survived by two daughters, Lois Richardson and her husband Orval of Sunsites, Ariz. and Barbara Buckwalter and her husband Harry of Roseburg, two sons, George Gipson and his wife Kay of West Richland, Wash., and Fred Gipson of Roseburg. Also surviving Ruby are two brothers, Ed Fischer and his wife Helen of Umpqua, Oreg., and Jack Fischer and his wife Lois of Valley Springs, Calif. Ruby has sixteen grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Claude in 1997, a sister Rose Willard, a grand daughter and two great-grandsons. Memorial services will be held at the Molalla Christian Church on Saturday, May 3, 2003 at 2 p.m. Private family interment will be at the West Point Cemetery in West Point, Calif. Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor's Family Chapel in Winston, Oreg.

Thomas Bruce Crawford
Thomas Bruce Crawford of Molalla died at the age of 85 on Jan. 21, 2004. He was born Oct. 11, 1918 in Blucher, Saskatchewan, Canada. His family moved to Molalla when he was five, so he spent the better part of 78 years in the Molalla area. Mr. Crawford was a logger and worked for many different logging companies. He never married. Survivors include several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. Arrangements were handled by Crown Memorial Center in Milwaukie. Remembrances may be made to the Molalla Senior Center.

Juli Salgado
Julia Salgado died Jan. 20, 2004 at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. while waiting for a new heart. She was 2 years old on Jan. 17. Julia was born in Clackamas. Survivors include her parents, Adrian and Cheryl Salgado, sister, Jasmine, brother Andres, all of Gladstone, grandparents, Raymond and Suzanne Gutherie of Gladstone, great-grandparents, Ed and Eileen Eby of Molalla, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She will be missed by all. Funeral services will be Jan. 26 at Cochran & Wood Sunset Chapel in Gladstone followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. Remembrances may be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

James and Frances Jolley
James and Frances Jolley, of Molalla, were found Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at their home. Each had sustained gun shot injuries. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. Call the Molalla Funeral Chapel for times of services at 503-829-2379.

Rhoda Ione Kohler
Rhoda Ione (Bohning) Kohler, also known as Rhoda Madison, was born Aug. 24, 1941 in Belmond, Iowa, the daughter of Paul Andrew and Esther Pauline (Dorenkamp) Bohning, passed away in her sleep at the Pheasant Pointe Assisted Living Center in Molalla. She was 62. She attended Alexander schools and graduated from high school in 1959. Kohler then married and moved to Key West and Jacksonville Beach, Fla. for a couple of years. She settled in the Eugene and Portland area for the rest of her life. About 20 years ago, she was declared legally blind. She also worked for the Society for the Blind for many years. She is survived by her husband Harry (Bud) Kohler of Molalla; her mother Esther Pauline Bohning of Belmond, Iowa; her son Michael Shane Madison and his wife Chelsea Madison of Molalla; brothers Wayne Bohning and his wife, Val Jean of Beach Park, Ill.; Royce Bohning (twin) and his wife Cherie of Ames, Iowa; and Norman Bohning of Hurst, Texas; two nieces and five nephews. Rhoda was preceded in death by her father Paul Andrew Bohning and a stillborn infant. Memorial services were held on Jan. 24, at Foothills Community Church. Arrangements by Molalla Funeral Home.

Leonard George Wolfer
CANBY — Leonard George Wolfer died of pancreatic cancer at his home on Jan. 22, 2004. He was 91. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Cutsforth’s Old Town Hall, above the Thriftway Marketplace in downtown Canby. He was cremated and a private burial will take place at a later date. Leonard lived on the remaining two acres of the 130-acre parcel his great-grandfather, Rudolph Wolfer, had purchased from the Aurora Colony’s William Keil family in April 1873. Benjamin J. Wolfer, Rudolph’s son, purchased the property for $2,800 on July 19, 1895. It is uncertain how Benjamin Rudolph, Leonard’s father, acquired the property. Leonard was born to Benjamin R. and Daisy V. Wolfer on the farm at Needy on Aug. 24, 1912. His death ends nearly a century of Wolfers residing on and working the rich soil of the family’s claim. Leonard attended Needy grade school and Canby “Castle,” the grade 1-12 school that was used before the high school was built. He was married to Hazel Swartout of Marquam in September 1937; she died of cancer in 1959. He married Inez Gelbrich of Canby in 1961; she died of complications from a stroke in 1968. He later married Cleo Horning of Hubbard in 1982. During World War II, Leonard worked in the shipyards in Portland. At the end of the war, he took employment with Crown Zellerbach on the Willamette River log boom at Canby. He retired in October 1976. He loved working the soil — planting, hoeing, plowing and harvesting the rich crops grown by him for the pleasure of anyone who happened by to visit or was invited to pick and enjoy the fruits of his labor. As a young man, he and Hazel raised strawberries, boysenberries, nectar, and blackberries, raspberries, and blackcaps. He kept most of the neighborhood children employed. He was also an active 4-H leader, teaching the youth how to be farmers and leaders. After retiring from Crown Zellerbach, he uprooted all the berry vines and raised Christmas trees. He and Cleo divided off two acres for themselves and sold their remaining acreage to Jerry Knopp Nursery and he retired from farming. Leonard continued to keep active and work in his garden and yard up until the New Year’s storm. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, dancing, running the country roads daily, and his many friends. Survivors include wife Cleo of Canby; daughters Judi Hester Aus of Charbonneau and Sandi Lenhardt Bean of Silverton; stepdaughters Nancy Glomboske of Norco, Calif., Diane Sydow of Florence, Christine Martin of Canby, and Kathleen Milburn of Woodburn; sister Marie Swartout of Scotts Mills; brother Barney Wolfer of Vancouver, Wash.; 18 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. His son Lloyd and brother Martin preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Aurora Colony Historical Society, P.O. Box 202, Aurora, OR 97002.

Janet M. Hekala Welch Maxson
Janet Maxson of Svensen, Ore., formerly of Molalla, died Nov. 25, 2004 at the age of 79. Janet was born Sept. 20, 1925 in Astoria to John and Anna Hanni Hekala. She was raised in the Knappa-Svensen area and graduated from Astoria High School in 1943. She married Rex P. Welch on Oct. 14, 1944. She was a stay-at -home mom, raising her children and working as a foster care mother for the State of Oregon. She not only loved taking care of her children, but taking care of babies she had for a short period of time in her foster care. The family moved to California for five years, then lived in various towns in the Willamette Valley. After her husband Rex passed away in 1974, she returned to visit family in Clatsop County and eventually married her high school sweetheart, Dewey Maxson in 1977 in Silverton. After her marriage to Dewey, she moved back to Svensen and has resided there since. They loved to travel, seeing family and friends. Janet’s hobbies included doing counted cross-stich, growing flowers, her kitty-cats and spending time with her grand-kids. She will be missed by her close family and friends very much. Janet was a member of Crossroads Community Church in Svensen, where she taught pre-school and was very active on church committees. She was also a member of Columbia River Maritime Museum; the Flavel House and Clatsop County Historical Society. She was also active in various Christian Women’s Clubs. She is survived by her husband, Dewey Maxson of Svensen; daughters, Lana Jean of Colton, Cathy and husband Joel McKern of Salem, step-daughter, Barbara Maxson of Portland; sons, Randy and wife Linda Welch of Colton, Gary and wife Jo Welch of Grass Valley, Calif., David Welch of Svensen; sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Robert Dorvinen of Svensen; sister-in-law, Virginia Hekala of Molalla, sister-in-law, Joyce Hekala of Las Vegas, 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and seven nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband Rex Welch and two brothers, Walter Hekala and Victor Hekala. A funeral service will be held Dec. 1, at 2 p.m. at Crossroads Community Church in Svensen. Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Community Church Memorial Fund, 40618 Old Hwy 30, Astoria, OR 97103. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of arrangements.