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Dennis Johnson
Dennis Harold Johnson, 55, of Bremerton died July 7, 2002, at the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil.
He was born March 2, 1947, in Stillwater, Okla., to Henry M. and Ruth (Gotcher) Johnson. He completed high school and college in Stillwater.
Mr. Johnson was a Vietnam veteran. He served in the Navy as a gunner's mate from 1967 to 1969.
He later worked as a teacher and in home health care.
Mr. Johnson enjoyed wrestling. He competed in his youth and later served as a referee.
His love of the outdoors involved him in boating, fishing, hunting, scuba diving, hiking and snow skiing. Another favorite pastime was barbecuing with friends Roger Hudson and Debbie Kurre.
Survivors include his daughter, Sandy Johnson of Seabeck; a brother, Robert Johnson of Stillwater; and a sister, Betty Brown of Montclair, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Building 10-1 at the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil with burial in the cemetery there.
Memorial donations may be made to the Washington Veterans Home.
Stephanie Hamilton
Stephanie Dulcie Hamilton, 31, of Bremerton died July 10, 2002, at Harrison Hospital.
She was born March 23, 1971, in Bremerton to Charles S. and Mary Jean (Walker) Hamilton. She graduated from Olympic High School in 1992.
She had worked in restaurant service and volunteered at the Marine Science Center in Poulsbo.
She enjoyed acting and music. She was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton.
Survivors include her mother; a brother, Charles S. Hamilton III and his wife, Carmenza, of Anchorage, Alaska; a sister, Valerie S. Martinson and her husband, Donn, of Poulsbo; and two nieces, Jennifer F. Hamilton of Wenatchee and Jamie L. Hamilton of Austin, Texas. Her father preceded her in death.
Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. today at Lewis Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be at noon Saturday also at Lewis. Burial will be at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to the Holly Ridge Center, 5112 NW Taylor Road, Bremerton, WA 98312 or to the Easter Seal Society of Washington, 521 Second Ave. W, Seattle, WA 98119-5998.
Bill Henderson
Wilson Burn "Bill" Henderson, 84, of Bainbridge Island died July 8, 2002, at Mission Healthcare in Bellevue.
He was born Sept. 5, 1917, in Madrone (Winslow) on Bainbridge Island, to Percy G. and Irma (Wright) Henderson. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1936.
Mr. Henderson served in the Coast Guard from 1941 to 1946, achieving the rank of quartermaster first class.
He later worked as a groundskeeper, retiring in 1979.
Mr. Henderson enjoyed spending time with his pets and working in the woods. He was a fan of the Mariners and Seahawks.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Bruce Wilson Henderson and Lindalee M. Henderson of Bellevue; a brother, Percy F. Henderson of Poulsbo; a sister, Ariel W. Stranne of Winslow; and two grandchildren, Sarah and Ryan Henderson, both of Bellevue.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Seabold cemetery on Bainbridge Island. A reception follows at the Seabold Community Hall. Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island.
Memorial donations may be made to PAWS of Bainbridge, P.O. Box 10811, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Monte Opsata
Former Hansville resident Monte C. Opsata, 98, of Des Moines, Wash., died July 9, 2002, in
Des Moines.
He was born Sept. 12, 1903, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Stephen E. and Tillie (Hamberg) Opsata.
He married
Glenna Sater. She died in 1998.
In his early years, Mr. Opsata was employed in Boeing's "Red Barn." He later worked as a carpenter in Fairbanks, Alaska, for 20 years, retiring in 1970.
He was a life member of the Shriners and the Elks. He also was active in the Kitsap County Antique Car Club.
Mr. Opsata was affiliated with the Lutheran faith.
Survivors include two sons, Ramon Opsata of Mesa, Ariz., and Dallas Sears of Puyallup; two daughters, Shirley Helde of Whidbey Island and Jean Scott of Spanaway; a brother, Andy Opsata of Olympia; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Lewis Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will be at Forest Lawn cemetery.
Gerald Mathews
Former Port Orchard resident Gerald Dean Mathews, 58, of Winston, Ore., died July 4, 2002, in Winston.
Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor's Family Chapel in Winston, (541) 679-6983.
Chris Christensen
Thomas E. "Chris" Christensen, 92, of Bremerton died July 7, 2002, in Bremerton.
He was born June 6, 1910, in Pillar Rock, to Soren and Amanda (LeRouge) Christensen. He graduated from high school in Battleground.
He married
Nina Marie Thornton on June 30, 1956, in Bremerton. She preceded him in death in 2001.
Mr. Christensen served in the Army during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. He went on to work as a painter at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard until his retirement.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and entertaining with his harmonica. He was a Mason and of the Elks.
Survivors include a son, Fred Brinkman of Terre Haute, Ind.; three daughters, Jacqueline Bright of Bremerton, Virginia Beck of Modesto, Calif., and Vera Holte of Los Angeles; a brother, Robert L. Christensen of Bremerton; 26 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, Robert S. Christensen of Seattle, Carol Mountain of Portland, Ore., Linda Kellison of Bozeman, Mont., and Susan Christensen of Milwaukie, Ore. He also was preceded in death by four brothers, Arthur, Lawrence, Raymond and Roy Christensen.
A graveside service will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bremerton. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who remember Mr. Christensen to take a friend or family member to lunch and to let that person know how much they are loved.
Ruben Galvan
Ruben Galvan Jr., 22, of Bremerton died July 5, 2002, in Mount Shasta, Calif. The cause of his death was drowning.
He was born Nov. 3, 1979, in Texas, to Ruben and Gloria (Mendoza) Galvan.
He graduated from Fabens High School in Fabens, Texas, in 1998. He had studied at Olympic College and through the Navy (Correspondence) College.
Mr. Galvan served in the Navy from 1998 until June of this year, achieving the rank of petty officer third class and serving aboard USS Carl Vinson. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
He enjoyed Bible study and racquet sports. He was a member of Abundant Life Foursquare Church in Bremerton.
Survivors include his parents; two sisters, Sonya and Letty Galvan, both of Fabens; and his maternal grandmother, Isidra Mendoza of Mexico.
A funeral service will be held Friday in Fabens with arrangements under the direction of Hampton Valley Mortuary.
Locally, a memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Abundant Life Foursquare Church, 5610 Kitsap Way.
Foster Searls
Former Bremerton resident Foster I. Searls, 74, of Kirkland died July 6, 2002, of cancer in Kirkland.
He was born July 14, 1927, in Bremerton to Benjamin and Nina (Harvey) Searls. He graduated from Bremerton High School in 1945 and from the University of Washington in 1951.
He married
Virginia Wahlquist on July 20, 1952, in Bremerton.
Mr. Searls served in the Army from 1946 to 1947.
He went on to work as a purchasing director for 27 years with the Bremerton School District and the Lake Washington School District. He retired in 1992.
Mr. Searls was a member of the Washington Association of School Business Officials. He taught college level classes for this organization.
In his youth, he had been a member of Boy Scout Troop 511 in Bremerton and had become an Eagle Scout. His favorite pastimes were woodwork, sailing and cross-country skiing.
Mr. Searls was a member of Bothell United Methodist Church at the time of his death. Previously, he had been a member of First United Methodist Church and St. Luke's United Methodist Church, both in Bremerton.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Craig Searls and his wife, Nancy, of Oakton, Va.; two daughters, Karen Cosme and her husband, Barry, of Kirkland and Christie Porter and her husband, Charles, of Redmond; a sister, Phyllis (Searls) Wahlquist and her husband, Donald, of Bremerton; and eight grandchildren, Celeste, Lindsey, Justine, Danielle, Ryan, Ashley, Courtney and Brett.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. July 20 at Bothell United Methodist Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Bothell United Methodist Building Fund, 18515 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell, WA 98011.
Boya Baleto
Joseph Topasna "Boya" Baleto, 52, of Bremerton died July 4, 2002, in Coalinga, Calif.
He was born Oct. 24, 1949, in Santa Rita, Guam, to Vicente M. and Rita (Topasna) Baleto.
He married
Josephine Aguon on Oct. 17, 1972, in Santa Rita.
Mr. Baleto served in the Army from 1969 to 1971, achieving the rank of specialist fourth class. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.
At the time of his death, he had worked as a heavy equipment operator at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 32 years.
Mr. Baleto enjoyed music and had performed as a lead guitarist in several bands over the past 40 years. He was a member of the Guam Club of Bremerton, the Eagles and Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife; five sons, Jay Baleto and Boya Baleto and his wife, Erika, all of Tacoma, Tony Baleto and his wife, Claire, of Bremerton, Mark Baleto and his wife, Angel, of Norfolk, Va., and Michael Baleto and his wife, Aracelie, of Yakima; a daughter, Joyce Baleto and her companion, Guy Salas; four brothers, Frankie Baleto of Fort Smith, Ark., Greg Baleto of Bremerton, and Vincent and Ray Baleto, both of Guam; four sisters, June Baleto-Bird of Gig Harbor, Annie Baleto-Slagle of Dallas, Rose Baleto of Joplin, Mo., and Mary Baleto-Archuleta of Bremerton; eight grandchildren, Jay-Kamen, Angelina, Jordan and Brian, all of Bremerton, A.J. and Zachery, both of Auburn, JoeJoe of Tacoma and Michael of Yakima; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents of Guam and a granddaughter, Marissa C. Taimanglo.
Visitation will be at 7 tonight at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 4215 Pine Road NE, with a rosary following at 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday also at Holy Trinity with a graveside service following at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bremerton.
John Buckendorf
John E. Buckendorf, 35, of Port Orchard died July 1, 2002, in South Kitsap County.
He was born Dec. 23, 1966, in Seattle to Jerry and Donna (Hoyt) Buckendorf. He received his GED in 2000.
He married
Monica Ann Geucho in Hanford, Calif., in 1996.
Mr. Buckendorf had worked in a cannery in California and in construction, remodeling military housing in California. He also had been a brush picker.
He enjoyed beadwork, fishing and working with his hands. He made fishing lures and poles.
Mr. Buckendorf attended New Life Fellowship in Bremerton.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, now of Raymond; two sons, Jacob Calderone of Port Orchard and Tyler Buckendorf of Raymond; two daughters, Heather Hahn of Port Orchard and Aubrey Buckendorf of Raymond; a stepson, Austin Geucho of Raymond; his twin brother, Jerry Buckendorf of Port Orchard; a sister, Shellie Gainer of Quilcene; and his grandmother, Elaine Smith of Port Orchard.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Pendleton-Gilchrist Funeral Home at Rill Chapel. Interment
will be at Sunset Lane cemetery in Port Orchard.
