LOCAL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019
THE OBSERVER — 3A
L ocaL B riefing
From staff reports
LG Rural Fire Protection
Board meets Tuesday
ISLAND CITY — The La
Grande Rural Fire Protection
Board will meet Oct. 8. The board
meets on the second Tuesday of the
month at 6 p.m. at the La Grande
Rural Fire Hall, 10200 S. McAlister
Road. The La Grande Rural Fire
Protection District Board oversees
the operation of the La Grande Ru-
ral Fire Department. The depart-
ment, based in Island City, provides
emergency medical and fire service
throughout Union County.
Parks & Rec announces
commission meetings
LA GRANDE — The City of La
Grande Community Landscape
and Forestry Commission will
meet Oct. 8, the Arts Commission
convenes Oct. 9, and the Parks &
Rec Advisory Commission meet-
ing is set for Oct. 10. Each meeting
begins at 5:30 p.m. at the City of La
Grande Parks & Recreation office,
2402 Cedar St. (inside Pioneer
Park). Volunteers commissioners
are needed for the Arts Commis-
sion and the Community Land-
scape & Forestry Commission.
Contact Parks & Recreation Direc-
tor Stu Spence at 541-962-1348 if
interested in volunteering.
Guest speaker tells of
tribal life in Vietnam
LA GRANDE — The Union
County Retired Educators will
meet at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the
Flying J Restaurant. The guest
speaker will be Phil Hassinger, who
will present “A Glimpse of Tribal
Life in Vietnam.”
Parks & Rec leads
excursion to Boise Zoo
LA GRANDE — The City of La
Grande Parks & Recreation’s next
excursion will be an Oct. 12 trip to
the Boise Zoo. Participants will meet
at 8:30 a.m. at the Parks & Recre-
ation Department 2402 Cedar St.
(in Pioneer Park next to the outdoor
basketball courts). The $36 tickets
includes transportation and en-
trance to the zoo. Children younger
than 13 must be accompanied by
an adult. To reserve a seat, go to
www.lagrandeparks.org, stop by the
Parks & Rec office, or contact Rec-
reation Supervisor McKayla Nitz at
mckayla.nitz@cityoflagrande.org or
541-962-1352 by Oct. 9.
Wallowa Resources Pub
Talk set for Wednesday
ENTERPRISE — In collabora-
tion with Energy Trust of Oregon,
Wallowa Resources is hosting an
interactive energy Pub Talk for
Wallowa County commercial busi-
nesses from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct.
9. “A Framework for Commercial
Energy Decision Making” will re-
view costs of different fuel sources,
discuss strengths and barriers of
each resource, and look at efficiency
and financial assistance vehicles
through the experience of local
recipients. The free event will take
place at the Range Rider, 107 NW
First St., Enterprise.
Union SWCD Board meets
in Island City
ISLAND CITY — The Union Soil
and Water Conservation District
Board will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 9
at the Union County Extension
Office, 10507 N. McAlister Road,
Island City. Principal subjects to
be discussed are monthly finan-
cial statements, staff reports and
partner agency reports. Call Chris-
topher Moats, natural resources
conservationist, at 541-963-1313 or
go to www.unionswcd.org or more
information.
No Wednesday
community dinner
this week
LA GRANDE — The Oct. 9
Wednesday Night Community Din-
ner at the Presbyterian Friendship
Center, 1204 Spring Ave.,
La Grande, has been cancelled be-
cause new carpet is being installed.
The dinners will resume Oct. 16.
All are welcome at the dinners,
which are prepared by Merlyn’s
Catering and are served at 6 p.m.
for a $3 suggested donation.
RSVP for next senior
lunch in Cove
COVE — The Oct. 15 senior
meal in Cove, held in Founders
Hall at the Ascension School, will
feature baked chicken, mac and
cheese, peas and carrots, salad bar
and rolls, with peach cobbler for
dessert. There is a $5 charge per
meal. Coffee and tea are available
at noon, and the meal is served at
12:15 p.m. RSVP by calling Imie
Bristow at 541-568-4545 or Betsy
Arnson at 541-568-4902 by Oct. 10.
Wyden holds town hall in
Wallowa County
ENTERPRISE — U.S. Sen. Ron
Wyden will hold a town hall in Wal-
lowa County Oct. 12. In fulfillment
of his pledge to hold at least one
town hall each year in each of the
state’s 36 counties, Wyden has held
950 town halls statewide – includ-
ing 37 so far this year.
“Listening to people in every
nook and cranny of our state is
essential to putting democracy into
action locally and finding solutions
that work for Eastern Oregon and
nationwide,” he said.
After town halls in Wheeler,
Grant and Harney counties, Wyden
will travel to Enterprise for a
1:30 p.m. gathering at Community
Connection, 702 NW First St.
LivFit classes move off-site
LA GRANDE — Art Center East
announced that beginning this fall,
all LivFit classes have moved off-
site, including yoga refresh, zumba,
pilates, barre and sweat classes).
ACE’s former LivFit and other
movement classes are now being
held at Peak Lifestyle Studio on
Adams Avenue in La Grande.
COVE FFA hosts Fall Fun
Run
COVE — The Cove FFA’s Fall
Fun Run will be on Oct. 12. Par-
ticipants may run a downhill 5K
race or 1-mile fun run. Registration
begins at 8 a.m. at the Cove FFA
Ag House, 803 Main St. Downhill
runners will be bussed up Millcreek
to the start and run back to the ag
house. The 1-mile run will begin and
end at the ag house. The entry fee is
$10; age 6 and younger participate
for free. T-shirts will be available for
purchase on site. The Fall Fun Run
is being hosted by Katie Rowell Fox
and Brendan Kelley.
Have ‘Soup with the
Superintendent’
LA GRANDE — Community
members are invited to a Soup with
the Superintendent gathering
Oct. 15 at La Grande Middle School,
1108 Fourth St. Those who at-
tend will share a soup supper with
George Mendoza and visit about
what student success looks like in
the La Grande School District based
on its Strategic Plan, including an
overview of programs, services and
needs. The event will conclude with
a discussion on how best to spend
Student Success Act funds. Child
care will be provided. RSVP to
gaye.young@lagrandesd.org.
o Bituaries
John R. Stebbins
La Grande
1934-2019
John Rowland Stebbins,
85, of La Grande and Walla
Walla, Washington, died
Oct. 2 at
his home as
a result of
complications
due to multiple
myeloma blood
cancer. He was diagnosed
with myeloma in early 2005.
A memorial service will be
held at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at St.
Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Private burial will be at
Grandview Cemetery. Ar-
rangements are entrusted
to Daniels-Knopp Funeral,
Cremation & Life Celebra-
tion Center.
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Oct. 12
William Knight:
10 a.m., celebration of
life, Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande;
casual dress preferred.
Oct. 26
Violet Malone:
2 p.m., memorial
service, Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation
& Life Celebration
Center, La Grande;
interment follows at
the Cove Cemetery.
Oct. 27
Jerry Johnson:
1 p.m., memorial
service, Eastern
Oregon Livestock
Show Clubhouse,
Union.
John was born April 24,
1934, in Gothenburg, Ne-
braska, to Virge W. and Flor-
ence (Brooks) Stebbins. He
graduated from Gothenburg
High in 1952 and earned a
business degree from the
University of Nebraska. He
married Barbara Farnsworth
of Santa Barbara, California,
in 1955, and they had five
children: John W., Steven,
Barbara, Susanne and Tim.
Barbara died in 1980, and in
1981 John married Ruth Er-
ickson Gifford of Walla Walla.
Ruth brought two children
into the marriage, Eric Allan
Gifford and Karen Louise
Gifford.
John returned to Gothen-
burg after college and in
1958 joined with J.B. Dean,
his brother-in-law, in start-
ing Stebbins Implement Co.,
an International Harvester
sales and service dealership.
While in Gothenburg and
in college, he participated in
the following organizations:
Kiwanis Club, Masonic Rite,
Scottish Rite, Shrine and the
United Methodist Church as
a Sunday school teacher and
a member of the Pastor Rela-
tions Committee. He served
on the Gothenburg City Coun-
cil, the Airport Board and did
various jobs for the Gothen-
burg Chamber of Commerce.
At the university he was a
member of Beta Theta Pi
Fraternity and served as the
chapter chaplain.
In 1968, John sold his
interest in Stebbins Imple-
ment and moved to Hawaii.
In 1970, he moved to La
Grande, where he joined
with Bob Goss in starting
S & G Machinery Co.
S & G was the John Deere
sales and service dealer in
the Union County area.
While in La Grande, John
was a member of St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church and
served that church by being
on the vestry and for many
years was stewardship chair-
man. He also served as a
trustee of St. Peter’s Homan
Trust. John was a charter
member of the Island City
Lions Club, the Elks Club
and a member of the Union
County Museum.
John enjoyed his business
and his customers. He also
enjoyed snowmobiling, camp-
ing, skiing, fishing, rafting,
exploring the surrounding
countryside and hunting with
family and friends. He spent
many weekends teaching his
children and their friends
how to enjoy the things
available in this area. John
felt fortunate that he found
two good women to help him
enjoy life, Barbara and Ruth.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Shriners
Hospital or Multiple My-
eloma Research Foundation.
Annie S. Richmond
La Grande
Annie Sterling Richmond,
72, of La Grande, died
Sept. 7 at a local care facility.
A memorial service will be
held at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at
the Island City Lighthouse
Pentecostal Church.
LeRoy ‘Roy’ O.
Papenfuhs
La Grande
LeRoy “Roy” O. Papenfuhs,
90, La Grande, died Oct. 4
at a local care facility. An
obituary is forthcoming.
Arrangements are under the
direction of Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center.
Nancy A. Gulden
Formerly of Cove and La Grande
1935-2019
Nancy Ann Gulden, 83,
of Gresham and formerly of
Cove and La
Grande, died
April 26. At her
request there
will not be a
public service.
Her children and extended
family held a private gather-
ing May 30 in La Grande.
Nancy was born Dec. 12,
1935, in Fairplay, Colorado, to
Arthur C. and Opal E. Gul-
den.When she was a young
child, her family moved to
Eastern Oregon, living in
Cove and later La Grande.
During her high school years,
Nancy attended and gradu-
ated from Canyonville Bible
Academy Boarding School.
On Aug. 5, 1955, Nancy
married Alvin D. Madsen
of La Grande, and they had
five children together before
divorcing in 1970. While
married they lived in La
Grande, Brookings, Gold
Beach and Portland. She
later married Earl Alvestad.
They lived in Springfield,
and later divorced.
In 1975, Nancy moved
to California and settled in
Campbell, where she lived
the next 21 years. In 1997,
she moved to Renton, Wash-
ington, to help raise her
granddaughter Lily Cason.
In 2009, Nancy moved to
Gresham, where she resided
until her death.
Nancy loved animals,
especially dogs. She had a
dry sense of humor and was
an avid reader. Nancy loved
the ocean and was a great
cook, often catering parties
for her family and employ-
ers in the Bay Area.
An experienced and
talented seamstress, Nancy
spent the bulk of her adult
career working in and coor-
dinating jobs for a custom
drapery and upholstery
shop in Campbell and later
Atherton, California. Some
of her amazing work was
featured in an issue of Ar-
chitectural Digest.
In addition to her family,
Nancy’s extended family
included her longtime and
dear friend Lynne Swan-
son, and she was Auntie
Nancy to Lynne’s children,
Jollyn and John Green.
Survivors include her
children and their spouses,
Mitch and Nancy Madsen
of Ridgefield, Washington,
Jeff and Cindy Madsen of
La Grande, Kristi Madsen
and Kenny Cason of San
National PA Week: October 6-12, 2019
ucmuseumoregon.com
Little White Church, 366 S. Main Street, Union
Mon-Fri Blue Plate $12:
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
with a Nella Mae Salad!
Elwood and Henry
on their Blue Mountain Byway Tour
Tuesday, October 8th
8pm-10pm
541-963-8766
tendepotstreet.com
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
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UNION COUNTY MUSEUM
Museum Society Annual Meeting
7 p.m., Friday, October 11
Local History Through the Lens of School Sports
presented by Scott Schroeder
Antonio, Texas, Teresa and
David Hall of Gresham, and
Eric and Jeannie Madsen of
Elgin; 14 grandchildren and
nine great-grandchildren;
and sister, Bonnie (Tam)
Lange Butler.
She was preceded in
death by her parents and
brother Jack Gulden and
John Green.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Oregon
Humane Society or the
Multnomah County Animal
Shelter in Troutdale.
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