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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2019)
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A Your Family Deserves The e O BITUARIES LeRoy ‘Roy’ O. Papenfuhs La Grande 1928-2019 LeRoy “Roy” O. Papenfuhs, 90, of La Grande, died Oct. 4 at a local care facility. A me- morial service will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at Daniels- Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Known as Roy, he was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Hast- ings, Minnesota, to Paul and Mia (Deuchman) Papenfuhs. On July 20, 1958, he married Floriece Connally in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roy worked as a logger in various places and moved to La Grande in 2008. He was a member of the United Meth- odist Church and enjoyed hunting and fi shing. Surviving relatives include his wife, Floriece Papenfuhs of La Grande; children, Ton- nie Thompson of La Grande and Mark Papenfuhs of Beaverton; and four grand- children. Eugenia Y. (Pollard) Smith La Grande 1936-2019 Eugenia Yvonne Smith, 83, of La Grande, died Sept. 30 at a local care facility. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Imbler Christian Church, followed by a pot- luck lunch. UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by Oct. 10 Annie Richmond: 7 p.m., memorial service, Island City Lighthouse Pentecostal Church. Oct. 12 William Knight: 10 a.m., celebration of life, Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande; casual dress preferred. B RIEFLY White Barn’s Holiday Marketplace begins tomorrow LA GRANDE — White Barn Estate, 62788 Hunter Road, La Grande, will host a Holiday Marketplace Oct. 10-12. Hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Writing teens invited to share stories and ideas LA GRANDE — Cook Memorial Library will host Teen Writing Circle from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10. Teen Writing Circle is a place to exchange ideas, brainstorm and get feedback from peers. There is no cost to attend and registration is not needed. Union County Museum annual meeting features special speaker UNION — The Union County Museum Society’s an- nual meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Little White Church, located across Main Street from the museum. The meeting will include a brief review of the museum season, recognition of volunteers, elec- tion of board members and a vote to accept the 2020 budget. Following that, the featured speaker will be Scott Schroeder, a dedicated fan and student of local history, with special interest in high school sports. The annual meeting is free and open to the public. Eugenia was born May 28, 1936, in Guymon, Okla- homa, to Rayburn Terry and Jewel Elen (Dare) Pollard. She attended school there until the age of 16, when she married James Robert “Bob” Smith. They had two children: Sheila Ann and Shelly Lynn. During their marriage, they traveled extensively for Bob’s work as a sign painter and sketch artist, pulling their 10x55 foot Marshfi eld trailer to Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Texas, New Mexico, Nebras- ka, Oklahoma and Oregon. After Bob’s health began to decline, they remained in La Grande. Eugenia spent long years caring for her mother, her special needs brother and her husband. She was always willing to lend a hand where needed. She read to the blind, volunteered at First Baptist Church, where she was a long-time member, and was a caregiver and babysitter to many. Soon after her husband’s death, Eugenia met a family that she adopted as her own. She enjoyed many years loving and being loved by her daughter, Rebecca Ann Petty and husband, John. Their six children grew up knowing Eugenia as Granny “Apple” Smith and provided her with nine great-grandchildren to love and spoil. Survivors include her children, Sheila Ann Smith of Nebraska, Shelly Lynn Smith of Montana and Rebecca Ann Petty and husband, John, of Hawaii; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 1980; parents, Rayburn and Jewel; and brothers, Rayburn Taylor Pollard and John Haskell Pollard. In lieu of fl owers, memorial contributions may be made to Heidi Ho Kindergarten, 1702 Sixth St., La Grande 97850, or the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany, La Grande 97850. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel. com. Benjamin S. Hooley La Grande Benjamin S. Hooley, 92, of La Grande, died Oct. 8 at a local care facility. An obitu- ary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crema- tory will be handling the arrangements. Beverly ‘Joan’ (Sheets) Elsberry La Grande 1931-2019 Beverly “Joan” Elsberry, 87, of La Grande, died Oct. 2 at a local care facil- ity. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 12 at the La Grande First Christian Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Known as Joan and nick- named Mo, she was born Dec. 13, 1931, in James- town, North Dakota, to Harold and Joyce (Barney) Sheets. She graduated from high school in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1949. On April 2, 1950, Joan married Marvin Elsberry in Grand Forks. They moved to Eu- gene in 1953 and La Grande in 1959. Joan mended uniforms for the EOU Athletics Depart- ment but was best known for selling Avon products for almost 50 years, garnering many awards. She could be seen almost every day, mak- ing deliveries throughout the Grande Ronde Valley in her car, which was affectionately known as the “Mo Mobile” by John Rowland Stebbins April 24, 1934 - October 2, 2019 John Rowland Stebbins, 85, of La Grande and Walla Walla, Wash- ington, 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 the Grandview Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. John was born April 24, 1934, in Gothenburg, Nebraska, to Virge W. and Florence (Brooks) Stebbins. He graduat- ed 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 Erickson Gifford of Walla Walla. Ruth brought two children into the marriage, Eric Allan Gifford and Karen Louise Gifford. John returned to Gothenburg after college and in 1958 joined with J.B. Dean, his brother-in-law, in starting Steb- bins 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 Relations Committee. He served on the Gothenburg City Council, the Airport Board and did various jobs for the Gothenburg 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 Implement and moved to Hawaii. In1970, 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 chairman. 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, camping, 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 wom- en to help him enjoy life, Barbara and Ruth. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital or Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. BEST her family. Joan was a 4-H leader and an active mem- ber of the First Christian Church, American Legion Auxiliary and Eagles Auxil- iary. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, sewing and bowling. Surviving relatives include her daughters and sons- in-law, Barbara Malone of La Grande, Lori and Jim Southard of Medical Spring, and Janice and Greg Mussgrove of La Grande; son and daughter-in-law, Alan Elsberry and Alita Arendell of Baker City; sisters, Caro- lyn Kranzler of Portland and Lois Burron of Utah; and seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Elsberry; siblings, Judy Emery, Phyllis Sheets, Jim Sheets, Joe Bennett and Terry Sheets; and son-in-law, Steve Malone. Memorial contributions may be made to the La Grande First Christian Church or the American Legion Auxiliary. Technology... Value... TV!... Add High Speed Internet /mo. Subject to availability. Restrictions apply. 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Locally owned and operated for over 25 years STORAGE BUILDINGS or ANIMAL SHELTERS (541) 663-0246 RENT to OWN and Ernest I. Smith Formerly of Union 90 Days Same as Cash Rev. Ernest Irving Smith, 76, formerly of Union, died July 21 in Sequim, Washing- ton. Smith served the Union/ Cove Methodist Churches from 1994 to 2001 and after retirement, the North Powder Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Cove Methodist Church. See our display lot at NEW LOCATION! 10505 N. McAlister Road (Corner of Hwy 82 & N. McAlister Rd.) William “Bill” LeRoy Knight May 12, 1934 - October 1, 2019 William “Bill” LeRoy Knight, 85, of La Grande, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at a local care facility. Funeral services will be held at Loveland Funeral Chapel on October 12, 2019 @ 10:00 a.m. A lunch reception will follow at Island City City Hall. Friends and family are welcome to join us at Wendy and Kelly’s Home in North Powder any time following the reception Bill was born May 12, 1934, in Wallowa County, Oregon to George and Vera (Smith) Knight. The family homesteaded on Eden Bench at Troy. George was a farmer along with his father, William Joseph Knight. The family moved to La Grande in 1944 when Bill was 10 yrs. old to a farm his parents bought in the Grande Ronde Valley. One of his fondest memories was riding out of Troy on horseback with his grandfather. Since they had no way to truck the 3 horses, they saddled up two of them, put a pack on the 3rd and went by the way of Lookout Mountain, Elgin, and Summerville in 3 days. W. J. was about 83 years old at that time. He lived to be 107. Bill attended school in La Grande from 5th grade until he graduated in 1952. He rode the school bus until he learned to drive and got his car. High school students didn’t have cars except for a few farm kids. Since Bill was a farm boy, he had a little 1930 Model coupe which he later traded for a 1948 Studebaker coupe. His first job for someone else was on top of Ladd canyon in a house, doing miscellaneous ranch duties at 14 yrs. Old. Bill worked for his father during high school in the Knight’s tire shop which was located on Adams Avenue at the time (where the Chevron station is now.) He would work until after dark, recapping tires. The tire shop later moved out to Island City, eventually becoming Larry’s Tire Service. He con- tinued to work there until he was laid off during a recession in 1962. Bill was a member of the National Guard from shortly after high school until 1961. Bill married Dolores Jean Humlicek on August 30, 1953, in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and made their home in La Grande. They had 3 children, Brian, Kemit and Lisa. Brian Merrill passed away in 1956. Bill and Dolores divorced in 1981. Bill became interested in learning to fly a helicopter and have his own business after his father laid him off in ’62. He helped with the local forest firefighting crews while with the National Guard and got the idea of the helicopter being used for agriculture here in the valley. He went to Yakima, Washington and bought his first helicopter, a Bell 47-D1 bubble nose, in 1963 where he began his training. While learning to fly, Bill worked in south central Washington for a few months, learning how to mix farm chemicals and other aspects of Ag spraying. He started Rambling Rotors, Inc. in 1963 at the age of 28 years old. By 1985, Rambling Rotors Inc. had 7 Helicopters and 16 employees. He was the FBO for the Union County Airport for one year. Bill also founded the Lifeguard III Air Ambulance at the Pendleton Fire Dept. Bill’s was well-known as an outstanding pilot and his abilities were not just limited to only agricultural flying. He flew many jobs with OTEC, ODF&W, BLM, Forest Service, many rescue missions and countless others. His helicopters were contracted to fly camera crews on the movie sets of Paint Your Wagon, Samson and Delilah and the Incredible Journey 2. He married Hilda (Vanderwall) Haufle on January 7, 1986 in Stateline, Nevada. He became a great fatherly influence to Hilda’s daughters, Wendy and Amanda. He and Hilda made their home in North Powder, where they owned a farm and raised Belted Galloway Cattle. Bill loved hunting, fishing and boating. In 1991, Bill experienced some heart compli- cations and was concerned about continuing his medical certification to fly. This was when he had his first thoughts of retirement or other options. In 2008, Bill had a ruptured brain aneurism that changed his and everyone’s lives tremendously…… Bill was a son, dad, mentor, grandfather, great-grandfather and more… Often referred to as ” One of the Best Pilots Many have known”. He will be missed, but he WILL be remembered. He is survived by his wife Hilda; children Kemit and wife Linda Knight of Starkey, Lisa and husband Leigh Wright of Island City, Wendy and husband Kelly Secl, of North Powder and Amanda and husband Travis Bowman of La Grande. 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Siblings Georgia Danly of Walla Walla, Barbara Waliser of La Grande, Gary Knight of Milton Freewater, Marilyn and Duane Staat of Woodburn, Linda and Corky Walker of Hermiston. He is preceded in death by his parents George and Vera (Smith) Knight, a son Brian and brother –in- laws Harry Danly and Larry Waliser. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
