COMMUNITY
SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• BAKER CITY — The Oregon
Trail Electric Cooperative
Board of Directors will meet
Tuesday, May 26. Among
other agenda items, the
board is scheduled to dis-
cuss COVID-19 updates and
fi nancial projections. Decision
items include the OTEC 501(c)
(3) Foundation and lineman
and trade school scholarships.
OTEC is headquartered at
4005 23rd St., Baker City. For
specifi cs on how the meeting
will be held, contact Michele
Grove, OTEC administrative
assistant, at 541-524-2853 or
mgrove@otecc.com.
UNION COUNTY
SENIOR CENTER
TAKEOUT
LUNCH MENU
Pickup from 11:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany
St., La Grande. For delivery,
call 541-963-7532 before
10 a.m. Age 60+, $3 suggest-
ed donation; all others, $5.
MAY 26-30
Monday: closed for Me-
morial Day
Tuesday: fi sh and chips,
baked beans, coleslaw,
dessert.
Wednesday: pork roast,
mashed potatoes and
gravy, steamed green beans,
salad greens, baked apples,
dessert.
Thursday: tomatoes
stuffed with cashew-chicken
salad, salad greens, veggies,
freshly baked bread, fruit
tarts.
Friday: chicken Alfredo,
steamed vegetables, Caesar
salad, bread sticks, fresh
fruit.
Rental
assistance
available
in NE
Oregon
The Observer
UNION COUNTY
— Rental assistance
is available for those
affected by COVID-19
through Community
Connection of Northeast
Oregon Inc.
Rochelle Hamilton,
homeless services man-
ager for the nonprofi t,
said the state funds
could bring some peace
of mind to those strug-
gling as a direct result
of the novel coronavirus.
“We have many pro-
grams, and there is
never enough assis-
tance, but this program
is a way to help those
directly impacted by
COVID,” Hamilton said.
“If you have never been
in this situation before
I can just imagine the
stress a person must be
under.”
The funding came
as part of the Oregon
Legislature’s $12 mil-
lion to Oregon housing
and community ser-
vices, with $8.5 million
to provide rent relief.
Community Connec-
tion received $162,250
to provide assistance
to those who have been
unable to pay rent due to
a loss in income or job
loss.
This loss in income,
according to Hamilton,
can include those who
still work but had to cut
back on hours due to
the need to stay home
for reasons including
someone in the house-
hold being sick, or lack
of childcare and needing
to stay home and watch
children.
The only other
requirement for funding
assistance is the person
or family requesting
must be under the
income limit for their
county. For Union,
Baker and Grant Coun-
ties that means an indi-
vidual must make less
than $21,500 to qualify,
more if there are mul-
tiple members of a
household. Wallowa
County residents income
limit for an individual is
$22,300.
For more informa-
tion, visit Community
Connection’s website at
www.ccno.org.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
Bruce Hepburn
Formerly of La Grande • 1950-2020
Bruce Hepburn, 69, for-
merly of La Grande, died
May 6 from complications
of Parkinson’s disease. A
memorial service will be
held at a later date.
Bruce was
born June 12,
1950, in Port-
land, to Don
and Ruby Hep-
burn. The
family moved
to La Grande in the fall
of 1954. Bruce attended
Ackerman Elementary
School and graduated from
La Grande High School
in 1968 and what is now
Eastern Oregon University
in 1973.
For many years, Bruce
worked as a railroad engi-
neer for Union Pacifi c Rail-
road in Portland. He retired
in 2003.
Bruce enjoyed sports
cars and owned several of
his own over the years. He
also enjoyed electric trains
and for the last few years
of his life always set up and
ran the Christmas train at
his assisted living facility.
Surviving relatives
include his sister, Mary
Prescott; niece, Emily
Braman; nephews, Brad
Schatzel and Tom Prescott;
and several cousins.
Memories and condo-
lences may be shared online
at autumn-funerals-crema-
tion.com.
He was preceded in
death by his father, Ralph
Thompson; mother, Jane
Thompson; sister, Alberta
Thompson; and wife, Dar-
lene Thompson.
Upcoming
local
services are
pending due
to efforts to
curb the
spread of the
coronavirus.
Harold G. Thompson
Formerly of Elgin • 1942-2020
Harold Gene Thompson,
77, formerly of Elgin,
died May 6 at his home
in Albany. The family
is planning a memorial
in Eastern Oregon this
summer.
Harold was
born Nov. 15,
1942, in La
Grande. The
second of six
siblings, he
grew up in
Elgin and graduated from
Elgin High School in 1961.
A hard worker, Harold
worked for the Laborers
Union for almost 40 years
and helped build highways
and buildings all around
the state.
Harold was a loving
father, dedicated to his
wife and children. He
enjoyed hunting, fi shing
and camping at the Oregon
Coast and in the Blue
Mountains and the Wal-
lowas. Harold loved to
work on cars, boats and
equipment and he liked to
fabricate metal. He wanted
to go back to Alaska and
repeat a trip he made with
his family in 2005.
Surviving relatives
include his children,
Harold Thompson Jr.,
Lanet Dunigan and Paula
Arnett; six grandchil-
dren and fi ve great-grand-
children; brothers, Steve,
Ralph and Neil Thompson;
and sister, Charlotte
Dougharity.
Robert D. Way
Elgin • 1933-2020
Robert “Bob” Duane
Way, 86, of Elgin, died May
19 at his residence. A pri-
vate graveside service will
be held.
Known as
Bob, he was
born Dec. 29,
1933, in Walla
Walla, Wash-
ington, to Jay
and Maurine
(Larson) Way. He resided
in Salem, Arlington, North
Powder and Pendleton
and in Arkansas, settling
in Elgin in 1963. He mar-
ried Eva Pelton on June 14,
1954.
Bob was the owner/
operator of Robert Way
Logging. He established
this successful logging
and trucking business with
a seventh-grade education.
He enjoyed farming, gar-
dening, being in the moun-
tains and hunting mush-
rooms. He spent as much
time with his family as he
could and even enjoyed
water fi ghts with his
family — and he won the
Best Dad of the Year.
A longtime member
of the Elgin Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Bob
was a spiritual leader for
his children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
Surviving rela-
tives include his wife,
Eva; children and their
spouses, Glenn and Susan
Way of Vale, Bonnie and
Terry Burgess of Spray,
Kerry and Holly Way
of Oakland, Jeanne and
Marlin Wolfe of Mid-
vale, Idaho, and Roy and
Heather Way of Summer-
ville; sister and broth-
er-in-law, Dorothy and
Alvin Bartholomew of
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; 11
grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren; and
numerous nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Jay
and Maurine Way, and
brother, Don Way.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
NEWS BRIEFS
The Observer
Business webinar
answers reopening
questions
UNION COUNTY
— The Union County
Chamber of Commerce is
hosting a webinar Tuesday
at 2 p.m. for businesses in
Union and Wallowa coun-
ties. Experts will go over
requirements and answer
questions about daily oper-
ations under coronavirus
reopening requirements.
Summer camps to
open in La Grande
LA GRANDE — A lim-
ited number of La Grande
Parks and Recreation
summer camps will be open
under Gov. Kate Brown’s
provisions for reopening,
with listings of the camps
available on the depart-
ment’s website. Each camp
can have 10 children and
only full- or half-day camps
are open to registration.
Complete the
Census to win prizes
LA GRANDE — The
Cook Memorial Library
is operating a contest to
encourage residents to com-
plete their 2020 Census
forms. La Grande and
Union County residents
who complete the census
form can enter into a
drawing for one of fi ve $25
prizes. To enter, email your
name, address and phone
number and proof that you
completed the 2020 Census
to libdirector@cookmemo-
riallibrary.org.
If you completed the
census online, attach a
photo of your online con-
fi rmation number. If you
answered by mail, submit
a photo of your com-
pleted questionnaire. If you
answered by phone, email
your confi rmation number.
Starting Tuesday, win-
ners will be randomly picked
weekly and announced on
the Library’s Facebook page
and other social media chan-
nels. Award winners also
will be emailed. The weekly
prizes are:
Week 1: $25 La Grande
Farmers Market gift
certifi cate
Week 2: $25 Market-
place Fresh Foods gift
certifi cate
Week 3: $25 La Grande
Drive-in gift certifi cate
Week 4: $25 Looking
Glass Books gift certifi cate
Week 5: $25 gift certif-
icate at a local business of
your choice
Complete the Census at
Enterprise continues egg drop tradition
EO Media Group
Enterprise students on Thursday
concluded the 44th annual Egg
Week. Chuck Corak started the tra-
dition, and his daughter, Enterprise
third grade teacher Tori Christman,
continues it with her class.
The weeklong unit is to help teach
students responsibility and also
focuses on creativity, math, science
and writing. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the Enterprise Fire De-
partment helped with Egg Gradua-
tion. Students had to create a device
that would allow for an egg to be
dropped from the fi retruck ladder
and land without a crack.
Firefi ghters Gary Gassett, Dean
Brown and Brian Rahn were there to
help the students.
Contributed photo
PUBLIC SAFETY
Take Out Menu
WEDNESDAY
7:59 a.m. — La Grande police
stopped a driver who was using
a cellphone and counseled the
person about driving while us-
ing handheld electronic devices.
12:20 p.m. — A Union County
sheriff’s deputy found a tran-
sient camp off the U.S. Forest
Service 100 Road near Union.
3:50 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a complaint about possible child
neglect in Island City.
8:36 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce received an-
other complaint about possible
child neglect, this time in Cove.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
5pm-8pm
Entrees
Appetizers
BBQ Pork $8
Artichoke Dip $8
Peel and Eat Shrimp $8
Combo Plates small $12 large $20
Soup
Clam Chowder-Friday
Chicken Bisque-Saturday
Salad
Taco Salad-beef or chicken $12
Caesar $10
House Salad $7
Add chicken or shrimp $3
Blue Plate Special $12
Beef and Beer Stew
Prime Rib 8oz $25 12oz $30 16oz $35
New York Strip $25
Grilled Scallops with Fettuccine Alfredo $15
Small Plates
4oz Prime Rib $12
Teriyaki Chicken $10
Sandwiches
Prime Rib Sandwich $18
Roast Beef Dip $14
Teriyaki Chicken $12
Desserts
Our Very Best Chocolate Cake $6
Cheesecake $6
Chocolate Hazelnut Torte $6
Sunday Night
Cajun BBQ Ribs
$15
www.tendepotstreet.com
541-963-8766
with Nella Mae’s Spring mix and bread
Pint of Guiness $2
THURSDAY
10:01 a.m. — A caller reported
goats on the loose on the 63200
block of Wolf Creek Lane, North
Powder.
2:43 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of possible sex
abuse.
3:48 p.m. — A caller reported
animal abuse on the 200 block
of First Street, North Powder.
5:42 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 3000 block
of Q Avenue for a domestic
disturbance and separated the
parties.
9:39 p.m. — A La Grande
police offi cer reported a tree
leaning on power lines at H Av-
enue and 16th Street. Dispatch
contacted the public works
department and the Oregon Trail
Electric Cooperative.
FAMILY
OWNED
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com
mycensus2020.gov or by
calling 844-330-2020 for
your chance to win.
La Grande among
state’s safest cities
SALT LAKE CITY —
The home safety review
website SafeWise ranks La
Grande as the fourth safest
city in Oregon for 2020.
SafeWise recently
released is sixth annual
Safest Cities in Oregon
report. La Grande, with a
population of 13,186, was
one of four new cities to
make the list, along with
West Linn, St. Helens and
Newberg-Dundee.
La Grande’s violent
crime rate came in at 0.9
incidents per 1,000 people,
and its property crime rate
is 20 per 1,000. Oregon’s
violent crime rate is lower
than the national average
— 2.9 incidents per 1,000
people versus 3.7, according
to the report — while prop-
erty crime in Oregon hap-
pens at a rate of 28.9 inci-
dents per 1,000, compared
to 22.0 nationwide.
La Grande was the only
Eastern Oregon city in the
top 20. SafeWise calculates
crime rates for every city in
Oregon that meets the com-
pany’s population threshold.
According to the report,
cities that don’t make the
list are below the population
threshold or did not submit
a complete crime report to
the FBI in 2018.
West Linn, population
26,934, was the safest city
in Oregon, per the report,
and Tigard, population
53,880, rounded out the top
20. Baker City came in at
No. 23, Pendleton at No. 24
and Hermiston at No. 27.
Bertha (Berdie) Lue Stephens
February 1, 1926 - May 12, 2020
Bertha
(Berdie) Lue
Stephens – 94
Died May
12, 2020, at
Clearwater
Health and Re-
hab in Orofino,
ID. She was
born Feb 1,
1926, to Luther
and Ellen Hays
in Seattle,
WA, and grew
up with four
brothers and
one sister in
Eugene, OR. Berdie married Sidney Eugene Allen in
1945, and had a daughter, Linda. She later married
Joe Lee Stephens on Feb 9, 1956, and worked as a
cook and bartender in Elgin until the family moved to
Idaho. Her many hobbies included crossword puzzles,
crochet, recording music, and reading mystery novels.
She and Joe spent time living and working between
Eastern Oregon and Northern Idaho in their 32 years
of marriage. After Joe died, she moved to Bremerton,
WA, with her daughter Linda. Upon Linda’s passing in
2004, she returned to Idaho to live with family. Frank
and Lanette Jenkins of Kooskia, and Gene and Leslie
Warden of Grangeville, along with their families, gen-
erously loved and cared for her until Nov 2019, when
Berdie could no longer maintain her stability.
She is survived by grandson Ray (Julie) Pearce
and family of Ottawa, IL; stepdaughter Jean Lycan of
Kamiah, ID; brother Charley (Corky) Hays of Elgin,
OR; 12 grandchildren, 31 g-grandchildren, 55 g-g
grandchildren, and 1 g-g-g grandchild – honoring
special relationships to: Terry Lyle Shaffer, Clarence
and Beverly Hays’ children, and granddaughter Kitty
Jo Heildenhain.
She was preceded in death by her husband Joe Ste-
phens; daughter Linda Pearce; granddaughter Dallas
Lee Pearce; stepsons Garl and Delmont Stephens;
g-grandson Michael Stephens; brothers Oliver, Clar-
ence, and Benji Hays, and sister Bea Shaffer.
Berdie always loved getting calls and visits from her
cherished friends and family. We will miss her humor
and the special way she made us feel. May her unfor-
gettable spirit live long in all the lives she touched. We
loved you MOST!
Donations can be made in her honor to:
Tahoe QRU
786 Leitch Creek Rd
Kooskia, ID 83539