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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2020)
COMMUNITY Thursday, June 18, 2020 The OBserVer — 3A Obituaries Carrel R. Hurst 1935-2020 • Summerville Carrel Richard Hurst, 84, of Summerville, died June 12. A pri- vate interment will take place at the Summerille Cemetery. Carrel was born Dec. 20, 1935, in King Hill, Idaho, to Carrel and Lois Hurst. He resided in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where he attended high school. He joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Irwin before being deployed to Korea. Carrel married Esther Birks on Nov. 10, 1955. They lived in Bonners Ferry for several years before moving to Morgan Hill, California, where Carrel worked for Ford Motors Corp. as a line foreman. In 1970, he and his family moved to Elgin and later to Sum- merville. Carrel worked for Boise Cascade particle board plant in La Grande before purchasing the Elgin Texaco Station, which he ran with his family. After a few years, he sold the station and went to work for Fleetwood Travel Trailers in Island City for several years until suffering a debilitating illness. He then worked for North- wood Travel Trailers and went on to take courses at the local college to learn AutoCAD, a commer- cial computer-aided design and drafting software application, and worked at Nash before retiring. Carrel always loved figuring out how to make things run more efficiently and was a true problem solver. He loved to hunt and fish and planted a garden every year. He was quick witted and would send you a glance with a smirk after his comment, just to make sure you got it. Carrel was a strong independent man and loved his wife and family very much. Surviving relatives include his sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis and Lillie Hurst of Summer- ville, Gene and Kathleen Hurst of Eagle, Idaho, and Greg and Shuree Hurst of Pullman, Wash- ington; daughter and son-in-law, Lanna and Andy Dollar of Kenne- wick, Washington; 18 grandchil- dren and 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Esther Hurst; daughter, Sherry Moosman; parents, Carrel and Lois Hurst; and siblings, Valda Shierling and Sid Hurst. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.love- landfuneralchapel.com. Victoria A. (Sanchez) Cox 1961-2020 • Elgin Victoria Ann Cox, 59, of Elgin, died unexpectedly June 10 at her residence. A private celebration of life service will be held for the family June 20 at 6 p.m. To view a livestream of the service or watch it later, go to https://anything2dig- ital.com/loveland-funerals. Victoria was born March 17, 1961, in Long Beach, California, to Robert and Nancy (Davis) San- chez. She graduated from Ken- nedy High School in 1979. With three sons from a previous mar- riage, she married Kineth Cox on Jan. 31, 2000. Victoria enjoyed the beach, traveling, camping and spending time with family and friends. Her heart was open to everyone. She never had a deaf ear and, like it or not, always had the right thing to say. She had many friends she considered to be family. Surviving relatives include her husband, Kineth Cox of Elgin; sons, Bobby Waters, Lee Waters, Koltin Waters and Keegan San- chez; daughter, Cassie Englund; stepdaughters, Tawny Savage, LaRissa Smith and Kaely Knight; and father, Robert Sanchez. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.love- landfuneralchapel.com. JoAnne R. (Needham) Croteau Formerly of La Grande JoAnn Rae (Needham) Cro- teau, 58, formerly of La Grande, died May 2. A service will be held June 22 at 10 a.m. at the Island City Cemetery. Roslain Yohp La Grande Roslain Yohp, 74, of La Grande, died June 12 at her res- idence. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. Eva W. Bennett Upcoming local services June 20 — EVA BENNETT: 2 p.m. private interment; view- able online at https://anything- 2digital.com/loveland-funerals. June 20 — VICTORIA COX: 6 p.m. private celebration of life; viewable online at https://any- thing2digital.com/loveland-fu- nerals. June 22 — JOANNE CRO- TEAU: 10 a.m. service; Island City Cemetery. June 25 — LEROY POE: 4 p.m. celebration of life, Sum- merville Baptist Church. — Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande La Grande Eva Winnefred Bennett, 95, of La Grande, died April 26 at her residence. A private interment will take place June 20 at 2 p.m. at the Island City Cemetery. Those who would like to watch it online may do so at https://anything2dig- ital.com/loveland-funerals. Elgin School Board adopts budget Cuts may be needed despite the $7.42 million figure J By Dick Mason The Observer Contributed photo The Wallowa History Center in Wallowa received a $6,534 grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission. Grant boosts Wallowa History Center promotion efforts The Observer WALLOWA — The Wallowa History Center in Wallowa received more than $6,000 in a grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission. The commission awarded $74,999 in grants to 11 museums throughout the state in amounts ranging from $1,063 to $8,284. The Wallowa History Center received $6,534 to help cover the cost of designing and implementing a new website, installing highway signs and developing an interpretive video and mar- keting materials. The Baker Heritage Museum in Baker City received a $7,800 museum grant to develop and dis- tribute the “Baker County Heritage & Cultural Pass- port” to increase tourism to heritage sites in Baker County. The Oregon Heritage Commission is part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recre- ation Department and offers the museum grant program annually. The grants began in 1965 when only 24 orga- nizations were eligible for the program. Oregon Parks and Recreation funded this grant cycle rather than lot- tery or park fee funds. Public Safety Report TUESDAY 7:55 a.m. — A resident on the 1200 block of Willow Street, La Grande, reported the theft of cans. 12:28 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about possi- ble animal neglect on the 2200 block of Pine Street. 1:23 p.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of a person suffering a mental or emotional crisis. The person planned to con- tact mental health services. 6:50 p.m. — La Grande police received a request to check on someone screaming on the 400 block of Jefferson Avenue. An offi- cer found the noise was coming from youth playing video games. 10:52 p.m. — La Grande police responded to Second Street and H Avenue on a report of a loud bang but found no one suspicious upon arrival. Recent Oregon State Police arrests and citations June 9 — Jonathan S. Allred, 36, of Bingham, Utah, on accusa- tions of driving under the influence of intoxicants (alcohol). June 13 — Benjamin Steven Monti, 43, on accusations of DUII (alcohol). Shirley Jean Stephens September 29, 1941 - June 2, 2020 Shirley Jean Stephens, 78, of La Grande, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho. At her request, there will not be a service. Shirley was born on September 29, 1941 in Prineville, Oregon to Claud and Sylvia Binam. She resided in Prineville and La Grande, OR. She married her one true love, Wallace Stephens, on October 24, 1958. They had three children. Shirley worked various factory jobs in Prineville and was employed by Community Connections in La Grande. She loved the Lord and her family more than they will ever know. Shirley is survived by her son, David Stephens of La Grande, OR; grandchildren, Julia Matthews (Tim) of La Grande, OR, Nick Rust of Waldport, OR and Eric Lincoln of La Grande, OR; 2 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wally; son, Jimmy Stephens; daughter, Regina Lincoln; parents, Claud and Sylvia Binam; brother, Archie Binam; and sisters, Betty Gross, Doris Halsey, and Dianna Thorson. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com. ELGIN — The Elgin School Board voted Monday to adopt a 2020-21 total budget of $7.42 million, an increase of about 9% from its cur- rent spending plan. The budget would allow the school dis- trict to retain all of its staff and programs, yet the possibility of cuts remains a distinct pos- sibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The district built the budget on the assump- tion the state will provide school districts with all of the funding the Legisla- ture approved for educa- tion last summer when it passed the budget for the 2019-21 biennium. The funding outlook for Oregon’s schools has become murky at best because of the corona- virus pandemic, which forced the state to shut down many businesses for two months, costing it significant income tax revenue and crippling the economy. The state’s school fund is expected to lose about $490 mil- lion in revenue based upon the state’s May 20 budget forecast. Educa- tion officials throughout the state are pushing leg- islators to draw from the state’s reserves to back- fill funding for schools so they will receive all of the money initially allotted to them. It will not be known if school districts will be backfilled and thus fully funded until the Follow us on Facebook! Open for Take Out Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Entrees Appetizers Salmon Cakes $8 Cheese and Veggie Plate $5 Soup Grillled New York Steak $23 Shrimp and Pasta $15 Small Plate Tenderloin Kabobs $12 Salmon Cake $12 Chicken Bisque Salad Desserts Taco Salad-beef or chicken $12 House Salad $7 Our Very Best Chocolate Cake $6 Cheesecake $6 Chocolate Hazelnut Torte $6 Add chicken or shrimp $3 Sandwiches Pie Time Roast Beef Dip $14 Cajun Chicken $14 Raspberry Rhubarb Pie Blue Plate Special $12 Tostada Suprema Father’s Day Sunday Night Family Style Pork Ribs $24 with potato salad, baked beans, cabbage salad and garlic bread , serves four Special Requests Welcome Market Menu including sides, soups, sauces and dressings @ www.tendepotstreet.com Pre-Orders Welcome: 541-963-8766 Legislature meets to decide on this in July or August. The Elgin School Board is making contin- gency plans in the event schools don’t receive full funding. “The board talked about making plans for reductions if they need to,” said Superintendent Dianne Greif. The Elgin School Board does not have the option of waiting until the Legislature decides because state law requires school districts to adopt their budgets by June 30. The deadline for school districts and the Legisla- ture’s meeting schedule for discussing school funding, Greif said, “do not line up well.” The Elgin school budget is up primarily because of state grants. These include funding from the Student Suc- cess Act and Measure 98. The Student Suc- cess Act, funded by a new corporate tax, pro- vides additional money for school nutrition pro- grams, counseling and more. Measure 98 funds are to be used to reduce dropout rates and boost career and technical edu- cation. Greif said it is not known how much money the Elgin School Dis- trict will receive from the grants because of the eco- nomic crisis caused by COVID-19. “We don’t know what level we will be funded at,” Greif said. A third new major grant Elgin is expected to receive is provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. Greif said this grant would be for $58,000. Barbara Henkel Odegaard April 30, 1927 - June 7, 2020 Hips that swung from side to side and a pearl neck- lace conveniently dropped in a suit jacket pocket began a romance and a family. Barbara Henkel Odegaard was born April 30, 1927 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and passed away June 7, 2020, sur- rounded by family. Barbara received her Nursing degree from Northwestern in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Barbara eventually met Erling (Ode) Odegaard and they were married on November 13, 1949 and began their journey together. Barbara had an amazing career working as an RN. At Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, Oregon, Barbara was ahead of her time as she worked her way up to many leadership positions including Director of Nursing and finally Administrator of the Hospital. Barbara also served on many Board of Director’s including several civic organizations and on the Foundation Board for her beloved Eastern Oregon University. Barbara was full of life where ever she went. She was elected Queen of a 1976 bicentennial parade in La Grande, could sit on a hydrant with a beer like a boss, threw amazing parties and was kind to all she met. “Meme”, as she was known by her grandchil- dren and many friends; adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren and she was their biggest cheerleader at every concert, ceremony or sporting event they participated in. Barbara was beloved by many people who became her chil- dren even if they were adults, and they loved her like their second Mom. Barbara will be missed by many. Barbara is now celebrating with her parents, siblings and her husband as they went on before her. She is survived by her four children; Ruth Gelbrich, Peggy Odegaard, Kelly Odegaard, of Salem, Oregon and Mary Phiroz from Louisiana, as well as her four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Barbara will be interred at a later date in a private ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Salvation Army or Eastern Oregon Wrestling Program. Cared for by City View Funeral Home, Salem, Oregon.
