RECORDS AND MORE
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Community
Meetings
IMBLER — The Imbler School
District Board of Directors
meets for a regular session
Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m.
at the high school. The public
is welcome.
Briefs
Virtual singer-
songwriter showcase
streamed tonight
ENTERPRISE — The next
Tunesmith Night, courtesy of
Enterprise’s Wallowa Valley
Music Alliance, will be lives-
treamed Saturday, March
13, at 7 p.m. featuring Tracy
Spring, Havilah Rand and
Karyn Ann. The showcase of
original music will be live to
YouTube, social media and
the Music Alliance website,
www.wvmusicalliance.org.
The performance also will
be recorded and available to
watch online later. Viewers
may show their support
for the program via online
donations. For more on the
songwriters, visit the Music
Alliance website.
St. Patrick’s Day dinner
offered curbside
LA GRANDE — In addition
to its regular takeout lunch,
the Union County Senior
Center is offering a special
St. Patrick’s Day dinner
Wednesday, March 17. The
corned beef and cabbage
meal can be picked up curb-
side 4-5 p.m. at the senior
center, at Albany Street and
Cove Avenue, La Grande.
Births
GRANDE RONDE
HOSPITAL
BASHON: To Karisa Lynn
Jones and Christopher Wade
Bashon, of Union, a son,
Kodie Lee Bashon, Feb. 20.
BOWERS: To Emma
Bowers, of La Grande, a son,
Zayden Eugene Bowers, Feb.
17. Grandparents are Heidi
and Barry Bowers.
GEORGE: To Kaci Rae
George and Brandon Garrett
George, of Union, a son, Bra-
den Garrett George, Feb. 9.
McKEE: To Kristy McKee,
of La Grande, a son, Cooper
J. McKee, March 4.
WILSON: To Destiny Dawn
Greene and John Allen
Wilson, of La Grande, a son,
Spencer Douglas Wilson,
Feb. 20.
Lottery
Megabucks: $2.9 million
4-8-30-38-40-41
Powerball: $155 million
17-18-37-44-53 — PB 18 x3
Mega Millions: $68 million
4-33-46-58-65 — MB 13 x2
Win for Life: March 10
13-37-62-66
Pick 4: March 11
• 1 p.m.: 8-9-8-2
• 4 p.m.: 3-5-1-8
• 7 p.m.: 6-1-1-9
• 10 p.m.: 8-6-0-7
Pick 4: March 10
• 1 p.m.: 9-1-4-8
• 4 p.m.: 7-5-3-4
• 7 p.m.: 9-1-7-2
• 10 p.m.: 7-0-4-7
Jeffrey D. Rysdam
1977-2021 • La Grande
Jeffrey Delbert Rysdam,
43, of La Grande, died
March 9. A graveside ser-
vice will be held at 2 p.m.
March 16 at Highland Cem-
etery on Cricket Flat. Masks
are required.
Known as
Jeff, he was
born Oct. 1,
1977, in La
Grande, to Del-
bert “Deb”
Rysdam and
Kathy Rysdam. He was
raised and educated in
Elgin. After graduating
from Elgin High School
in 1996, Jeff worked as an
electrician for Northwood
Manufacturing for five
years before relocating to
Wilsonville to work for NEI
Construction.
Jeff earned an asso-
ciate degree from Clack-
amas Community Col-
lege then returned to La
Grande to pursue a bache-
lor’s degree in anthropology
and sociology from Eastern
Oregon University. He
earned his degree in 2013,
followed by a master of arts
in teaching in 2015, and
began his career as a high
school teacher.
In 2016, Jeff returned
to his alma mater as the
high school social studies
teacher. In 2017, he became
the head football coach
after serving several years
as an assistant coach. In
2018, he added athletic
director to his title and was
named Educator of the Year
by the Elgin Chamber of
Commerce.
Jeff loved coaching
and was passionate about
building character in his
students and players. He
was instrumental in orga-
nizing the EOU 8-Man
Football Camp in Elgin and
loved taking his players to
collegiate football games.
He led the Huskies to the
state playoffs in 2018 and
2019.
Jeff was an outdoorsman
and spent much of his free
time on Cricket Flat outside
of Elgin, hunting, picking
huckleberries and fixing
fences on his family’s prop-
erty. He was also a life-
long fan of the Raiders and
was able to travel to several
games to experience the
“Black Hole” with his uncle
Bobby.
In 2011, Jeff met his life
partner and best friend,
Debra Frewing Bell. In
2019, the couple climbed
Machu Pichu in Peru, an
Obituaries
accomplishment that had
a profound impact on Jeff
and was one of his proudest
achievements.
Jeff’s big heart and sense
of humor will be missed by
family and friends.
Survivors include his
partner, Debra, and her
children, Haylee and
Austyn Bell of La Grande;
mother, Kathy Rysdam
of Elgin; sister and broth-
er-in-law, Amy and Ben,
and niece and nephew,
Avery and Cody Calabretta,
all of Moscow, Idaho; and
numerous aunts, uncles and
cousins.
He was preceded in
death by his father, Delbert
“Deb” Rysdam, and grand-
parents, Bob and Helen
Sue Miller and Delbert and
Betty Rysdam.
In lieu of flowers, memo-
rial contributions may be
made to the Elgin High
School Athletic Complex,
P.O. Box 68, Elgin 97827,
to help resurface the high
school football field, a
project that Jeff was pas-
sionate about completing.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Ted B. Harris
1930-2021 • La Grande
Ted B. Harris, 90, of La
Grande, died Jan. 8. At his
request there will not be a
service.
Ted was
born June 25,
1930. He was
a fourth-gen-
eration Texan
whose fore-
bears on his
mother’s side
came to Texas
by covered
wagon imme-
diately after
the Civil War.
His grandfather was the
driller on the second well
drilled in the Burkburnett
oil boom, and his father was
a pioneer oil worker in that
boom.
Ted graduated from
Burkburnett High School
in 1948 and was studying
architecture at Texas Tech
when the Korean War
started. At that time he
joined the U.S. Navy and
served for four years.
In 1955, Ted married
Dorothy Crane. They had
three daughters — Jacque,
Lisa and Jennifer — and
two sons, Wade Harris and
Travis Harris. The marriage
ended in divorce in 1974.
Ted married Shirley Anne
Menus
Union County Senior
Center takeout lunch
menu
Pick up 11:30 a.m. to
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.
Public is welcome. Inquire
about family meals and
prepackaged sides.
MARCH 15-19
MONDAY: sweet and sour
meatballs, rice pilaf, salad
greens, fresh fruit, pie.
TUESDAY: fish and chips,
baked beans, coleslaw, fruit.
WEDNESDAY: shepherd’s
pie with brown gravy,
spinach salad, rolls, dessert;
ST. PATRICK’S DAY SPECIAL,
curbside pick-up 4-5 p.m.:
corned beef and cabbage.
THURSDAY: chicken
tenders, seasoned potato
wedges, apple slaw, cobbler.
FRIDAY: hot ham sand-
wich, tomato-basil soup, fruit
garnish, cookie.
Children’s free takeout
breakfast and lunch
menu
Free breakfast and lunch
for anyone age 18 and
younger. Pick up 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at Central, Green-
wood or Island City elemen-
tary schools, La Grande.
Fresh vegetables, seasonal
fruit and 1% milk are offered
daily in addition to the menu
items. Meals are served at La
Grande schools for on-cam-
pus students.
MARCH 15-19
Central and Island City
elementary schools
Monday: BREAKFAST:
mini pancakes, canned fruit;
LUNCH: chicken quesadilla,
refried beans.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: oat-
meal-chocolate-chip, cheese
stick, orange juice; LUNCH:
hamburgers, green beans.
TUESDAY, MARCH 9
1:21 a.m. — Oregon State Police
cited Jennifer Louise Davis, 41, on
a Union County warrant for sec-
ond-degree burglary and criminal
mischief.
4:23 a.m. — La Grande police
responded to Fourth Street and
Adams Avenue for a person
standing in the middle of the inter-
section. Police advised the person
to move along, and he did.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
5:32 a.m. — A caller reported
a break-in to a shed on the 1400
block of Balm Street, La Grande.
An officer made contact and will
follow up.
8:52 a.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 1500 block of Fifth
Street and assisted with a person
experiencing mental illness.
1:22 p.m. — Union County sher-
iff’s deputies responded to the 90
block of South Eighth Avenue,
Wednesday: BREAKFAST:
plain bagel with cream cheese,
fresh fruit; LUNCH: BBQ pulled-
pork sandwich, red peppers.
Thursday: BREAKFAST:
cinnamon roll, orange juice;
LUNCH: Italian meatball sub,
broccoli florets.
Friday: BREAKFAST: straw-
berry yogurt, graham crackers,
fresh fruit; LUNCH: popcorn
chicken bowl, breadstick, corn.
Greenwood Elementary
School
Monday: BREAKFAST: straw-
berry-cream-cheese-filled bagel,
fruit or juice; LUNCH: chicken
Caesar wrap, green beans.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: oat-
meal-chocolate-chip bar, fruit or
juice; LUNCH: sloppy joe on a
bun, green beans.
Wednesday: BREAKFAST:
cocoa-cereal bar, fruit or juice;
LUNCH: popcorn chicken bowl,
roll, corn.
Thursday: BREAKFAST:
cinnamon roll, fruit or juice;
Poe in Merced, California,
in 1982.
After his time in the
Navy, Ted began working
at Sheppard Air Force Base
as an illustrator. In 1983,
he transferred to the Head-
quarters of the American
Forces in Europe in Stutt-
gart, Germany, where he
supervised the graphics
department and worked
directly under the ranking
general in Europe and the
NATO commander. In 1989
Ted retired from Federal
Service after 32 years and
moved to La Grande.
Ted rededicated his life
to Jesus Christ in 1990.
He was a senior member
in the New Song Commu-
nity Church in La Grande
and served several years as
a Gideon before having to
retire due to his health.
Surviving relatives
include his wife of 39 years,
Shirley Anne Poe Harris;
daughters, Lisa Price and
Jennifer Harris, both of
Burkburnett; sons, Wade
Harris and Travis Harris,
both of Burkburnett; three
grandchildren and two
great-grandsons; step-
daughter, Lujuana Roberts;
stepson, Timothy Roberts
and his wife, Betsy; and 12
step-grandchildren and 11
step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his daughter,
Jacque Holdaway of
Choctaw, Oklahoma;
mother, Ruby C. Harris;
father, Andrew Harris;
sister, Wanda June Clinton;
and brother, James C.
Harris.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Elma Sherwood
La Grande
Elma Sherwood, 98, of
La Grande, died March 12
at her home. Arrangements
are by Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life,
Cremation Life Celebration
Center, La Grande.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ A.
Brookshire
Formerly of Union and La Grande
Gerald “Jerry” Arthur
Brookshire, 53, of Boise,
Idaho, and formerly of
Union and La Grande, died
March 9. Arrangements are
by Bowman Funeral Parlor,
Garden City, Idaho.
Melvin Davis
Enterprise
Melvin Davis, 95, of
Enterprise, died March 9
Upcoming local services
side service, Highland
Cemetery, Elgin.
March 19 — RAY-
MOND JOHNSON:
11 a.m. graveside ser-
vice, Summerville Ceme-
tery; view the livestream
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
March 20 —
CHARITY HENRY:
11 a.m. memorial ser-
vice, La Grande Church
of Christ.
April 24 — BECKY
ROBERSON: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Elgin
Community Center.
— calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services
and gatherings.
March 13 —
MELVIN DAVIS:
11 a.m. funeral,
Bollman Funeral Home,
Enterprise.
March 13 — LORI
GREENWAY: 3 p.m.
memorial service, Enter-
prise First Baptist
Church.
March 16 — JEFF
RYSDAM: 2 p.m. grave-
at his home. A funeral will
be held March 13 at 11 a.m.
at Bollman Funeral Home,
Enterprise, with private
interment at the Enterprise
Cemetery.
Raymond M. Johnson
1931-2021 • La Grande
Raymond Marshall
Johnson, 89, of La Grande,
died March 1 at a local care
facility. A graveside ser-
vice will be held March 19
at 11 a.m. at the Summer-
ville Cemetery. Attendees
must wear a
mask and prac-
tice social dis-
tancing to meet
COVID-19
guidelines. The
service will be
livestreamed for those who
cannot attend. Go to www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com
and click on the “Funeral
Videos” button near the
bottom of the home page
just before 11 a.m.
Raymond was born
April 21, 1931, in Farnam,
Nebraska, to Marion and
Rhoda Johnson. He resided
in Farnam, Nebraska, and
in Prineville, Island City,
Wallowa, Imbler and La
Grande. He attended school
through the eighth grade in
Farnam.
Raymond served in
the U.S. Army from 1952-
1953 and received service
medals, including Korean
Service Medals, United
Nations Service Medal,
Nationals Defense Ser-
vice Medal and a Medical
Badge.
On Sept. 3, 1954,
he married Agnes Mae
Melgard in Stockville,
Nebraska. Their marriage
lasted until Agnes passed
away on July 14, 2008.
Raymond grew up on
the farm and farmed and
ranched most of his adult
life. In the latter years he
was employed with Hen-
derson Logging Fuel Co.
He was an avid hunter
and lived for elk hunting
in the Minam. He loved
to fish and continued to
until late in his life. His
fishing trips with his sons
up the Grande Ronde
River and Catherine Creek
were squeezed in between
farming duties.
Raymond didn’t play
sports while in school, as
farming took up his time,
but he was always up for
playing catch with a softball
or a football and played bas-
ketball with his sons on a
court his son constructed in
the barn loft.
Boxing was an activity
Raymond enjoyed when he
was in the Army, and he
didn’t miss a Muhammad
Ali fight if he could tune it
into his pickup radio.
Surviving relatives
include his children and
their spouses, Larry and
Barb Johnson of Imbler,
Bruce and Tammy Johnson
of Oregon City, and Janice
Welke of Dallas; nine
grandchildren; and 10
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents,
Marion and Rhoda Johnson;
wife, Agnes Johnson;
brother, Gordon Johnson;
sister, Darlene Herndon;
and grandson, Alan.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Public Safety Report
DELIVERY ISSUES?
If you have any problems
receiving your Observer, call
541-963-3161.
thE OBSErVEr — 3A
Elgin, on a report of a suspicious
person. Deputies arrested Jeffrey
Jacob Hamilton. 34, for posses-
sion of methamphetamine and on
a Washington Department of Cor-
rections warrant for failure to reg-
ister as a felony sex offender. Dep-
uties also cited him on two Clatsop
County warrants for failure to
appear in a misdemeanor theft case.
2:15 p.m. — Local law enforce-
ment received a report that Oregon
State Police out of Medford cited
Nathan William Crouch, 30, on a
Union County warrant for failure to
appear on charges of two counts of
taking, angling, hunting or trapping
in violation of wildlife law or rule,
restrictions on hunting with artifi-
cial light and wasting wildlife.
4 p.m. — Oregon State Police
reported livestock was loose on the
71100 block of Highway 82, Elgin.
4:22 p.m. — A caller reported a
domestic disturbance on the 62200
block of Robin Road, La Grande.
LUNCH: BBQ chicken sandwich,
broccoli florets.
Friday: BREAKFAST: straw-
berry yogurt, graham crackers,
fruit or juice; LUNCH: corn dog,
golden French fries.
La Grande middle
and high schools
Monday: BREAKFAST: apple
strudel, fresh fruit; LUNCH:
popcorn chicken, breadstick,
cucumber slices.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: straw-
berry-cream-cheese-filled bagel,
orange juice; LUNCH: corn dog,
French fries.
Wednesday: BREAKFAST:
breakfast burrito, fresh fruit;
LUNCH: Italian meatball sub,
red peppers.
Thursday: BREAKFAST:
cocoa-cereal bar, cheese stick,
orange juice; LUNCH: chick-
en-salad sandwich, broccoli.
Friday: BREAKFAST:
breakfast sandwich, fresh fruit;
LUNCH: chicken Caesar wrap,
green beans.
Union County sheriff’s depu-
ties responded and counseled the
parties.
5:01 p.m. — A La Grande officer
spotted a disabled vehicle blocking
traffic at Second Street and Lake
Avenue and rendered assistance.
10:53 p.m. — A caller reported
gunshots in the area of the 2000
block of Fourth Street, La Grande.
Officers responded but did not find
anyone shooting.
THURSDAY, MARCH 11
10:44 a.m. — A caller reported
possible animal abuse or neglect
on the 2300 block of Q Avenue, La
Grande. An animal enforcement
officer responded and gave options.
4:46 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 2300 block of
Island Avenue on a report of a care-
less driver. The officer found and
counseled the driver.
5:19 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to Garden Club Park at
the corner of Y Avenue and Depot
Street on a report of a misdemeanor
assault. An officer made contact
and will follow up.
5:24 p.m. — The Union County
Sheriff’s Office received a report
that a traffic sign was down at
Pierce Road and Highway 203, La
Grande. The dispatch center noti-
fied the Oregon Department of
Transportation.
9:43 p.m. — A caller reported a
male causing a disturbance on the
200 block of Fir Street, La Grande.
Police responded. The caller did
not want to pursue charges, and the
male went home for the night.
10:52 p.m. — A caller reported
a subject on the 200 block of Fir
Street who might drive while intox-
icated. Officers responded and one
gave the person a ride home.
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
2:51 a.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a sex crime.
Many people have been asking us??
Can we move our pre-arranged funeral plan to your funeral home?
YOU CAN! And it is easy. Loveland Funeral Chapel
accepts and honors almost all pre-arranged funeral plans from other
funeral chapels. We understand that changes occur and you can easily
transfer your plan to Loveland Funeral Chapel. Theses transfers can
take place ahead of time or even when someone passes away.
1508 Fourth Street
La Grande
Union County's Only Crematory
Call 541-963-5022