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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2016)
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9 Local & Entertainment — Obituaries — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 John Steiger, Jr. Though the path was winding, John completed his Bachelor of Science de- gree and went to work for Boise's Morrison Knudsen, a company he was proud to serve as a Civil Engineer and Cost Estimator for more than 36 years, the vast majority of his profes- sional life. Those who knew John can probably agree about two defi ning features: he was an amputee and he had a powerful sense of humor. The two were linked. John lost his leg to cancer at 28 years old when given a choice between the leg and his life. Having faced that choice, he committed him- self to loving the life that he had chosen. As he often said, "if it sounded fun, I would do it." During his recovery period lifelong friendships emerged and John developed the boom- ing laugh that is probably still echoing through Baker County. John's life was for- ever fulfi lled when he met Leslie Olsen, a bright and vivacious Baker City girl, while working in Boise for MK. They almost met years earlier while John was assigned to the Hells Canyon Dam project. He stopped into Baker on the way to a holiday celebra- tion, and two Baker High teenagers noticed his Trans Am. They followed him through town, but couldn't keep up when he hit the gas on the edge of town. Fate didn't give up. John and Leslie met again in Boise and married in Baker on June 5, 1976. Daughter Elizabeth joined them in 1977, and son Eric in 1979. John's work moved the family to Texas in 1990. John and Leslie resettled in Las Vegas in 1997. Following John's retire- ment in 2002, they reset- tled in Baker City to start the fi nal happy chapter of John's life. Relieved of the stress of work, John was free to em- brace his passions—learn- ing, gardening, fi shing, serving, and laughing. He joined the Masonic Lodge when he was 21, and after retiring, became active in Blue Mountain Lodge #34 in Baker, even- tually serving as Master. He continued his Masonic journey by entering the Scottish Rite and becom- ing a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of the Baker Elks Lodge #338. He engineered scooters and other devices that allowed him to move around his yard, coaxing vegetables and fl owers from the soil. He read voraciously, if slowly. He shared his passion for learning with others, and he worked with literacy programs and tutored youth. He pestered locals for stories and lessons from their lives in ranching, logging, and teaching. He enjoyed a wide range of interests, but he was most interested in the people he met. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, and served on the Church Council. He made friends everywhere he went and never knew a stranger. Whenever possible, he doted on and bragged about his grand- sons, Frederick and Otto. John's Christian faith as a committed Lutheran ensured that he saw his death not as a sad end, but rather the eternal reward promised to him by the grace of Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and his infant twins, Charles and Arielle. He is survived by his wife Leslie, daugh- ter Elizabeth and son-in- law Benjamin Cellar, son Eric and daughter-in-law DeAnna Steiger, and their two children - Frederick and Otto. He also is survived by his extended family includ- ing Madelyn Olsen, Steven and Sue Olsen, Kristen and Carl Poteete, numer- ous nieces and nephews, and many close friends. He was loved by a much larger community of friends, family, and acquaintances who will feel his loss. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church, Best Friends of Baker City or The Oregon Scottish Rite Clinic through Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel. To light a candle in mem- ory of John, please visit www.grayswestco.com. Lila Mae Westrope Baker City, 1925-2016 Lila Mae Westrope, 90, of Baker City, Oregon passed away on May 14, 2016 at Meadowbrook Care Facility in Baker City, Oregon. A Graveside service will be held on Thurs- day, May 19, 2016 at 10:00 Lila a.m. at Westrope Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Oregon. Lila was born on October 2, 1925 to Ethel Cogswell Stolsing in Stockton, Cali- fornia. On February 11, 1941, Lila was married to Kenneth Leroy Westrope in Vancouver, Washington; they were married for 54 years before Kenneth’s passing in 1995. Before retiring in 1990, Lila worked as a cook for St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Powder River Cor- rectional Facility. She was employed by St. Elizabeth for 25 years. Lila also worked as a sales clerk for the Big V department store. In her spare time she en- joyed gardening, cooking, baking (she made some of the best homemade pies!), reading, and spending time with her family at the cabin. Lila was a member of the Nazarene Church, the V.F.W. Ladies Auxil- lery, and the Cowbells in Bend, Oregon. Lila had many proud accomplishments in her life, but her most trea- sured were; being married to Kenneth for 54 years, working at St. Elizabeth Hospital for 25 years, and having a green thumb with the ability to grow her fl ower garden beautifully. Lila is survived by her daughter Susan and husband Marc Mansholt of Baker City, Oregon, son Ken Westrope Jr. D.V.M. and wife Pam of Ephrata, Washington, grandaugh- ter Savannah Wellman of Baker City, Oregon, and grandson Ian Westrope of Seattle, Washington. She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Westrope Sr., her sister Le- ota Swafford, her brother Delmar Stolsing, and her friend Curt Medlin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart ‘N’ Home Hospice through Coles Tribute Center at 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814. To light a candle in memory of Lila, please visit: www.colestribute- center.com. City to begin fire hydrant flushing The Baker City Public Works Department will be- gin its annual fi re hydrant testing and fl ushing on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. It is expected that the testing will continue for approximately two to three weeks. This testing is done annually to ensure all hydrants are functioning properly and are delivering water at the correct pres- sure and volume. Through this testing/ fl ushing process small silt- like particles may become “stirred up” in the lines. These are particles which have settled in less active water lines. Water may appear yellow or cloudy as a result of this fl ushing process. If your water has this appearance, please run your faucet full force for fi ve minutes. After such time, the wa- ter should again run clear. If your water continues to be cloudy you may contact the Baker City Water Department at (541) 523- 6541. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheBCPress Subscribe online at www.TheBakerCountyPress.com Bebe’s word search The Littles’ crossword puzzle Across 1- Bobby of the Black Panthers; 6- Bonkers; 10- West Point inits.; 14- Chilean pianist Claudio; 15- Gardner and others; 16- School orgs.; 17- Knot; 18- Took off; 19- Powerful D.C. lobby; 20- Find the answer; 21- Aesthetic skill; 23- Dada pioneer; 25- That’s the spot!; 26- Jester; 29- Elvis’s middle name; 32- Small hand drum; 37- Football’s Par- seghian; 38- Stump; 39- Trojan War hero; 40- Iranian range; 43- Animosity; 44- Pianist Gilels; 45- No kidding!; 46- Cheerful; 47- Attention getter; 48- Take fi ve; 49- Compass pt.; 51- Admiral’s affi rma- tive; 53- Numbed; 58- Strike ___; 62- Stir up; 63- Within (prefi x); 64- Leases; 65- Hungary’s Nagy; 66- Magician Henning; 67- Single piece of information; 68- Honey producers; 69- Black cuckoos; 70- Rock; Down 1- Droops; 2- Cube creator Rubik; 3- Asia’s ___ Sea; 4- Immature insects; 5- Swiss mathemati- cian; 6- Refrain syl- lables; 7- Superior to; 8- Long full robe; 9- Port of old Rome; 10- ___ the crack of dawn; 11- Matinee idol; 12- Mother of Jesus; 13- Warbucks cohort; 22- “Fiddler on the Roof” setting; 24- Fall guy; 26- Large drinking bowl; 27- Teheran native; 28- Molten material; 30- Grog ingredient; 31- Woodwind section members; 33- Literary collection; 34- Light grayish brown; 35- Back streets; 36- Good point; 38- Drunken; 39- “West Side Story” character; 41- ___ Tin Tin; 42- Hesitant sounds; 47- Knight’s banner; 48- Say again; 50- ___ lift?; 52- Fenced areas; 53- Stadium topper; 54- Land of Molly Bloom; 55- Draft picks; 56- Needle case; 57- Canines; 59- I’m ___ you!; 60- Knock for a loop; 61- Salinger girl; 62- Josh;
