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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2019)
obituaries january17 2019 15 In Memory of... Ben Soejima April 30, 1923 - November 29, 2018 partment, 1000 Missouri Ave., Vernonia, OR 97064. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at noon, January 19, 2019, at the Montavilla Baptist Church, 9204 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97216. Ralph H. Sturdevant Barbara purchased the business from his father, when the name became Ralph’s Chevron Service Station. They owned and operated the station for 35 years un- til he retired in 1996. Ralph was a member of the American Legion Post #119 in Vernonia and the Masonic Holbrook Lodge #30 A.F. & A.M. in Forest Grove. He had served as a Vernonia School Board Member, a former volun- teer and fire chief with the Vernonia Fire Department, and a volunteer with the Vernonia Cares Food Bank. Among his special interests, he enjoyed supporting the Vernonia High School Athletics Programs and the Ver- nonia High School Booster Club. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Alvina Stur- devant, and his sister Margaret Hartzell. Survivors include his wife Bar- bara Sturdevant of the family home in Vernonia, Oregon; his four children and their spouses, Reese and Anne Stur- devant of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Dr. Marsha Sturdevant and Troy Goss of Birmingham, Alabama, Noell Stur- devant of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Royce Sturdevant and Rhonda Denino of South Windsor, Connecticut. Also surviving are his 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Noel and Stephanie Sturdevant of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Dr. Ian Sturdevant of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Kensie Sturdevant of Cleveland, Ohio, Audrey Goss and Aaron Zucker of Chicago, Il- linois, Lora Goss of Birmingham, Ala- bama, Mitchell Goss of Birmingham, Alabama, William and Amanda Stur- devant of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Tim Sturdevant of West Chester, Pennsylva- nia, Colleen Sturdevant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Sarah Sturdevant of Warrington, Pennsylvania; his four great-granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests that re- membrances may be contributions to the Vernonia Cares Food Bank, PO Box 126, 627 Adams Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064 or to the Vernonia High School Athletic Dept., 1000 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia, OR, 97064, in his memory. To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Vernonia is entrusted with the arrangements. Family and friends remem- ber Ben as a kind, generous, humor- ous, humble, and gentle man. He made friends with everyone. He loved his family, friends, gardening, sports, long walks through Eastmoreland, matsutake hunting, doing things for others, and giv- ing away fortune cookies! Ben passed away peacefully November 29, 2018, at Ralph H. Sturdevant, 92, a long- the age of 95. Ben was born in Kerry, Oregon, time resident of the Vernonia commu- on April 30, 1923. He proudly grew up nity, died Tuesday morning, January 8, in Vernonia. He attended Vernonia High 2019 at his home. Services have been held. School where he played football, bas- Ralph Herbert Sturdevant was ketball, softball, and was Student Body Business Manager. In April 2018, Ben born November 30, 1926 in Portland, was inducted into the Vernonia High Oregon, the son of the late Herbert School Athletic Hall of Fame. Every Hamilton Sturdevant and Alvina (Ha- year he would look forward to seeing gen) Sturdevant. At the age of six years his high school friends at the annual Old old, he moved with his family to the Ver- Timers’ Picnic, especially classmates nonia community, where he was raised from the Class of 1942. The people and received his education, having been of Vernonia held a special place in his a graduate of the Vernonia High School heart, and he generously donated to the Class of 1945. He was a Veteran of World War new Vernonia Schools athletic facilities. Right after high school gradu- II, having joined the United States Army ation, along with the other Vernonians on May 25, 1945 at Fort Lewis, Wash- of Japanese descent, he was sent to the ington. Ralph served for 1 ½ years in the Minidoka, Idaho, internment camp. He 508 th MP BN, until he received his hon- joined the 442 nd Regimental Combat orable discharge on November 18, 1946 Team, an all-Nisei Army infantry unit at Fort Lewis, Washington at the rank of that fought its way across Europe dur- Private First Class. Ralph had received ing World War II. Ben served with the the Army of Occupation Medal (Ger- Military Police in France, Switzerland, many); the European African Middle Belgium, and Germany. In December of Eastern Service Medal, and the Victory 2010 he was awarded the Congressional Medal. Ralph was united in marriage Gold Medal for his service in the war. Ben loved his work as a bar- to Barbara Frances Clement on June 6, ber because it allowed him to socialize 1953 in Stevenson, Washington. They with his many friends. He was a very celebrated their 65 th wedding anniver- hard worker and owned and operated his sary this past June. Following their mar- own barbershop by age 24. Ben enjoyed riage they made their home in the Verno- working until he was 80 years young. nia community, where they have resided There were many times he would drive since. He had worked for his father, to shut-ins, attending to those that were elderly or too ill, to give them their hair- H.A. Sturdevant, at the Sturdevant’s Ser- vice Station in Vernonia. In 1961, he and cuts. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Frances Nobuko Soejima, who passed away in January 2016. He leaves behind three daugh- ters, Carol (Gary Funatake), Audrey (Guy Watanabe), Colleen (Will Nae- mura); eight grandchildren, Bryan, For fast cash! Kristen (Anthony), Jill (Dan), Sarah (Alex), Kelly, Benjamin, William, and Robert; and three great grandchildren, Lindsay, Matthew, and Nathan. The family and Ben are very thankful for his many wonderful care- Granite Markers & Monuments givers throughout the years as well as 971-344-3110 those who cared for him at Russell- ville Park West. Locally owned in Vernonia Remembrances may be sent Serving NW Oregon to Konko Church of Portland, 1330 SE All Cemeteries Accepted 92 nd Ave., Portland, OR 97216; Ikoi Order drawing at no charge online 2245 Baseline St., Cornelius no Kai Bento Delivery Program, 1333 (Across from Fred Meyer) Open SE 28 th Ave., Portland, OR 97214; or everyday 503-530-8119 www.angelmemorialsheadstones.com Vernonia High School Athletic De- at 10 a.m. State Licensed PB-0388 Don’t Sell it! Pawn it! Baseline Pawn, Inc. Angel Memorials Headstones Pearl Lenora Freeman Pearl Lenora Freeman was born to Cort and Agnes Siedelman in Verno- nia, Oregon, at the family home on Oc- tober 19, 1931. She went to be with the Lord on the 1 st day of December, 2018. She was 87 years old. She attended the Vernonia Schools from 1 st - 12 th grades. Farming was her family’s way of life and she and her younger brother Vernon helped their parents do everything, from gardening to caring for the animals. Pearl loved hav- ing horses and spent a lot of time riding. Immediately following high school, she married the love of her life, Herb Free- man, and they had five children. Pearl worked at GAF while Herb dabbled in many different entre- preneurial adventures in the surrounding areas of Portland. In 1968 they moved to Central Oregon where they started a well known restaurant “Freeman’s Drive-In.” They began taking an interest in antiques and phased the restaurant out to try their hand at a mobile home park that they al- most completely remodeled and upgrad- ed in only one year. After one year there, they sold the park and moved to Grants Pass where they purchased a small acre- age. They remodeled and sold a year later to be able to purchase 40 acres in Culver, Oregon, finally able to build a home from the ground up. They built and groomed the property for three years and then decided it was time to retire and do some snow birding. They purchased a lot in Yuma, Arizona and made many friends that they looked forward to see- ing each winter. Pearl was appropriately named “Perky Pearl” by her traveling friends, as she was always full of zest and had the most beautiful smile. Herb and Pearl would return in the summers to spend time with their children and many grand- children and help with their homes and properties. Pearl loved being with her family. She loved her Lord and spent every morning with her Bible reading scriptures and praying. On Sundays you could find her cozy in her bed watching her favorite pastors on television. Pearl is survived by her five children, Althea (Robert) Meyer, Peg- gy Cordiner, Randy Freeman, Nanette Smith, and Bernice Gates; 11 grandchil- dren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and her kitty companion Cola. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, husband of 67 years, and two granddaughters. In lieu of flowers send donations to the Humane Society of the Ochocos. A Trusted Name in Funeral Service Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home & Crematory 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 503-357-2161 741 Madison Ave., Vernonia 503-429-6611 Jeff & Kathryn Hoyt Family Owned & Operated Formerly Prickett’s Mortuary Forest Grove Memorial Chapel 503-357-3126 To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com