RECORDS
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
East Oregonian
Page 5A
OBITUARIES
Carol Krause
Eugene Lee ‘Gene’ Kopta
Steven Michael Webb
Stanfield
December 28, 1928 - March 19, 2018
Milton-Freewater
March 15, 1931 - September 25, 2017
Arlington
March 24, 1948 - February 9, 2018
Carol Krause was born
December 28, 1928, in
Concord, California, the
daughter of Joseph and Ada
Mabel (Nitcher) Corliss. She
died on Monday, March 19,
2018, at her home in Stanfield
at the age of 89.
Carol moved to Oregon
with her family,
who settled into
the Westland area
near
Hermiston.
She
attended
Hermiston schools
and graduated from
Hermiston
High
School in the class
of 1946. After high
school, she attended
nursing school at St.
Anthony’s Hospital Krause
in Pendleton.
Carol married
Karl David Krause in Ontario,
Oregon, on February 12,
1949. The couple made their
home in Stanfield where she
has resided since. In addition
to her work as a homemaker,
Carol also helped keep books
for her husband Karl’s auto-
motive business, City Motor
Services.
Carol was a member of the
Stanfield Garden Club and
a longtime active member
of Crossroad Community
Church in Stanfield. She also
enjoyed growing flowers,
especially her roses.
She was preceded in death
by her husband Karl in 2004,
and her son Donald in 2010.
She is survived by a
brother,
Glen
Corliss;
grandsons Jeremy and Jason
Krause;
nieces
Carolyn
Stiefel,
Jackie Lucas and
Marilyn Shilhanek;
nephew
Joseph
(Kelly Hale) Corliss;
and many extended
family members.
A
memorial
service will be at
1 p.m. Saturday,
March 24, 2018,
at
Crossroads
Community
Church. A private
family interment was in
Hermiston Cemetery.
Family suggest memorial
donations to Crossroads
Community Church, 350
N. Sherman St., Stanfield,
OR 97875 or to Vange John
Memorial Hospice, 645 W.
Orchard Ave. #300, Herm-
iston, OR 97838.
To leave an online
condolence for the family go
to www.burnsmortuaryherm-
iston.com
Alan Carter Nichols
Walla Walla
September 10, 1960 - March 15, 2018
Alan Carter Nichols of
Walla Walla passed away at
his home on March 15 at the
age of 57, surrounded by his
family. A Celebration of Life
will be held at Fort Walla
Walla Park on Saturday,
March 24 at 1:00 p.m.
Those who wish to
make
memorial
contributions can
send them to Cross
Trail Outfitters, P.O.
Box 263, College
Place, WA 99324.
https://teamctowa.
wildapricot.org/
Donate, or the
Weston
Public
Library.
Alan was born
on September 10, Nichols
1960, in Portland,
Oregon, to Norman
and Marjorie (Dayley)
Nichols, and was raised in
Scappoose, Oregon, on a
small farm. While he was
growing up, his interests
included
woodworking,
music, and racing cars. He
graduated from Scappoose
High School in 1978.
After high school, he
worked for Americold and
then met and married the
love of his life, Trenda
(Brady) Nichols on August
18, 1984. After they were
married, Alan and Trenda
had two children, Staci and
Joe. Alan loved his family
and often said that as long as
his kids were happy he would
be happy too. In 1989, they
moved to Eastern Oregon
and eventually settled on
Tollgate, outside of Weston.
Alan was an operating
engineer at Smith Frozen
Foods for many years, and
also worked at Providence
St. Mary’s and Blue Moun-
tain Growers.
Alan enjoyed volun-
teering and helping others.
He was active in many
organizations over the years,
including Umatilla County
Search and Rescue. He loved
raising and training blood-
hounds to assist with the
Search and Rescue crew. He
was also a groomer operator
for Tollgate Trailfinders and
was a board member for Pine
Creek FCU.
e enjoyed working in the
woods and forest manage-
ment, and was also on a State
of Oregon Forestry
Committee.
In
his later years, he
greatly
enjoyed
volunteering and
spending time with
the Cross Trail
Outfitters crew.
Always a hard
worker,
Alan
enjoyed his free
time and had a
passion for the
outdoors. He loved
to hunt and one of
his favorite pastimes was
glassing canyons for antlers
and animals. He also enjoyed
snowmobiling and snow-
shoeing during the winter
months.
As his father was a
World War II veteran, Alan
was always fascinated with
the history of the war and
hearing stories from those
who served. He loved talking
to people and would strike up
conversations with anyone
around town — often, as his
family joked, for hours on
end.
Alan is survived by his
wife, Trenda Nichols; his
daughter Staci (Nichols)
Zeller; son-in- law Bill
Zeller; his son Joe Nichols;
daughter
in-law
Erica
Nichols;
granddaughter
Reagan Nichols; his sister
Lisa (Nichols) Lewis; broth-
er-in-law Joe Lewis; sister
Teri (Gaston) Manker; broth-
er-in- law Chuck Manker;
and numerous nieces and
nephews. He is preceded in
death by his parents, Norman
and Marjorie Nichols, and
his brother, Robert Gaston.
To leave a condolence
online visit www.munseller-
hodes.com
DEATH NOTICES
Donald Amsberry
Pendleton
July 28, 1936 - March 19, 2018
Donald Amsberry, 81, of Pendleton died Monday, March
19, 2018 at a local care facility. He was born July 28, 1936, in
Pendleton. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer Chapel,
Folsom-Bishop.
Eugene Lee “Gene”
Kopta,
Milton-Freewater,
Oregon,
passed
away
September 25, 2017, at Park
Manor Rehabilita-
tion Center in Walla
Walla, Wash., at the
age of 86. There will
be a celebration of
life on March 24
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
at the Milton-Free-
water
American
Legion Hall, 424
N.E. Eighth St.,
in
Milton-Freee-
water.
Memorial
contributions may
be made to Walla
Walla Community
Hospice through the
Munselle-Rhodes
Funeral
Home,
902
S.
Main,
Milton-Freewater,
OR 97862.
Gene was born
March 16, 1931,
in Fairburn, South
Dakota, the son of
John P. and Orpha
S. Samples Kopta.
At four years old
his parents moved Kopta
him and his four
siblings to Walla Walla where
his youngest brother Johnny
was born, only to move a year
later, in 1936, to Wallowa,
Ore.
In 1943 his family finally
settled in Milton-Freewater,
where Gene attend junior
high and high school. While
studying at OIT in Klamath
Falls, Ore., he was drafted
into the Navy, serving in the
Korean War until honorably
discharged in 1954.
After returning home to
Milton-Freewater, he began
working at Key Equipment
and on June 3, 1960, he
married Sharon Beverly Alen-
baugh at the First
Christian Church in
Milton-Freewater.
Gene
retired
from Key Tech-
nology in 1995
after 40 years. Gene
enjoyed
fishing,
playing
horse-
shoes,
watching
Milton-Freewater
Twins
baseball,
listening to western
music and telling
stories.
Gene is survived
by sons Tyler and
Kristine Kopta of
Eagle Point, Ore.,
and Scott Kopta of
Milton-Freewater,
Ore.;
daughter
Julee and Steve
McFarland
of
Warrenton,
Va.;
a sister, Margaret
Johnston of Walla
Walla, Wash.; a
brother, John Kopta
of Hermiston, Ore.;
grandsons Trenton
Kopta and companion India
Titus of Medford, Ore., and
Samuel and Madison Kopta
of Talent, Ore.; granddaughter
Megan
McFarland
of
Warrenton, Va.; great-grand-
daughter Eloise Kopta of
Talent, Ore.; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death
by his wife of 36 years,
Beverly Kopta, brothers
Allerd “Al” Kopta and Irvin
“Bud” Kopta, and a sister,
Maxine Holt.
Virgil Bronson
Pendleton
June 5, 1934 - March 18, 2018
Virgil
Bronson,
84,
of Cayuse, Oregon, died
on March 18, 2018. A
funeral service will be held
Wednesday, March 21, at 11
a.m. at Burns Mortuary of
Pendleton. Burial will follow
at Agency Cemetery.
Virgil was born on June
5, 1934, to Emery
and Sara (Clark)
Bronson. He was
born, raised and
attended school at
Iskuulpa
Creek,
Oregon.
Virgil
worked
as a logger, a well
driller,
heavy
equipment operator,
a horse farrier and
most famously a Bronson
race horse trainer
and jockey. He
was a master horseman and
lived his entire life raising
and training some of the best
horses.
Virgil met his wife of 63
years, Videll (Burke), at a
wild horse roundup. Videll
lovingly gave Virgil the
handle “Cowboy” and that he
was. The couple were married
in 1955 and together they
raised their five boys, Ronald,
Richard, Wendell, Vern
and Bryson, and daughter
Lawanda at their ranch in
Cayuse, Oregon. Virgil and
Videll raised their children
to be horse people and horse
racing was a family affair.
He bred and raised thorough-
bred and Quarter horses. In
November 1968, Northwest
Ruralite featured the racing
family in its November
edition. Each of the Bronson
kids were jockeys at one
time or another and won
some of the biggest races, at
premier race tracks across
the Northwest. As owner and
trainer, Virgil and his family
raced their horses at some of
California’s most famous race
tracks.
Virgil rode for many clubs
and organizations in baton,
relay and Pony Express horse
races across the Northwest
winning champion buckles,
jackets and horse blankets.
Not only did Virgil share
his master horsemanship with
his kids, he shared it with his
grandkids, extended family
and friends all over. Stories
of Virgil saddling
up a horse for an
in-law or one of his
grandkids are plenty.
Advice on riding or
doctoring a horse
are abundant. Virgil
was generous when
it came to sharing
his knowledge of
horses and riding.
His grandchildren
treasure the knowl-
edge he shared.
He liked to hunt
and fish. Virgil played bingo
with his wife and together
they attended their grandkids’
basketball games.
His warm smile, kindness,
love for his wife and children
and grandchildren will be
missed. Virgil had numerous
friends and acquaintances in
the horse racing community.
Virgil is survived by
his wife Videll; his sisters
Pat
Johnson
(Guymon,
Oklahoma), Freida Boyles
(Christmas Valley, Oregon),
and Charlotte Cesarano
(Guymon, Oklahoma); his
son Richard Bronson (Athena,
Oregon);
his
daughter
Lawanda Bronson (Pendleton,
Oregon); his 27 grandchildren
and
great-grandchildren;
and his extended family and
friends in the horse racing
community.
Virgil was preceded in his
death by his brothers Emery
Bronson, Tillman “Ted”
Bronson, James Bronson
Sr. and David Bronson; his
sister Juanita Phillips; his
sons Ronald, Wendell, Vern
and Bryson Bronson; and his
stepdaughter Violet (Burke)
McGuire and son-in- law
Brian McGuire.
Steven Michael Webb, 69,
of Arlington died February
9, 2018, at Good Shepherd
Hospital
in
Hermiston,
Oregon.
He was born
March 24, 1948,
and
raised
in
Seattle, Washington.
Steven graduated
from Lincoln High
School in 1966.
He then attended
Seattle Community
College, until joining
the United States
Army. He was a
proud veteran of the
Vietnam War. After
four years of service
he was honorably
discharged.
Webb
Moving
on
to
Bremerton,
Washington, he worked in the
shipyards as a journeyman
pipefitter. Due to injuries
Steven went to truck driving
school. He continued to drive
truck for the next 45 years. He
took great pride in his career
accomplishments.
Steven was proud to
volunteer in his community.
He volunteered for the
Arlington Fire Department
and Gilliam County Senior
Citizen Transportation. He
served on the Gilliam County
Planning Commission, the
Arlington School Board and
the Arlington City Council.
Steven was also a proud
member of the Arlington
Lyons Club for many years.
Survivors include his wife,
Donna Griffin Webb,
and three children:
Ron Wyscaver and
his wife Nicole,
Shelly Craig and her
husband Lance, and
Carrie Hall and her
husband Brian; and a
sister, Janice Ashen-
brenner.
Steven
also left behind five
grandchildren: Tyler,
Nemanja, Shanelle,
Chase and Logan.
He was preceded
in death by his
mother
Elizabeth
Webb, his father
Lawrence Webb,
grandson
Zane
Craig, and brother Larry
Webb.
Graveside service with
military honors will be held at
the Arlington Memorial
Cemetery in Arlington,
Oregon, at 11 a.m. on March
24,
2018.
Immediately
following will be a potluck
luncheon at the Arlington
Catholic parish hall.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Arlington
Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box
476, Arlington, OR 97812.
Sweeney Mortuary of
Condon is in care of arrange-
ments.
Wanda N. (Gerard) Smith
Springfield
May 5, 1940 - March 10, 2018
It is with great sadness
that the family of Wanda N.
Smith announces her passing
on March 10, 2018, at the age
of 77 in Springfield, Oregon.
She was surrounded by her
family, best friend Janet, care-
giver Paula and her beloved
dog Bella. She passed away
peacefully.
Wanda was born
May 5, 1940, in
Hood River, Oregon,
to Alfred and Jessie
Hausinger.
She
has four sisters,
Betty, Lucille (Bill),
Gladys (Gary) and
Virginia (Steve), and
one brother, Virgil
(Bernice).
She
married Smith
Robert W. Gerard
and moved to
Hermiston, Oregon. She has
seven beautiful children,
Robert T. Gerard (Carolyn),
Nadine Lucas (Scott), Jadean
Morgan (Dennis), James
Gerard (Tammi), Sondra
Toliver (Larry), Jeannie
Holton (Steve) and Rick
Gerard (Gabi).
She later divorced and
married James Smith, and
added three beautiful stepchil-
dren to the family: Chrystal,
Amber and Levi. She has 20
grandkids, 19 great-grandkids
and one great-great-grandkid,
and numerous nieces and
nephews.
She worked at Simplot
for many years, then decided
to go on the road with her
husband. For many years
they drove a semi long haul,
and after a while she got her
CDL and would
help him drive. She
loved to stay in off
the road sometimes
and watch her
grandkids. She was
always willing to
be with her children
and grandkids if
they needed her.
She had the kindest
heart!
She
was
preceded in death
by her parents,
and grandson Christopher
Morgan.
A celebration of life will
be held on April 7, 2018,
from 4-7 p.m. at The Country
Church, 32742 Diagonal
Road, Hermiston, OR 97838.
Private burial with immediate
family will follow on Sunday,
April 8, 2018, in Hood River,
Oregon
The family would appre-
ciate donations made to James
Smith for expenses, in lieu of
flowers.
UPCOMING SERVICES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
BRONSON, VIRGIL — Funeral service at 11 a.m. at
Burns Mortuary, 336 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Burial will
follow at Agency Cemetery, Mission.
SKOLD, EDNA — Viewing from 1-5 p.m. at Munselle-
Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater.
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
SKOLD, EDNA — Viewing from 1-5 p.m. and from 7-9
p.m. at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St.,
Milton-Freewater.
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