COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
A6
Regifting Christmas joy
patented delta wing shape fl ies
along in any kind of snow, and
special fi ns and runner make
it go where you steer it simply
MARC
by leaning to right or left …
MULLINS
Sno Wing, the new way to fl y
on snow.”
MARC’S REMARKS
And fl y, I did. Many were
the days that my broth-
rowing up in north-
ers, sisters, and I would go
ern Idaho during the
to a nearby sledding hill to
1960s was a thrilling
join other girls and boys for
adventure. There never was a day-long runs down the slope.
lack of things for a kid to do on I made sure the bottom of
our small family farm outside my red-enameled steel sled
of Post Falls. Winters were
was well prepped with candle
especially fun.
wax, to ensure it would glide
I have vivid memories of
swiftly down the snow.
the gift Santa brought me on
Those early sled runs with
Christmas Day 1964. What
my shiny Sno Wing fl yer fi rst
7-year-old boy hadn’t asked
took place 58 years ago. And
for a Sno Wing sled that year? for another seven years after-
Among my school friends, I
ward, I enjoyed many more
was much envied that winter. trips on that sled, soaring
They all pleaded for the
down slopes covered with icy
opportunity to take my space- snow.
age sled for a ride.
Not many years ago my
Manufactured by Blazon
mother died. Shortly there-
Toys, the sled’s black-and-
after, while cleaning out my
white television ad captured
parents’ home, I rediscovered
the attention of many boys in
that favored sled where it hung
my class. I recall the spiel of
near a corner from a basement
that ad: “Made by Blazon to
wall. With great excitement
coast like the wind, Sno Wing and anticipation, I brought my
actually steers! Sno Wing’s
treasured fi nd back home with
G
me to Pendleton.
I spent numerous hours in
the weeks that followed restor-
ing my sled to its original
condition. Then, a little more
than a month thereafter, I was
able to experience renewed
joy when I gave it as a Christ-
mas gift to my then 7-year-
old grandson. Not long after
he opened his gift, we went
outside in the Alaskan winter
to enjoy his fi rst exuberant
rides on the Anchorage snow.
It’s wonderful to recall
with fondness days gone by.
It’s even more delightful to
relive such times through the
experiences of a child. Of the
many joyful encounters I’ve
had in life, the thrill of sharing
something of my past with my
grandson is a much treasured
gift. I wish for you, my read-
ers, similar opportunities to
enjoy. Give a gift of yourself to
another, for thereby your life
will be enhanced.
———
Marc Mullins is co-pastor
of the First Christian Church
of Pendleton.
Thursday, January 13, 2022
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
Red Cross,
NFL to tackle
blood shortage
UMATILLA COUNTY
— The American Red
Cross is partnering with the
National Football League
to help alleviate the worst
blood shortage in more than
a decade. People are urged to
join the lifesaving team and
score big for patients in need.
Everyone who donates
blood in January will be
entered in a drawing for a
trip for two to Super Bowl
LVI in Los Angeles. In
addition to game tickets, the
winner will receive airfare,
hotel accommodations for
three nights and a $500 gift
card. An additional drawing
will be held for Big Game at
Home, a home theater pack-
age for the winner to host a
Super Bowl viewing party.
Upcoming area blood
drives include:
• Friday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. at Roundup
Athletic Club, Pendleton.
• Monday, Jan. 17, 12:45-
Juan “John” Irusta
March 27, 1933 - January 8, 2022
Doris J. Tsiatsos
May 30, 1931 - January 1, 2022
Doris J. Tsiatsos, be-
loved wife of Greg, of
Starkey, died January 1,
2022, at a lo-
cal care facili-
ty. She was 90
years of age. A
memorial gath-
ering will be
announced
in
the spring to cel-
ebrate her life.
Arrangements
are entrusted to
Daniels~Knopp Funeral,
Cremation & Life Cele-
bration Center.
She was born, Do-
ris Jean Gray on May
30, 1931 in Wallowa, to
Lloyd and Eunice (Scott)
Gray. At the age of 7, her
father bought her a violin
and lessons to play it, to
entice her to want to join
the rest of the family in
moving to La Grande. It
was the beginning of a
lifelong love of music.
Doris was raised and ed-
ucated in La Grande, first
at Greenwood School
and later graduated from
La Grande High School
with the class of 1949.
After her graduation, she
married Greg Tsiatsos at
her parents’ home in La
Grande. She was not ac-
customed to the many and
varied household duties
of a housewife and ranch
wife but she embraced the
adventure and became a
very proficient cook and
homemaker and even
helped Greg with the live-
stock. She was
an accomplished
seamstress and
made her fam-
ily’s
clothes.
Doris was very
active in the
Grande Ronde
Symphony for
most of her life
and was the con-
cert master for many years
and donated her valued
violin to the symphony.
Surviving family mem-
bers include her husband
of 72 years, Greg Tsiatsos
of Starkey; daughter, Sha-
ron Crampton of Starkey;
brother and sister-in-law,
Don and Brenda Gray of
Vancouver, Washington;
grandchildren,
Rhonda
Ross, Jason Crampton,
and twins, Christopher
Tsiatsos and Deena Haun;
a great-grandson, Caden
Ross, to whom she gave
her Cadillac for Christ-
mas. Besides her parents,
she was preceded in death
by her daughter, Deena
Hale; her son, Grant Tsiat-
sos and her sister, Barbara
Gray.
Friends who wish may
make contributions in
memory of Doris Tsiatsos
to her beloved, Grande
Ronde Symphony.
Charlotte Marie Johnson
October 11, 1952 – December 13, 2021
Charlotte Marie John-
son of Hermiston, Ore-
gon, was born on Octo-
ber 11, 1952
in
Newport,
Washington to
parents, Frank
Carl
John-
son and Alma
Lee
Harroun
(Bramblee). She
died on Decem-
ber 13, 2021 in
Portland, Ore-
gon at the age
of 69 years. She
was the first of 5 children,
followed by her brothers,
Michael Carl Johnson,
Gerald DeWayne John-
son, David Lewis John-
son and Raymond Eugene
Harroun.
Charlotte was a truck
driver for 25 years, loved
horses and horseback rid-
ing and was a member
of a couple local riding
groups. She loved camp-
ing and riding 4-wheelers.
Her favorite place to ride
and camp was the Morrow
County OHV park out-
side of Heppner, OR. She
loved to create, whether it
was a DIY building proj-
ect or crocheting or mak-
ing hats for her grandkids.
She blazed many trails in
her life, both literal and
figurative. She broke gen-
der standards in the truck-
ing industry, was one the
few women to race cars
at the Hermiston Oval
track in the early 80’s.
She was always leading
when riding the trails on
a 4-wheeler. She loved
traveling and going for
drives, always
taking the road
that she’d never
been down be-
fore, just to see
where it went.
She was fearless.
She was pre-
ceded in death
by her Father
and
Mother
as well as her
brothers, David Lew-
is and Michael Carl.
She is survived by: her
companion, Lyle Potter
of Hermiston, OR, her
children; daughter Tracy
Lee Enders-Crum, son-in-
law Jarrod Crum of Pas-
co, WA and son Anthony
James Enders, daughter-
in-law Rhianna Enders,
of Mitchel, IN, 3 grand-
children, Taylor Marie
Enders, Ethan Samuel Ca-
ballero and Graig Michael
James Enders; brothers,
Gerald DeWayne and
Raymond Eugene Har-
roun
A memorial service
will be held at 2pm, Fri-
day, January 14th at Burns
Mortuary Chapel, Herm-
iston, Oregon.
Please share memo-
ries of Charlotte with her
family at burnsmortuary-
hermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston, Oregon is in
care of arrangements
Juan “John” Irusta,
88, of Hermiston, Oregon
passed away on January
8, 2022. John
was born in the
Basque region
of Spain in the
city of Berria-
tua,
province
of Bizkaia on
March 27, 1933
to Jose Maria
and Jacinta Elu
Aristondo. John
was the fourth of six chil-
dren.
John married Dom-
inica Laca in Spain on
February 11, 1961 and
soon thereafter started to
build their family. In April
1964, John left Spain to
seek work in the United
States where he began a
career in the sheep indus-
try. From tending bands of
sheep in the mountains of
Idaho to eventually work-
ing for C2L feedlot, John
was a dedicated worker
who made it his mission
to provide for his family.
In August 1975, John was
able to move Dominica
and their four boys from
Spain to a brand new
home in Hermiston, Ore-
gon.
John very much en-
joyed fishing and hunting.
Spending time near the
water with bait on a line
was definitely
his happy-place.
John was pre-
ceded in death
by his parents,
two sisters and
one brother. He
is survived by
his wife, Dom-
inica of Herm-
iston; his sister, Begonia
of Spain; brother, Feliz
of California; sons, Aitor
and Tony of Hermiston,
Andres (Trudy) of Scott-
sdale, AZ, Manuel (Mik-
ka) of Hood River, OR;
six grandchildren and five
great granddaughters.
A Graveside service
will be held at 1:00 P.M.
Friday January 14, 2022
at Hermiston Cemetery
in Hermiston, OR. Burns
Mortuary of Hermiston is
in care of arrangements.
Donations in John’s
memory can be made
to Meals on Wheels in
Hermiston.
5:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd
Medical Center, Hermiston.
For other dates and sites,
visit www.redcrossblood.
org. To schedule a dona-
tion appointment, visit the
website or call 800-733-2767.
items for the silent auction
are encouraged to call Derek
Watson at 503-999-2976 or
Reilly Miller at 541-975-
4845. For more information,
search www.facebook.com/
PRFDMembers.
Firefi ghters host
family festival
Tigers roaring for
all-class reunion
PILOT ROCK — The
Pilot Rock Fire District
Members Association is
looking to put the “F” in fun.
The group is organiz-
ing the Fun Fire Festival —
F-F-F. In addition to learning
about volunteer opportuni-
ties with the fi re district, the
event will feature a silent
auction, family activities,
food and prizes.
The F-F-F is Saturday,
Feb. 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
415 N.E. Elm St., Pilot Rock.
The event also serves as a
membership fundraiser.
Those interested in
donating a basket or other
STANFIELD —Orga-
nizers for the Stanfi eld High
Alumni Reunion are reach-
ing out to all former Tigers.
The event, which is open to
all Stanfield graduates, is
planned for Saturday, July
2, at Nathan Bard Memorial
Community Park, Stanfi eld.
Norma Kightlinger is
looking to keep the event
low-cost to make it aff ordable
for all. For more information,
text 541-786-3077 or search
Facebook pages, including
“You Know You’re from
Stanfi eld, Oregon” and “Stan-
fi eld High School Alumni.”
— EO Media Group
Kenneth Charles Giger Sr.
July 23, 1933 - December 30, 2021
Ken went to be with
The Lord on December
30, 2021. He was 88
years old.
He was born
July 23, 1933 in
College Place,
Wa. to his par-
ents, Alan and
Catherine Giger.
His early life
was on Weston
Mountain in the
Reed and Haw-
ley area. He graduated
from Weston High School
and shortly after married
Lois Ellen Exum on May
23, 1953. They lived
in the Milton-Freewater
area for a while before he
moved his family back up
on Weston Mountain that
he loved so much. He
was a “hands on, make
it happen” kind of man.
He worked construction
through his life, working
hard to raise their 6 chil-
dren. He was a very ac-
complished heavy equip-
ment operator, working
road construction. He
spent his last working
years setting up and op-
erating portable asphalt
plants around Oregon,
Washington and Idaho.
Even after retirement,
companies would seek
him out to set up or advise
on plant operations. Even
on his off time,
he worked with
his own equip-
ment for himself
and others. He
loved to work.
After their chil-
dren
gained
adulthood, Ken
and Lois began
spending their
winters south in Laugh-
lin, Nevada for the next
15 years. They enjoyed
that time of their life very
much. They were mar-
ried 68 1/2 years upon his
death.
Ken is survived by his
wife Lois at her home in
Athena, his children Pam
and husband Tim, Ken Jr.
and wife Janice, Trish and
husband Mitch, LoriAnne
and husband Greg, Gor-
don, Mona and husband
Dan, sister Ellen, brother
Dave and many grand-
children, great grand-
children and one great
great grandchild. He was
preceded in death by his
parents, brothers Clinton,
Bob and Miles.
A family memorial is
planned for early summer.
To leave an online
condolence for the family
please go to www.burns-
mortuaryhermiston.com
Nancy Jane Lingle
August 1, 1933 - January 4, 2022
Laquitta (Kit) Beauton Gladney Hoeft
August 1, 1936 – December 20, 2021
Laquitta (Kit) Beau-
ton Gladney Hoeft passed
into Heaven December
20, 2021.
Kit was born
the oldest of 5
children to Bert
and Leona Glad-
ney in Welling-
ton, Texas on
August 1, 1936.
She
traveled
with her family
to the George
Canyon area south of
Pendleton where she met
and married the love of
her life, Charles Elwood
Hoeft. Kit and Charles
were married July 3, 1954
prior to her final year of
high school. Kit gradu-
ated from Pendleton High
School as Laquitta Hoeft
in 1955.
Kit and Charles en-
joyed 64 years togeth-
er where they raised 4
children. Kit was a farm
wife who worked at
“off-the-farm” jobs as a
receptionist, realtor and
for the Oregon Agricul-
tural Statistics Service,
however her biggest job
evolved around their kid’s
activities and volunteer-
ism as a 4-H leader, fair
barn superintendent, as-
sisting school teachers in
the classroom and for the
Pendleton Round-up. Kit
enjoyed being a part of the
Umatilla County Home-
makers Group, playing
Bridge and traveling with
Charles “to see the coun-
try” for years prior to
settling in the Whetstone
area of southern Arizona.
Kit was preceded in
Death by her loving hus-
band Charles, daughter
Charlotte, parents, and
brother Michael
Gladney.
She is sur-
vived by daugh-
ter Debra Nor-
dheim (John),
sons Mike Hoeft
(Karen), Aaron
Hoeft (Jaci) and
son-in-law Larry
Portouw (Char-
lotte); 8 Grandchildren
Carla Thorson (John), Jef-
fery Portouw (Yeen Kie),
Mindy Puller (Sam), Lau-
ra Rowan (Kyle), Cody
Nordheim (Ingrid), Logan
Hoeft (Christal), Michae-
la Nordheim and Connor
Hoeft ;7 Greatgrandchil-
dren Charles and Garrett
Thorson, Andrenna and
Tell Puller, Hanna Nor-
dheim, Olivia Portouw
and Savannah Hoeft and
brothers John and Sam
Gladney and sister Char-
lene Foster.
Funeral Service will
be held Saturday, January
15, 2022 – 10:00 am at
Burns Mortuary of Pend-
leton. Followed by Buri-
al at Skyview Memorial
Park. Burns Mortuary of
Pendleton is in charge of
arrangements. Sign the
online guestbook at www.
burnsmortuary.com
The family ask that in
lieu of flowers, donations
be made to The Good Sa-
maritan Quiburi Mission,
850 S. State Highway 80,
Benson AZ 85602.
Nancy Jane Lingle
of Hermiston was born
August 1, 1933 in Wel-
dona, Colorado
the daughter of
John and Alice
(Johnson) Pick-
ett. She passed
away in Hermis-
ton on Tuesday
January 4, 2022
at the age of 88
years.
Nancy has very fond
memories of her child-
hood while living in
Nunn, Colorado. At the
age of 14, she moved to
Damascus, Oregon where
she graduated from high
school. She then attended
Oregon State University
where she studied Home
Economics and received
her bachelor’s degree.
Nancy married Dale
LeRoy Lingle on March
20, 1955. The couple
lived in Idaho, Washing-
ton and Oregon as Dale’s
career with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs took them
to many locations. Nancy
worked with county ex-
tension service for several
years before her children
were born. In 1972, the
couple moved to Umatil-
la County, Oregon where
they have resided in the
communities of Pendle-
ton, Adams and Hermis-
ton.
Nancy had a strong
faith in God, enjoyed be-
ing involved in church
activities and hosted bible
studies for many years.
She was an excellent cook,
baker and seamstress, and
was always willing to help
those who were in need.
She loved playing tennis
with her friends and fami-
ly, and she loved
the pets she had
throughout her
life.
She is sur-
vived by her hus-
band of sixty-six
years,
Dale;
four daughters,
Lorie and hus-
band Gary Swearingen,
Diane Lingle and husband
David Rappoport, Devo-
ta Robins, and Eva and
husband Patrick Temple;
five grandchildren, Bri-
an, Kevin and Nathanial
Swearingen and Harrison
and Kylie Temple; a sis-
ter, Dixie Floyd of Colo-
rado, and many nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, her
brother, Robert “Bob”
Pickett and her sister, Pa-
tricia Brown.
A Private family cel-
ebration of life will be
held. A Private interment
will be in Willamette Na-
tional Cemetery in Port-
land. Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston is in care of
arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, con-
tributions may be made in
Nancy’s memory to: Na-
tions, a ministry Nancy’s
niece has worked with for
35 years at https://give.
cru.org/0364566 .
To leave an online
condolence for the family
please go to www.burns-
mortuaryhermiston.com