6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 21, 2015
Polk County News
NEWS IN BRIEF
OBITUARIES
Rosalie P.
Rannings
Aug. 22, 1918 – Jan. 12, 2015
Rosalie P. Rannings, 96, of
Portland, formerly of Dallas,
died Jan. 12 in Portland.
She was born in Auburn,
N.Y., to Alfonso and Carmilla
Romano Caruana.
She married David L. Ran-
nings Jr. on Dec. 25, 1940, in
Auburn. They lived in Crab-
tree, N.Y.,
from 1949
to 1960,
and then
moved to
Blue River,
N . Y. I n
1963, they
moved to
Lumis,
Calif. They then moved to
Cuba, N.Y., in 1965. They
moved to Dallas in Septem-
ber 1973 from Cayuga, N.Y.
Rosalie worked at the El-
lendale Rest Home for more
than 20 years dispensing
medications. She was in her
early 70s when she retired.
She was an active member
of St. Philip Catholic Church
in Dallas. She loved people
and was a good giver to
many.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, David, on
July 26, 1996; brother, Sam
Caruana; and sister, Marie
Bovey.
Survivors include her
daughter, Beverly Strait of
Portland; son, David L. Ran-
nings IV of Lake Havasu City,
Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; 12
great-grandchildren; and
two great-great-grandchil-
dren.
Recitation of the rosary
and Mass of Christian burial
was Friday at St. Philip
Catholic Church. Interment
was at the IOOF Cemetery in
Lebanon.
Contributions are suggest-
ed to the Altar Society at the
church.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments. To send an online
condolence: www.dallastrib-
ute.com.
Patricia Mae
Tilgner
June 20, 1931 – Jan. 4, 2015
Patricia Mae Tilgner, 83, of
Dallas died Jan. 4.
She was born in Water-
town, S.D., to Donald and
Salem
412 Lancaster Drive NE
Salem, OR 97301
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Bessie Rickard and moved to
Oregon at age 11.
Pat graduated from Dallas
High School in 1949 and
married Delmond O. Tilgner
in 1951. They lived in various
places in Oregon and Cali-
fornia while starting a family
before moving in 1962 to
Dallas, where they remained.
Pat worked at Polk County
State Bank and was a Polk
County Tax Deputy until she
retired in 1983.
Pat was truly the matriarch
and emotional anchor of her
immediate and extended
family. Her home of 52 years
was the center of activity, ac-
ceptance and love for a mul-
titude of relatives and friends.
Pat was preceded in death
by her sisters, Connie Hilts,
Gerry Butler and Darlene Fe-
skins.
She is survived by her hus-
band, Del; sister, Gini Stener-
son; children, Jill Alvarez,
and Todd, Brent, Scott,
Gregg, Mark and Brad Tilgn-
er; 17 grandchildren; and
nine great-grandchildren.
At her request, no service
is scheduled. A celebration
of life will be scheduled for
family and friends at a later
date. In lieu of flowers, dona-
tions may be sent to
Willamette Valley Hospice.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments. To send an online
condolence: www.dallastrib-
ute.com.
Young of Benton City, Wash.;
son, Robert Moschetti of Or-
ange, Calif.; daughter, Lori
(Chris) Williams of Aloha;
and three grandchildren.
Service is Friday at 10 a.m.
at Willamette National
Cemetery in Portland.
Joanne Carol
(Ross) Melius
Feb. 9, 1947 – Jan. 7, 2015
Jo a n n e C a r o l ( Ro s s )
Melius, 67, of Portland died
Jan. 7 in Portland.
She was born in Dallas to
Eugene and Elizabeth J.
(Kathriner) Ross.
Joanne grew up and went
to school in Falls City.
Through her school years
she participated in 4-H, vol-
leyball, pep club and editori-
al staff. After high school she
attended
one year of
business
college in
Albany.
She met
Ro g e r i n
the sum-
mer of
1961 and
they were married on April
20, 1966.
She was a devoted wife
and mother. She never al-
lowed her physical disabili-
ties to keep her from partici-
pating in her two children’s
events. She volunteered in
their classrooms and for field
trips. She enjoyed being a
den mother for Cub Scouts
and Bluebird leader for
Camp Fire Girls. She also
served in several officer posi-
tions in the Parent Teachers
Association (PTA) at the chil-
dren’s schools.
Joanne enjoyed crafting
and tending to her flowers.
She worked in her home
providing child care while
her kids were young and
later worked at retail jobs
after they had grown up.
Joanne and Roger enjoyed
spending time at the beach
and eating fresh crab. They
also liked to reminisce on
their drives around the Falls
City and Dallas area. They
especially loved spending
quality time with all of their
family.
Survivors include her hus-
band, Roger L. Melius; son,
Anthony S. Melius (Delie
Bayne); daughter, Barbara A.
(Randy) Pennington; sisters,
Bonnie Overholser and Alice
McAllister; 10 grandchildren;
and nine great-grandchildren.
Celebration of life was Fri-
day at Rickreall Grange.
Wilhelm Funeral Home,
Portland, handled arrange-
ments.
Terry Moschetti
Nov. 21, 1945 – Jan. 7, 2015
Terry Moschetti, 69, of
Aloha died Jan. 7 in Aloha.
He was born to Zander
and Ilene Moschetti in Oak-
land, Calif.
Terry grew up in Ukiah,
Calif., where he met his high
school sweetheart, Jan McAl-
lister. They married in 1965.
During
their mar-
r i a g e ,
T e r r y
served in
the Army
for two years; one of those
years he served in Vietnam.
Terry, Jan and their two
children lived in Southern
California. Terry and his
family then moved to the In-
dependence and Monmouth
area and lived there for 13
years before returning to
California.
He had worked for FedEx
before retiring. He moved
back to Oregon in 2011.
Terry loved his family very
much and especially enjoyed
spending time with his
grandchildren. He loved
sharing stories with friends
and family, and had you
laughing and smiling before
the day was over. Terry was
the spice of his family. There
was never a dull moment
when he was in the room.
He was preceded in death
by h i s b r o t h e r, Bu t c h
Moschetti.
Survivors include his wife,
Jan Moschetti of Redlands,
Calif.; sister, Sandy (Les)
Betty Jean
Pleasant Miles
Jan. 8, 1929 – Jan. 17, 2015
Betty Jean Pleasant Miles,
86, of Dallas died Saturday in
Dallas.
She was born in Kings Val-
ley to Hubert and Eva Tate
Pleasant.
The family moved to
Philomath, where she at-
tended school and graduat-
ed from Philomath High
School.
Betty married Richard
Robson and moved to Al-
bany. They had two children
and later divorced. She later
married Alfred Miles and
they settled in McMinnville.
Al died in March 2014.
She was involved in local
theater and performed in
“South Pacific” and “Okla-
homa.” She enjoyed singing
and dancing. She was a loving
mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her chil-
dren, Debi (Ron) McGlaugh-
lin and Neil (Gina) Robson;
two grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; and
three great-great-grandchil-
dren.
Service was Tuesday at
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center. Interment was at
Oaklawn Memorial Park in
Corvallis.
To send an online condo-
lence: www.dallastribute.com.
Amanda Lynn
Garbutt
Jan. 10, 2014
Amanda Lynn Garbutt, 30,
of Dallas died Jan. 10 in
Wyoming.
Visitation is Saturday from
10 a.m. to noon at Dallas
Mortuary Tribute Center.
Celebration of life service
will follow at The Majestic,
976 Main St., Dallas.
To send an online condo-
lence: www.dallastribute.com.
Dick Allen Unruh
April 19, 1939 – Jan. 7, 2015
Memorial service for Dick
Allen Unruh, 75, of Mon-
mouth will be Jan. 30 at 5
p.m. at the Scottish Rite
Temple, 4090 Commercial St.
SE in Salem followed by a re-
ception.
Contributions are suggest-
ed to a charity of choice.
Obituary
Information
Obituary information must
be submitted by 4 p.m. on the
Monday before publication to
be included in the newspaper.
Most funeral homes handle
obituary information and pro-
vide it to the newspaper. How-
ever, information can also be
submitted directly from family
members.
Color and black-and-white
photos can be submitted, but
photos will only be published
in black and white. The Itemiz-
er-Observer uses a flag logo in
the obituaries of people who
served in the armed forces.
Obituaries — like all infor-
mation submitted to the news
department — are subject to
editing for style, content and
length.
Information can be brought
or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob-
server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas,
OR 97338, or emailed to
nadams@polkio.com.
For more information:
Nancy Adams, 503-623-2373.
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For information 503-623-8442
Supports Projects of Dallas Naomi Chapter #22, Order of Eastern Star
Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes and On-Site Crematory
Task force named to find street funds
MONMOUTH — The Monmouth City Council named seven
residents and Mayor John Oberst as council liaison to a street
funding task force.
The idea is that the committee will be able to familiarize itself
with current street maintenance programs, services and finan-
cials; explore options for providing additional street funding;
and provide the city council with an analysis of potential addi-
tional funding options.
Named to the committee: Ernest Cheiky, Donna Conrad, Larry
Dalton, George Jeffery, Tim Graham, James Borders and Bill Horner.
Oberst asked to sit with the task force, if not serve as the coun-
cil’s liaison for the group. He said gas tax receipts are down be-
cause people are driving more fuel efficient vehicles, driving fewer
miles, bicycling and walking more, and otherwise saving fuel.
With lower gas tax receipts, there is less money to spend on
road infrastructure, Oberst said.
Still time to submit 2015 fair theme
RICKREALL — You still have time to submit ideas for the 2015
Polk County Fair theme, but the deadline is approaching fast.
Entries are due Monday and must be submitted on an official
entry form.
The Polk County Fair Board will pick the winning theme at its
Feb. 19 meeting.
Contest entrants need only supply a theme and slogan that
can be used as a basis for decorations, exhibits, attractions, and
will provide for a “fun and festive atmosphere” for the fair,
scheduled Aug. 6-8. The winner will receive a “family fair pack-
age,” with two adult season passes, two junior season passes,
and four burgers, four fries and four medium drinks.
Theme ideas can relate to any part of the fair — agriculture,
commercial or carnival — and the slogan should be eight words
or less.
Entry forms are available at the Polk County Fairgrounds &
Event Center, 520 S. Pacific Highway (99W), Rickreall, or online at
www.co.polk.or.us/fair.
Tourism kickoff event set Tuesday
DALLAS — Travel Oregon’s Rural Tourism Studio will hold its
kickoff workshop at Pressed Coffee and Wine Bar, 788 Main St.,
Dallas, Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Participants who have finished previous workshops will re-
ceive certificates of completion and will share the new commu-
nity tourism vision, action teams and priority projects with the
community.
Travel Oregon has hosted a number of Rural Tourism Studio
workshops in Polk County since September, working with busi-
nesses, nonprofits and community members to find ways to
better market the county to tourists.
For more information or to register for the kickoff event:
http://industry.traveloregon.com/industry-resources/destina-
tion-development/rural-tourism-studio/polk-county.
Oak, prairie habitat project funded
POLK COUNTY — A project to restore and protect oak and
prairie habitat in Polk and Yamhill counties was given a $2 mil-
lion grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The money is part of $22 million awarded to six projects
throughout the state by the USDA Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service under a new, competitive Farm Bill program, the
Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The North Willamette Valley Upland Oak Restoration Project,
in Polk and Yamhill counties, will protect and restore habitat for
many plant and animal species, including the endangered
Fender’s blue butterfly.
The project also will incorporate long-term conservation
tools, such as land acquisitions and conservation easements.
For more information: Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation
District, 503-472-1474.
Sheriff seeking reserve deputies
POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently
accepting reserve deputy sheriff applications for the reserve
academy that starts in November.
Applicants must be 21 years of age and will be required at a
minimum to pass a written test, interviews, criminal back-
ground check, psychological evaluation, physical fitness test
and drug screening.
Applications for the position are now available online at
http://www.co.polk.or.us/ru/volunteer-opportunities-polk-
county and select the volunteer application.
The application deadline is Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. Send the com-
pleted applications to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 850 Main
St., Dallas.
For more information: Detective John Williams, Polk County
Sheriff’s Office, 503-623-9251.
Thurman elected to power council
MONMOUTH — Chuck Thurman of Monmouth Power and
Light was elected as a board member to the Public Power Council
for a two-year term.
The Public Power Council (PPC) represents the Pacific North-
west’s consumer-owned utilities on issues in the region and in
Washington, D.C. The council’s focus is on the federal Columbia
River Power System and on Bonneville Power Administration
ratemaking, revenue requirements and policies.
Being a voting member of the board will help Monmouth keep
on the forefront of utilities, Thurman said.
For example, what may be considered a large project for Mon-
mouth Power and Light would be a small project for a large utili-
ty, Thurman said. Working with the Public Power Council, the defi-
nitions for large projects are now based on the size of the utility.
Log truck loses load on Hwy. 223
POLK COUNTY — A loaded log truck lost control on Highway
223 south of Dallas when the rear trailer tire left the paved por-
tion of the road at 11:55 a.m. on Monday.
The driver, David Keutzer, 50, tried to regain control but the
trailer drifted off the soft dirt shoulder about ½-mile south of
Bridgeport Road, causing the trailer to break away from the
tractor. The logs remained attached to the tractor portion of the
truck as it went across the bridge and came to a stop.
The northbound lane of Highway 223 was blocked by the trac-
tor and logs until they could be removed from the road. AA Towing
and the Oregon Department of Transportation had to close both
lanes of traffic while the logs were loaded onto another truck.
Keutzer of Lebanon was cited for failing to drive within a lane.
No one was injured, and no property was damaged.