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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2016)
Polk County News 8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 17, 2016 OBITUARIES Alvena M. Hinch Oct. 10, 1914 – Aug. 9, 2016 Alvena M. Hinch, 101, of Dallas, died Aug. 9. She was born in Webber, Kan., to Robert Carl Burge and Anna (Cheramy) Burge. She grew up in Colorado. On Aug. 31, 1931, Alvena married Oral Vermillion in Colorado Springs, Colo. They moved to Denver where they had two children, Clarance and Orlene. Shortly after they di- vorced and she married Lew Cathcart and raised two stepdaughters, Eunice and Loise Cathcart. In 1951, Alvena moved to Oregon. She married Don- ald Hinch Sr. on Oct. 28, 1972. He died in 1984. In 1990, she moved to Dallas. She worked in a ply- wood mill for more than 12 years and eventually retired, becoming a homemaker. Alvena loved to dance and to fish. She also loved her church. At age 91, she joined the Seventh-day Adventists. Survived by daughter, Or- lene; and four grandsons. Services were held. Inter- ment was at Dallas Ceme- tery. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Mary Dick Sepich (Craven) Sept. 3, 1932 – Aug. 1, 2016 Mary Dick Sepich (Craven), 83, of Chandler, Ariz., formerly of Dallas, died Aug. 1 in Chandler. Mary Dick was born in Dallas and attended Grant High School in Portland. She was married to Grant Bush- nell for nearly 24 years. She spent the remainder of her life with her second husband, Neil Sepich, enjoy- ing traveling, boating and music. Preceded in death by son, Brian Bushnell; sister, Anne Hecker (Craven); and two husbands. Survivors include daugh- ters, Joy Davidson, Linda Vera Irene Bemrose Dec. 18, 1916 - Aug. 10, 2016 Vera Irene (Nendel) Bemrose, of Mon- mouth, Oregon, died Wednesday, August 10, 2016. She was 99 years old. Vera was born in Airlie, Oregon on December 18, 1916 to Henry & Bessie (Weaver) Nendel. Vera was the oldest of eleven (11) children. She was raised by the early pioneers who settled here after their journey by covered wagon on the Oregon Trail. In her teens, Vera began working at the General Store in Summit, Oregon, where she lived on the 2nd floor above the store with the Plunket Family who owned and operated the store. The nearby logging towns in this region had many dance halls. Vera would attend these dances with her friends, and would meet her fu- ture husband, Ike Bemrose in 1936. Ike was a logger from Logsden, Oregon. Vera and Ike married on December 17, 1940 in Airlie, Oregon. They settled in Summit, Oregon, where they built a house behind her old employer's General Store. They had their first and only child on March 21, 1942 — a boy named Lewis James Bemrose. In 1951, they moved to Corvallis, Oregon, which would become their permanent home for many years. When living in Corvallis, Vera worked for the Custom Cannery, Lieb's Bakery and Kennedy's Bakery for many years, making pies and cakes for many establishments and Oregon State University. She also kept busy helping and car- ing for her aging grandparents, parents and uncle Charlie for many years, whom also enjoyed the blessing of longevity. Ike retired in 1979 after logging for 49 years. He passed away April 30, 1991, just four month's after they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. After Ike passed, Vera moved to Monmouth, Oregon to be closer to her Son, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. Vera was a hard worker, and an amazing homemaker. She was proud of the skills she learned from her pioneer Parents and Grandparents. Every year, Ike and Vera would plant a very large garden that would supply family members an abun- dance of fresh food and canned goods for the winter. Vera was also a very talented seamstress and quilt maker. She also crocheted hundred's of stuffed dolls and animals for the family over the years. Her baked cookies and pies were a constant pleasure where the supply never ran out. Her and Ike were avid campers, and would host annual family re- unions at their own private campground they called "The Lot" on the Alsea River. Vera always kept a watchful eye out for the cousin's safety, and would teach the young children how to work and create things with their hands. Up to 100 family members would show up at these annual camping fam- ily reunions. Many fond memories were created for all the cousins, filled with adventure. Vera was raised by a strong Christian family with Mennon- ite heritage. While living in Corvallis, Ike and Vera were members of the Mt. View Baptist Church. After moving to Monmouth, Vera decided to get baptized (in her late 80's) and became a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Mon- mouth. We will always remember her constant love, wisdom, quiet smile, and self-reliance. Vera is survived by her brother (Raymond Nendel) and sister (Lela (Nendel) Hamar), her only Son (Lewis Bemrose), her three Grandchildren (Jeff, Matt & Bodie), her nine Great- Grandchildren (Heather, Jordan, Zachary, Nicholas, Hannah, Kaiya, Ellie, Caylie & Ashley) and her only Great-Great- Grandchild (Andy), plus numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church at 200 Monmouth-Independence Highway, Monmouth, Ore- gon on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. Graser, and Pamela Bush- nell; son, Christopher Bush- nell; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Private services will be held. Memorial contribu- tions may be made to Chan- dler Public Library. Mike Whitacre July 6, 1943 – Aug. 3, 2016 Mike Whitacre, 73, of Beaverton, formerly of Dal- las, died on Aug. 3 from complications from pneu- monia at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Port- land. He was born in Baltimore to Gilbert Mitchell and Mar- j o r i e Q u i g l e y. He grew up in Colum- bus, Ohio. His par- ents di- vorced. His mother married Rober t Whitacre. He e n - listed in the Navy after high school and served as a quartermaster on a de- stroyer. He married Bonnie on March 11, 1967. The family moved to Dal- las in 1978. He worked as a truck driver in Salem while building his log home. He later worked at McMullin Chevrolet in Dallas. He was a member of Valley Life Cen- ter. He is survived by wife, Bonnie; son, Sean (Faye); daughter, Wendy ( Jim) Brazeau; five grandchildren; b ro t h e r Gi l b e r t ( Pa t ) Mitchell; and sister, Patti (Jim) Reading. Private ceremony will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Jolene Byrne Feb. 25, 1944 – Aug. 11, 2016 Jolene C. Byrne, 72, of Dallas, died Aug. 11. She was born to George Settlemier and Elaine (Mc- Carroll) Settlemier in Salem. She and her hus- band, Sam, were mar- ried in Redwood City, Calif., on Nov. 22, 1963, and eventually made their home in Dallas, where they raised their three children, Melanie (Byrne) Healy, Greg Byrne, and Tony Byrne. She ran an in-home day care for many years. She also worked as bookkeeper and manager for their in-home business, Empire Wood Products. Jolene loved attending her children’s school and sport events, spending time at the beach, maintaining a beau- tiful garden, and spoiling her grandkids. At her request, there will be no services. Orrin Dale Libolt Aug. 3, 1930 – July 20, 2016 Orrin Dale Libolt, 85, of Dallas, died July 20. He was born in Mills, Neb., to Dale A. and Inez Grasser Libolt. He lived in many places throughout Oregon as he worked as a foreman in the construction of roads. He worked for Ke- Duane Jerald Overholser April 20, 1948 - Aug. 1, 2016 SHERIDAN, OR – From his birth in Dallas, OR, nothing about Duane’s life journey was normal. He had an easy sense of humor, cunning intelli- gence, penchant for puns, quick wit, and unquenchable curiosity. One never knew if an impersonation, a moving Elvis song, a ‘groaner’ joke, or a fascinating story from his unend- ing depth of knowledge would surface next. He met his wife, Bonnie Jean Ross, on a blind date and promptly (but inadvertently) insulted her. He knew early on that she was the one and demonstrated the depths of his af- fection when he wore a hot pink shirt and rode his unicycle 4-miles into Falls City to court her. Apparently the tactic worked as they married on September 18, 1970 and enjoyed 45 years together. Once their three children were grown, they enjoyed frequent museum visits, constant growth through a plethora of books on all subjects, and trips to the Oregon beaches together. He loved his wife’s deviled eggs, a good barbecue or fish and chips, and Arby’s restaurants. He attended the two-room Oakdale schoolhouse through primary school and told others he was the worst student in his grade. As the only one in his grade, it was true. He later attended LaCreole Middle School and later Dallas High School where he immersed himself in music, drama and wrestling, graduating in 1966 Duane earned a bachelors degree in education and later a unique masters degree in special education at WOU allowing him to teach any subject to any grade. He taught special ed- ucation and driver’s ed primarily in Sheridan. He loved teach- ing but moved on to odd jobs, photography and contracting when paperwork became more important to the schools than the kids. He never lost his teacher’s heart and continued to share with and inspire everyone he encountered by leading bible studies and multiple youth groups and mentoring other can- cer patients at the treatment center. He succumbed unexpectedly to pancreatic cancer compli- cations on August 1, 2016 at the age of 68 and has been re- united with parents H. Dale and Janet (Lundquist) Overholser, sister Diane Waldron, and brother Daryl in Heaven. Family waiting to see him again include wife, Bon- nie; children Amy (John) Russ, Heidi (Sam) Lathrem, and Pete; a grandson, two step grandchildren, brothers Denys and David and sister Dixie. A Celebration of Life is at 2 PM on Sat., Aug. 27, 2016 at the Free Methodist Church in Willamina, OR. In lieu of flowers, stories and memorials can be left online at http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/duaneoverholser. S OME D ECISIONS H AVE A V ERY P ROFOUND E FFECT . Witt & Sons Company. He is survived by son, Richard Libolt, of Redmond; daughter, Dixie Fenske, of Salem; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother, Jack Libolt, of Dallas. He was preceded in death by brother, Larry Li- bolt. Private arrangements are being handled by the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Isaac M.H. Sturtevant July 31, 2016 Isaac M.H. Sturtevant, 31, of Dallas, died on July 31 in Santa Rosa, Calif. He was born in Portland to Mark and Cathey Sturte- vant. He was raised in Salem and Dallas. He graduated from Santi- am Christian High School and went to Portland Bible Col- lege. He was a g i f t e d artist, mu- sician, songwriter and poet. He loved to laugh, enjoyed plants and garden- ing, camping and skate- boarding. Survived by father, Mark; mother, Cathey; daughter, Elowen; and sisters, Katie and Elizabeth. Memorial service is at 6 p.m. on Aug. 21 at Life Church in Salem. In lieu of flowers, contri- butions may be made to the Isaac Sturtevant Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank. Lonnie Lee Seabourn Sept. 7, 1949 – Aug. 3, 2016 Lonnie Lee Seabourn, 66, of Monmouth, died at his home Aug. 3. He was born in Pendleton to Earl and Ellen Seabourn. He served in the United States Army from January of 1970 to January of 1972. On Jan. 20, 1972, he mar- ried Victoria Lockwood. They lived in Monmouth for m a n y years. Lon- nie worked in canner- ies and as a machinist in a foundry. Survived by daughter, April Dritchas, of Dallas; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife, Victoria, on Dec. 26, 2012. Private inurnment will be in the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. The Dallas Mortuary Trib- ute Center handled arrange- ments. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Viola Marie Kramer May 21, 1923 – Aug. 14, 2016 Viola Marie Kramer, 93, of Dallas, died Aug. 14. She was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hoffman, in Dexter, Minn. She married Roy Kramer on July 22, 1945, in Lakewood Village, Calif. She lived in Mill Val- l e y, S a n Rafael, and Novato, Calif., before mov- ing to Dallas in 1977. Viola was a member of Faith Free Evangelical Church in Dal- las. Survived by daughter, Laura Brown, of Dallas; son, Ron Kramer, of Salem; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services will be held Mon- day, Aug. 22, at the faith Free Evangelical Church at 2 p.m. interment was in Dallas Cemetery. Contributions can be made to Faith Free Evangeli- cal Church Memorial Fund or Willamette Valley Hos- pice. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled. To send an online tribute: www.dallas- tribute.com. Obituary Information Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $610 Traditional Funeral $2,175 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 ementzer@polkio.com. For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373. 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