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
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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,
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