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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2017)
Polk County News 10A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 15, 2017 OBITUARIES Henry Warkentin Robert A. Johnson Feb. 26, 1927 – March 2, 2017 April 15, 1929 – March 8, 2017 Henry (Hank) Warkentin was born in Montana on Feb. 26, 1927, to parents Jacob and Justina Warkentin. Because of the diffi- culties of the times, t h e Warkentin f a m i l y moved to western Oregon in 1937. Hank attended Dallas High School and, during those years, he got ac- quainted with Lenora Edi- ger, both at school and at church. This is where their courtship began, and their continuing romance lasted for over 65 years. They were married on May 9, 1947, in Dallas, Ore- gon. They raised a family of five children: Timothy and wife Paulette Warkentin, of Christmas Valley; Randall and wife Patti Warkentin, of Salem; Rebekah and husband Gerald Schmucker, of Tan- gent; Teresa and husband Stan Rolfness, of Prineville; and Peggy and husband Mel Neufeld, of Lebanon. They have 14 grandchil- dren and 27 great-grandchil- dren — with more on the way! Preceding Hank in death is his wife, Lenora; his sister, Rosella Peters; his brother, Jake Warkentin; and great- grandchild, Landon James Warkentin. Hank’s joy was to make friends and share the Good News of the Gospel wherev- er he was. He spent the last three years at Quail Run Men- nonite Village in Albany, Oregon where he made many special friends and got reacquainted with old ones. Hank passed away in Al- bany, and went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 2, 2017, at the age of 90. He will be greatly missed and remembered by his family and friends as a lov- ing and godly man. Robert A. Johnson passed away March 8, 2017, in Dal- las. Bob was born April 15, 1929, in Su p e r i o r, Wis., to Arthur and A g n e s Johnson. B o b graduated from the Univer- sity of Idaho with a degree in forestry. He met his wife, Lu, in Duluth, Minnesota and mar- ried her Dec. 29, 1951. They moved to Oregon in 1952 and settled in Dallas in 1960. Bob was the logging man- ager at Boise Cascade for most of his career. Forestry was his occupation; trees were his passion. Bob and Lu owned their own Christ- mas tree farm for many years on the outskirts of Dal- las, where family and friends joined in planting and har- vesting. He enjoyed singing with the Norwegian Thorsman singers for more than 20 years. He enjoyed singing for many years with the Trinity Lutheran Church choir. He is survived by his wife, Lu; son, Dan (Judy) Johnson; a n d d a u g h t e r , Te r r i (Richard) Robinson; along with five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Tedd Johnson, of La Crosse, Wis.; and sister, Judy Jackson, of Newark, Del. Services will be held Thursday; March 16, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dallas. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center is caring for the family. To share an online condo- lence, go to: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Kevin Allen Staggs May 3, 1968 – Feb. 14, 2017 Kevin Allen Staggs, 48, of Longview, Wash., died on Feb. 14 at his home. H i s adoptive parents were Bill and Betty Staggs. His biological mother was Patricia Staggs. He was a cook and a con- servative Baptist. Kevin married Georgia on June 8, 2005, in Salem. He is survived by his wife, Georgia; children: Tyler, Anastaisia, Kevin Jr., Melissa; brothers: Michael and Billie Staggs Jr.; sisters: Bobbi, Melody, April and Summer; and many friends and fami- ly; plus stepchildren. A celebration of life was at Salt Creek Baptist Church at 2 p.m. on March 11. Pastor David Curtis presided. Michael Lloyd Lalack Dec. 7, 1951 – March 9, 2017 Michael Lloyd Lalack passed away on March 9 in Salem. He was born in Dal- las, the son of William Charles Lalack Sr. and Betty Mae Jones Lalack on Dec. 7, 1951 — the 10th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The family lived in Dallas, then for several years at a farm on Gooseneck Road in Sheridan before returning to Dallas. Mike attended Mor- rison Grade School in Dal- las, Willamina Grade School, LaCreole Junior High, and Dallas High School. Mike married Karen Lynn Pegg in Dallas on Feb. 6, 1970. Their daughter Jennifer Ann Lalack was born May 10, 1970, in Dallas. Karen passed away on Jan. 21, 2011. Mike later married Elaine Mark on Dec. 16, 2015, in Salem. Mike was a logger, and sometimes worked along- side his father. He was a log truck driver at the time of his retirement. Mike participated in many logging shows. He en- joyed the woods, fishing, hunting and motorcycles. Mike also collected tools for the kitchen and enjoyed cooking. Survivors include Mike’s wife, Elaine Mark; mother, Betty Lalack, of Dallas; daughter Jennifer (Larry) Foster, of Dallas; grand- daughters Kristina Foster, of Otis, and Kayla Foster, of Dallas; and siblings William Lalack Jr. (Cheryl), of New- port, Patti Lalack, of Port- land, and Cindy (Michael) Hayes, of Salem. A memorial gathering for Mike will be held on March 19, which was his father’s birthday, at the Dallas Sen- ior Center, 955 SE Jefferson St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Casual attire only, as Mike would have preferred. Those who wish may honor Mike with a contribu- tion to the Michael Lalack Memorial Fund in care of Bollman Funeral Home, who is caring for the family. To leave an online condo- lence for the family go to www.dallastribute.com. Robert ‘Bob’ Guy Miller Nov. 12, 1926 – March 4, 2017 Robert “Bob” Guy Miller was 90 years young when he passed away on March 4, 2017. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Martha Mae Harri- son Wynn Miller Hix- son and Guy Miller, on Nov. 12. 1926, he spent his y o u n g childhood years in S o u t h Dakota. He dear- ly loved the Black Hills and re- c a l l e d watching as the Mt. Rushmore monument was being carved. Bob had six siblings and was the youngest. He has only one surviving sister, Delores Wynn Thompson, of The Dalles. When he was a teenager, Bob and his family moved to Vancouver, Wash., where he attended Vancouver High School. At the age of 17, he en- tered the Navy. While in the Navy he completed his high school education and re- ceived his GED. He spent four years of ac- tive duty during World War II, and another four years of active duty in the Korean oc- cupation. He loved the destroyers he served on in WWII, but was not as fond of the cargo ship he was assigned to in the Korean occupation. Bob started college at Vanport College in Portland, then after his stint in Korea, he returned to college at Pa- Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street • Dallas • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Service Call today for your FREE Consultation Mark Sturtevant 503-623-0290 Personally involved and invested in the Dallas community Welcoming new patients. Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider. S OME D ECISIONS H AVE A V ERY P ROFOUND E FFECT . cific University in Forest Grove, where he graduated with a teaching/coaching degree in 1954. Between his naval career and a return to college, Bob met and married his wife of 65 years, Evelyn Bonita “Bonnie” Updike Miller on Sept. 20, 1951. They have two children. Marilyn Miller-Colistro, of Portland, and David Warren Miller, of Depoe Bay. Bob began his teaching career in Cove, then relocat- ed his family to Glide, where he taught and coached for eight years. After Glide he taught and coached at Central High School in Independence. His final 23 years of teaching were at Whiteaker Middle School in Keizer, until he re- tired in 1989. Retirement years were packed with lots of activities, mostly traveling in the motor home, camping with many friends, Good Sam friends and lots of family outings. Bob loved hunting and fishing, reading, and listen- ing to good music. He always was a history buff, and enjoyed taking many classes and listening to lectures. Bob dearly loved his chil- dren; wife; grandsons, Peter Colistro (Ashley) and Joe Colistro, both of Portland; and granddaughter, Natalie Ayre, of Honolulu, Hawaii. He will be missed and is loved by all. Memorial contributions are suggested to be made to Polk County Fire District No. 1, Independence, or Willamette Valley Hospice, Salem. Private interment will be in Willamette National Cemetery with military hon- ors. Final arrangements are being made by Farnstrom Mortuary. Please share your memories and condolences at FarnstromMortuary.com. Audrie Catherine Turner Oct. 28, 1924 – March 4, 2017 Audrie Catherine Turner died peacefully in her sleep on March 4, 2017. She was 92 years old. Audrie was born in Sham- rock, Okla., on Oct. 28, 1924, to Andrew L e e Br i t - tain and Jessie Hal- sted Brit- tain. She married Claude Allen Turner on Feb. 14, 1940, in Oilton, Okla. They lived in Oklahoma, Kansas, and California, be- fore moving to Oregon in 1950. Audrie had a gift of mak- ing the people around her feel loved and cared for. She was a loving and generous mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was very creative, and would share generously whatever she had. She was a founding mem- ber of Egg Artists of Oregon, and taught her craft to many others. She created two decorat- ed eggs for the White House that now reside in the Smithsonian. Audrie was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, grandson, brother and two sisters. She is survived by her children, Anna Gallaher (Ed- ward), Kathryn Goe, David Turner (Becky), Clifford Turner (Kandace Brewer); 10 grandchildren; 23 great- grandchildren; 11 great- great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also sur- vived by her family of choice, Carol Bispham Hashagin (Keith), Julie, Trevor, Matthew, Preston and Phil Krussow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Willamette Valley Hospice. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at St. Hilda’s Episcopal Church, 245 Main St. W., Monmouth, OR 97361. Charles Ralph Richter Aug. 18, 1949 – March 6, 2017 Charles Ralph Richter, 67, of Dallas, died March 6 at his home. He is survived by his brother Paul Richter, of Dal- las. Private interment will be in the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. The Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Obituary Information Obituaries cost $8 per 25 words (column inch) and in- clude photos and a flag for veterans. Obituaries must be prepaid if placed by a private individual. Death notices run free of charge and may include date and place of death, date and place of birth, birth parents, a brief list of survivors and de- cedants, and service informa- tion, including the mortuary that handled arrangements. Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publica- tion to be included in the newspaper. Most funeral homes han- dle obituary information and provide it to the newspaper. However, 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 Item- izer-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 sub- ject to editing for style, con- tent and length. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com. For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373. Visit our website, www.polkio.com Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 M AKE O NE T HAT B ENEFITS Y OUR E NTIRE F AMILY . ©2002 Adfinity™ The effects of a single decision can ripple through a family for years... even generations. We’re experts on one of the most profound decisions your family will face—preplanning your funeral. Knowing that everything is taken care of, you spare your family any stressful or confusing considerations. Preplanning is simple, and surprisingly, not something you have to pay for immediately. Preplanning... a decision that’s easy to make as picking up the phone. 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