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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2017)
Polk County News 10A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 31, 2017 Leon: Also helped maintain equipment and engines Continued from Page 1A He didn’t just try it. Leon became a fixture for the de- partment. He remembers his first — and only — forest fire. He said that was when he realized the danger of wildland firefighting. “The first big fire I went to was a forest fire up by Dutch Creek, just outside of town a little ways,” Leon said. “Three of us guys went up the end of Parry Road and down a canyon toward Black Rock Road, and the fire jumped over our heads down to the canyon ahead of us.” They were supposed to scout the fire and radio back the location, but they were surprised by how it was moving and found themselves in danger. The MEGAN SYKES/for the Itemizer-Observer Leon and his wife, Alice, with his award for 51 years of service to the department. guys he was with, under- standably, decided to re- treat to a safer spot. Leon had contracted polio when he was younger, so he couldn’t move as fast and was left behind. “I had to go the long way to get past the fire line,” he said. “When I got back down to Black Rock Road, the fire chief back then grabbed me by the collar and put me in his rig and then read me the riot act. He never wanted to see me on a forest fire again. I did- n’t know the situation I was in. I didn’t even know what forest fires were in those days because back where we’re from, they didn’t have such a thing.” “We lived in the prairies. We didn’t have trees,” Alice explained. That fire eventually blew itself out, Leon said. He be- lieves the town was lucky. “If it had made that first canyon, it would have been in town,” he said. “It was something interesting be- cause, like I said, it was all new to me at that time.” Alice said she was afraid for Leon on that call. “It looked worse than it was because it was all smoke,” she said. “We were smoked in.” She added the fire de- partment training and meeting became Leon’s so- cial life. He wasn’t one to “go out with the boys,” she said. In addition to firefight- ing duties, Leon helped maintain the department’s equipment and engines. The crew has been success- ful in that mission. There’s a 1965 truck on the fleet that’s been with the depart- ment longer than Leon by almost a year. About 30 years ago, Leon took the role of treasurer for the department and eventually switched to a support role on calls. Though Leon is experi- encing physical limitations that prompted his retire- ment in April, he isn’t com- plaining, and he looks for- ward to attending fire board meetings. “Life has been real good to me, all the way through,” he said smiling. Alice added her hus- band’s dedication — and patience and attitude to- ward life — sets him apart. “I’ll tell you this, he’s probably one man in a million. There ain’t nobody like him,” she said, smil- ing. “My mother used to say, when they made Leon, they threw away the pat- tern.” under the influence of intoxi- cants. • Maria Ramirez Alvarez, 25, of Salem, at Independence Hwy. and Boyd Ln. on May 22 for DUII. • Gustavo Alvarado Facundo Jr., 23, of Independence, at Randall Way and S. 10th St. on May 22 on a bench warrant for failure to appear. MONMOUTH Arrests/Citations • Terri M. Smith, 38, of Mon- mouth, in the 200 block of Hef- fley St. S. on May 13 on two counts of having a dog as a pub- lic nuisance. up something wonderful from his kitchen. Ralph is survived by his eight children: Michael Rubrecht (Debra), Joseph Rubrecht (Michele), Andrea Clarkson (Mark), Cassie Fummerton ( Joe), David Rubrecht (Sara), Julie Hargis, Russell Rubrecht (Amanda), and Matthew Rubrecht (Alyson); and 17 grandchil- dren and nine great-grand- children. He is preceded in death by one grandchild. A graveside service will be held Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 1775 E Douglas St., Roseburg. To honor Ralph’s memory, donations can be made to the MDS Foundation, 4573 S Broad St., Suite 150, Yardville, NJ 08620. Or if you are able, please consider donating the life- saving gift of blood. The Dallas Mortuary Trib- ute Center is caring for the family. To leave a memory or message for the family, please go to www.dallastrib- ute.com. Wayne Cooper POLICE REPORT Information for the police report comes from law en- forcement agencies. Not all calls for service are included. The status of incidents re- ported may change after fur- ther investigation. Individu- als arrested or suspected of crimes are considered inno- cent until proven guilty. — DALLAS Arrests/Citation • Taina L. Sturdivant, 61, of Dallas in the 1600 block of Southeast Jonathan Avenue on May 24 on charges of misde- meanor strangulation and mis- demeanor fourth-degree as- sault. • Tamara S. Gardner, 53, of Dallas in the 500 block of Southwest Levens Street on May 22 on a charge of driving while suspended or revoked. INDEPENDENCE Arrests/Citations • Guadalupe Trujillo, 29, of In- dependence, in the 100 block of N. Polk S.t on May 20 for con- tempt of court and on a warrant for probation violation. • Kathleen Mary Golden- Phillips, 51, of Placentia, Calif., in the 100 block of N. Gun Club Rd. on May 22 for driving OBITUARIES Nina Irene Wells Matthews Dec. 26, 1933 – May 13, 2017 Ni n a Ire n e We l l s Matthews, age 83, died Sat- urday, May 13, 2017, in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 26, 1933, in Slater, Wy., to John Clarence and Phoebe Hirschy Moon. On April 26, 1953, she mar- ried Gor- don Com- m o d o r We l l s i n Stevenson, Wash. He p re c e d e d her in death on Aug. 6, 1986. In 1991, she married Robert Donovan Matthews in Buena Vista. He preceded her in death in June 1998. Nina grew up in Wyoming, moving with her family to Independence when she was 7. She was married at 19, then later earned her Bache- lor’s Degree in Art and Edu- cation, and eventually her Master’s Degree. She loved teaching school and was a hard worker. She raised sheep and wove with the wool from the sheep she raised on the Wells family farm. After she retired from teaching school, she volun- teered as a tutor for strug- gling youth. As a faithful Christian, she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and working with the youth. She enjoyed reading, fishing, and painting. Survivors include her son, Stan Wells, of Logandale, Nev.; daughter, Susan Wells, of Helendale, Calif.; seven grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and one sis- ter, Mary McKern, of Salem. She was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers. Memorial Services were held Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Nev. Interment will follow on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the Buena Vista Cemetery in Buena Vista. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book at www.moapavalleymortu- ary.com. Ralph H. Rubrecht Nov. 17, 1934 – April 25, 2017 Ralph passed away on April 25, 2017, with his fami- ly around him. He had battled with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) for six short months, and it had recently progressed to Leu- kemia. He will always be remem- bered as a loving and caring fa- ther. Ralph was born in Vin- cennes, Ind., to Louis and Veronica Rubrecht on Nov. 17, 1934. He was the fifth of seven children: Louis J. (deceased), Barbara Ramsey, Elizabeth Schultz, Bernard, Susie Berberich and Pat Pieroway. He graduated from Mon- roe City High School in Monroe City, Ind., in May 1953. After graduation, he joined the Navy and re- ceived training as an avia- tion machinist mate. While stationed at his last duty station, McGuire Air Force Base, in Trenton, N.J., he meet he first wife, Ber- nice Cingcade. In August 1962, they and their three small children, Michael, Joseph and Andrea, left Indiana and moved to Roseburg to be closer to Ber- nice’s family. Their fourth child, David, was born in their new home state. In 1970, Bernice passed away after a brief illness. In 1971, Ralph married Shirley Hargis and they blended their two families, growing from four children to six — three sons and three daugh- ters, adding her daughters, Cassie and Julie. Later, Ralph and Shirley would have two more sons, Russell and Matthew. Shirley passed away in December of 1988. After moving to Roseburg with Bernice, Ralph worked for a number of small busi- nesses in the area for several years while going to night school to learn to weld. He worked at Hanna Nickel Mine in Riddle as a welder from 1966-1971. In 1972, he went to work for Douglas County Public Works and worked there for 25 years until his retirement. After retir ing, Ralph moved from Roseburg to Dallas. He enjoyed spending his time gardening with his veg- etables and flowers, tending to his apple and pear trees, and working on projects around his home. He also enjoyed driving the back roads through Polk Country year-round, stop- ping at vegetable stands during the summer. He liked bluegrass and country music, and he en- joyed summer camping trips with his children and grandchildren. Most of all he loved hav- ing his children and grand- children visit. He would prepare deli- cious meals for these occa- sions. Thanksgiving will not be the same without Dad/Grandpa Ralph serving Dorothy Latdrick May 30, 1965 – May 21, 2017 Dorothy Latdrick, 51, of Dallas, died at her home May 21. She was born on May 30, 1965, in Portland. A memorial service was held May 27 in the Willami- na VFW Hall. Dallas Mortu- ary Tribute Center handled arrangements. To leave an online tribute: www.dallas- tribute.com. 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. Aug. 31, 1930 – May 22, 2017 Graveside service will be Wednesday (today), May 31, at 2 p.m. in Dallas Cemetery, Dallas. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. Billy R. Trussell April 17, 1930 – May 24, 2017 Billy, 87, died May 24 in Sublimity. Services will be held at a later date. North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton, handled arrange- ments. Obituary Information Obituaries cost $8 per 25 words and include a photo and flag for veterans. 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. In- formation may be submitted directly from family members. Obituaries submitted by pri- vate parties must be prepaid. The Itemizer-Observer uses a flag logo in the obituaries of people who served in the armed forces. Death notices — like all in- formation 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. Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $595 Simple Direct Burial $710 Traditional Funeral $2,275 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com ~ Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes ~ The Itemizer-Observer Your LOCAL News! www.polkio.com Pencil us in! www.polkio.com
