Polk County News
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 9, 2017
OBITUARIES
Levi Floyd
Thiessen
Aug. 23, 1924 – July 24, 2017
Levi Floyd Thiessen, of
Dallas, 92, went home to be
with his Savior on July 24, in
Dallas.
He was
born in
Ogallala,
Neb., on
Aug. 23,
1924, to
Jacob T.
and Eliza-
beth (Fast)
Thiessen. He was the first of
10 children. The family
moved to Dallas in February
1941 when he was 16 years
old.
He married Rosa “Rosie”
Hiebert on Nov. 11, 1945.
They lived together in the
Dallas area for more than 56
years. He helped raise their
six children and was active
in the Dallas Evangelical
Bible Church.
He worked many years
for Darigold, delivering
milk to homes, stores, and
restaurants. His real inter-
est was plants, gardens,
landscaping, and yard care
which he turned into a sec-
ond occupation during and
after his employment with
Darigold. He seems to have
inherited his “green
thumb” from his mother.
Levi and Rosie's frequent
vacation spot was Victoria,
Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, of course the
main attraction being the
Butchart Gardens there.
After the passing of his
wife Rosie in 2001, he mar-
ried Virginia Belle Hetrick
Lawson on May 18, 2002.
They had many good years
together until she passed in
2014.
He is survived by his sons
Bob, of Dallas, Denis, of
Sandy, and Tim, of Happy
Valley; daughters Carol Van
Nostrand, of Sandpoint,
Idaho, Susan Clinger, of Ar-
vada, Colo., and Sharon
Flaming, of Monmouth;
stepsons Don Lawson, of
Dallas, and David Lawson,
of Dallas; stepdaughters:
Gini Martin, of Sweet Home,
and Sandra Erskine, of Cas-
tro Valley, Calif; brother
Allen Thiessen, of Canby;
sisters Delores Smith, of
Visalia, Calif., Helen Berg, of
Dallas, Betty Jondahl, of
Portland, and Norma Balbo,
of Dallas; 11 grandchildren;
and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by his parents Jacob and
Elizabeth Thiessen; wives
Rosa Thiessen and Virginia
Thiessen; brothers Harry
Thiessen, Raymond
Thiessen, and Marvin
Thiessen; and sister Ruth El-
dredge.
Viewing will be from 2 to
8 p.m. on Wednesday
(today) in the Dallas Mortu-
ary Tribute Center. A me-
morial service will begin at
11 a.m. Thursday, in the
Dallas Evangelical Bible
Church. Interment will be at
9:30 a.m. in the Dallas
Cemetery, prior to the serv-
ice at the church.
Gloria Nadine (Davison) Bennett
Jan. 5, 1947 - Aug. 2, 2017
Gloria Nadine (Davison) Bennett, daughter of Alpha L. and Mary E. (Garber) Davison,
was born at home near Westphalia, Kansas on January 5, 1947 and departed this life
for eternity on August 2, 2017 at the age of 70 years, 6 months and 28 days.
Gloria spent her childhood years on the family farm in Kansas with her parents and
4 siblings. As a young child she had a natural gift for music and learned many songs
from her mother, singing with enthusiasm to all who would listen. She taught herself
to play the guitar and autoharp and enjoyed many hours entertaining her family and
friends.
Gloria excelled in academics completing her first 8 years of schooling at the 2 room
Centerview School near her Kansas home.
At the early age of 14, Gloria accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized
into the fellowship of believers.
In 1961, Gloria and her youngest sister along with their parents moved to Ripon, California and two years later to Dallas,
Oregon. Gloria desired to complete her High School education and although she had missed her freshman and sophomore
years, she enrolled in Dallas High School in the fall of 1963 and completed all 4 years graduating with honors in 1965. She
began working full time after high school and her goal to complete her college education was delayed but never forgotten.
One class at a time, she achieved her Bachelor of Business degree, graduating from Linfield University in 1997.
Gloria’s life was blessed with the gift of three children, Timothy, Karen and Joshua and she loved them fervently. They
remember her amazing ability to work all day, come home and prepare a home cooked meal, keep an orderly house and
still have time to encourage them in their endeavors.
Gloria started her career in the medical field but later was hired by Towmotor Corporation in Dallas and advanced to
the position of personnel manager. After the Dallas plant closed in 1988 she was employed by the State of Oregon as Man-
ager of the Public Employees Retirement System Insurance Program. She had a natural ability for drawing the various or-
ganizations together that provided health care for the retirees of Oregon. She loved her job and enjoyed meeting the retirees
and advocating for their care.
On January 2, 1996, she was united in marriage with Gerald (Jerry) Bennett. They became faithful members of the Salem
Alliance Church, and their lives were enriched by their weekly “Becomers” fellowship and Bible study groups. They were
instrumental in organizing and hosting an annual reunion for the former employees of the Dallas Towmotor Plant where
both had been employed. After retirement, they enjoyed traveling and hosting family and friends in their home.
In 2001, Gloria experienced the agonizing grief of the death of her 20 year old son Joshua in a tragic auto accident.
Several years ago, Gloria began manifesting symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Jerry faithfully cared for her in their home
with the help of family members as her memory loss continued. On the evening of August 1st, Gloria enjoyed several hours
of fellowship with her siblings and cousins in a rare moment of clarity reliving old memories. The next day, Jerry and she
decided to escape the heat by taking a drive to the coast. On their way home that afternoon they were involved in a fatal
traffic accident. Jerry and Gloria died together along with their devoted dog, Trigger.
Surviving her is her son Timothy English and his wife Sherri; daughter Karen Wiley; children, Jeanette (Rick) Corbin, Jeff
(Paula) Bennett, Jerry (Marie) Bennett, grandchildren, Deborah, Isaiah, Daniel, Abigail, Elijah, Rachel, Nathanial, Zechariah,
Joseph, Benjamin, and Mariana English, Tyler, Jason, Ana, Jessie, Kelsey, Andy, and Henry Bennett, great grandchild Chloe
Bennett; two brothers, Dale Davison and his wife Deanna, Harley Davison and his wife Mildred; two sisters, Marietta Pegg
and her husband Donald, Sherda Garber.
Preceding her in death are her parents Alpha and Mary Davison; son Joshua English; brother-in-law Thomas Garber.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, August 12th at 10:00AM at Salem Alliance Church. Vault interment will follow in Salt
Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center who is caring for the family. To leave an online condolence for the family go to
www.dallastribute.com
Gerald Earl “Jerry” Bennett
Dec. 13, 1942 - Aug. 2, 2017
Gerald “Jerry” Earl Bennett, a resident of Dallas, Oregon died on Wednesday, Aug. 2nd as a result of a motor vehicle ac-
cident near Toledo. He was born on December 13, 1942 the son of Earl and Audrey Bennett. Jerry grew up in Salem, OR
and graduated from South Salem High School in 1961 Jerry worked for Gerlinger Carrier Company in 1962 and then Dallas
Towmotor Plant in management and later for Balderson. He worked for Hanard Machine in West Salem and retired from
there. Jerry married Gloria English on January 2, 1997. He was a member of Salem Alliance Church. Jerry loved fishing and
sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. He enjoyed working in his shop with his wood lathe where he created
many beautiful creations, salt and pepper shakers, lamps and mechanical pencils that he gave as gifts. He also worked with
his metal lathe that belonged to his father, machining parts for friends and family.
He is survived by his children, Jeannette (Rick) Corbin, Jeff (Paula) Bennett & Jerry (Marie) Bennett, Karen Wiley, Tim
(Sherri) English, along with 18 grandchildren Tyler, Jason, Ana, Jessie, Kelsey, Andy, and Henry Bennett, Deborah, Isaiah,
Daniel, Abigail, Elijah, Rachel, Nathanial, Zechariah, Joseph, Benjamin, and Mariana English and great-grandchild Chloe
Bennett. He was preceded in death by his son, Joey Bennett in 1998, stepson, Josh English in 2000, grandson, Justin Boyd
Corbin in 2004 and his beloved dog Trigger August 2, 2017.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 12th at 10:00AM at the Salem Alliance Church. Vault interment will
follow in Salt Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Doernbecher Children’s
Hospital in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center who is caring for the family. To leave an online condolence for the family
go to www.dallastribute.com
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Youth
Building Fund in care of
Dallas Mortuary Chapel,
which handled the arrange-
ments. www.dallas
tribute.com
Donald ‘Don’ Karl
Hallauer Jr.
April 22, 1929 – July 29, 2017
Donald “Don” Karl Hal-
lauer Jr., 88, a resident of
Dallas, formerly of Salem
and Akron, Ohio, died Satur-
day, July 29, at home.
He was
born in
Akron on
April 22,
1929, the
son
of
Donald
Karl Hal-
lauer Sr.
and Mary
Mercedes
Smith.
D o n
graduated
f r o m
Coventry High School class
of 1947. From 1950 to 1953,
he served in the United
States Air Force.
On Feb. 4, 1952, he mar-
ried Marlene “Marty” Flo-
rence Smith in Gulf Port,
Miss.
Don worked for Remple
Manufacturing and retired
as vice president of the Serv-
ice Iron & Steel Company in
Akron in 1991. They moved
to Salem in 1991, and to Dal-
las a month ago.
Don was a Coventry
Township Trustee for 16
years, a member of the Ma-
sonic Lodge in Akron and an
Akron Yacht Club Com-
modore.
For over 50 years, he was
a member of the Kiwanis
Club serving as lieutenant
governor and president in
Akron and Oregon.
He was a member of the
Lockwood United
Methodist Church and
served on the board in
Akron.
He was a member of the
First United Methodist
Church in Salem.
He enjoyed boating and
sporting events. He was
proud to say he watched
Babe Ruth play baseball.
He is survived by his wife
Marty, of Dallas; daughters
Vicki (Joe) Flande, of Dallas,
and Nancy (Bruce) Bennett,
of Scarsdale, N.Y.; along
with four grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by an infant brother
Richard.
A memorial service is
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~
being planned for this fall.
Memorial contributions
are suggested to the Doern-
becher Children’s Hospital
in care of the Dallas Mortu-
ary Tribute Center, 287 SW
Washington St., Dallas, OR
97338.
To leave a memory or
message for the family
please go to www.dallastrib-
ute.com.
Beulah Schrepel
Hindes
Aug. 9, 1921 – Aug. 1, 2017
Beulah Schrepel Hindes, a
longtime resident of Dallas,
died Aug. 1, in Yakima,
Wash. Although she was 95,
she was only old for two
weeks.
Beulah
was the
daughter of
George W.
Schrepel
and Ethyl
Russ Schre-
pel, and
was born
Aug. 9, 1921, in Corvallis.
She attended Oregon
State College and married
Charles Hindes in 1941.
With a family of four chil-
dren, she followed her hus-
band on adventures all
around the world, including
the Philippine Islands and
Turkey.
She was a supportive
partner in many business
ventures, as well as an ac-
complished weaver, quilter
and knitter.
Her kindness, sense of
humor and adventurous
spirit made her beloved
wherever she was known.
She loved her Dallas quilt-
ing group, her Yakima knit-
ting circle, and her Bible
Study Fellowship groups.
Her inquisitive mind
closely followed the space
program, current events,
other cultures and fashion-
able jeans.
Keeping up with friends
and family proved much
easier when she learned to
use the internet.
Beulah lived independ-
ently and was able to drive
until the last few weeks of
her life.
She is honored and
beloved by her four chil-
dren: Martha Knudson, Bob
Hindes, Ken Hindes, Mary
Platt and their spouses. She
leaves seven grandchildren,
eight great-grandchildren,
one great-great-grandchild
and many nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, her
husband and her four sis-
ters.
Viewing was Sunday, Aug.
6, and a celebration of her
life was held at Dallas Mor-
tuary Tribute Center, Aug. 7,
2017, in Dallas. Interment
followed in the Dallas
Cemetery. www.dallastrib-
ute.com.
Rosella Wall
Feb. 14, 1922 – Aug. 6, 2017
Rosella Wall, 95, died on
Aug. 6. Services are pending
and will be announced
shortly. Dallas Mortuary
Tribute Center handled
arrangements.
See
OBITS , Page 7A
Obit Info
Obituaries cost $8 per 25
words and include photos and
flags for veterans. Obituaries
must be prepaid when placed
by a private individual.
Information can be brought
or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob-
server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas,
OR 97338, or emailed to
ionews@polkio.com.