2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
O BITUARIES
B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
■ Baker City Airport Commission: 5:30 p.m. at City Hall,
1655 First St. Agenda items include the selection of chair
and vice chair, and an update on runway 13-31 seal coat
project.
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
April 22, 1971
Oregon anglers should fi nd their favorite lake or stream
quite productive when they inaugurate the opening of the
general trout season Saturday morning.
Most lakes and streams contain good populations of
trout. In addition, many waters of the state will be stocked
with hatchery fi sh for the opening.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
April 22, 1996
The Baker City Council on Tuesday will consider a com-
promise that calls for the city to not enforce its discarded
vehicle ordinance for a year.
In exchange, a citizens’ committee would work during
the next year to revise the ordinance to alleviate concerns
among hobbyists who restore old cars. The committee also
would help coordinate two city-wide clean-ups.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
April 22, 2011
Willy Crippen wants to start some small fi res now to
prevent big blazes later, but the weather refuses to cooper-
ate.
Crippen is the fi re management offi cer for the Forest
Service’s Whitman Unit, based in Baker City.
His goal this spring is to light prescribed fi res on about
3,300 acres, ranging from the Whitney Valley near Baker
County’s western boundary, to Pine Valley on the eastern
fringe.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
April 23, 2020
The torrent of federal dollars intended to help small
businesses that have lost much, and in some cases all,
of their revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic has
amounted to barely a trickle in Baker County.
But local offi cials hope Congress will get the fi nancial
aid fl owing soon.
Jeff Nelson, Baker County business adviser with Blue
Mountain Community College’s Small Business Develop-
ment Center, said he has been in contact with 73 local
business owners who applied for money through either of
two programs that are part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act
that President Donald Trump signed into law March 27.
Nelson said Tuesday that just four of those 73 busi-
nesses have received money through either the Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster
Loan Emergency Advance.
Nelson declined to name the businesses. He said he
would notify each that the Herald was interested in talking
to them.
Nelson said the tally of 73 includes only the businesses
he worked with — the actual number of county business-
es that applied for aid is no doubt higher, he said.
O REGON L OTTERY
MEGABUCKS, April 19
4 — 8 — 14 — 18 — 26 — 44
Next jackpot: $1.7 million
POWERBALL, April 17
10 — 21 — 26 — 41 — 49 PB 25
Next jackpot: $90 million
MEGA MILLIONS, April 20
6 — 23 — 43 — 49 — 52
Mega
5
Next jackpot: $277 million
WIN FOR LIFE, April 19
8 — 23 — 34 — 57
PICK 4, April 20
• 1 p.m.: 0 — 8 — 5 — 3
• 4 p.m.: 7 — 3 — 4 — 3
• 7 p.m.: 5 — 3 — 0 — 1
• 10 p.m.: 0 — 3 — 3 — 1
LUCKY LINES, April 20
4-8-9-15-17-23-28-29
Next jackpot: $25,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
■ FRIDAY: Spaghetti, garlic bread sticks, green salad, green
beans, tapioca
■ MONDAY (April 26): Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes
with country gravy, rolls, corn, beet-and-onion salad, ice
cream
■ TUESDAY (April 27): Boneless chicken breast, stuffi ng,
rolls, mixed vegetables, cottage cheese salad, bread
pudding
■ WEDNESDAY (April 28): Chicken and homestyle
noodles, carrots, biscuits, fruit cup, birthday cake
■ THURSDAY (April 29): Baked ziti, zucchini, garlic
breadsticks, green salad, brownies
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older),
$6.75 for those under 60. Meals must be picked up; no
dining on site.
C ONTACT THE H ERALD
1668 Resort St.
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 541-523-3673
Fax: 541-833-6414
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.
com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Advertising email
ads@bakercityherald.com
Classifi ed email
classified@bakercityherald.com
Circulation email
circ@bakercityherald.com
ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays except Christmas Day by the
Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media
Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807),
Baker City, OR 97814.
Subscription rates per month are
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are $8.25.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Copyright © 2021
helped design and decorated brother seriously.
He will always
the houses.
be remembered
Changing times caught
as a hero by
up with the business and a
his brother and
small ranch became avail-
sisters. When his
able. Creative fi nances and
Eugene
circumstances came together sisters couldn’t
Linda Cowan
Meier
walk, he gave
and Karen began living her
them piggyback
dream again. The property
Linda Cowan
needed her expert guidance. rides or offered to carry them.
Haines, 1950-2021
When bored, he would read
She did that and the ranch
On April 14, 2021, Linda
Karen Rudolph
began to bloom. Her foresight, books, play games, or wrestle
Lee Cowan (Watkins) was
Baker City, 1950-2021
planning and hard work fi n- with his siblings, getting on
surrounded by her family
Karen Maria (Martin) Ru- ished raising three daughters his knees to make it fair. And
dolph, 75, of Baker City, died and built a small ranch with when they ultimately got in
while her affectionate hus-
band, Mickey, cheered her on April 13, 2021, at her home,
productive land and livestock. trouble, Eugene was always
to run into Jesus’ arms after a her family beside her.
This became a reality for her. quick to take the blame and
brief illness.
A graveside service for
She worked on the election the worst of the punishment.
She left us here on earth
Karen will take
board each year, enrolled her His early life formed his char-
but was immediately with
place on Friday,
acter, and he was fun-loving,
children in 4-H, led them
Jesus, her little brother, Allen, April 23 at 11
surprisingly sensitive, and a
around the county to vari-
and her parents. There will be a.m. at Mount
very caring person.
ous events and rodeo court
a celebration of her life at a
Hope Cemetery.
Eugene had a special
tryouts. She then had to haul
A celebration
later time.
them and their horses to the relationship with his mom, a
Karen
Linda was a dedicated wife of her life will
single parent most of his life,
various rodeo court events.
Rudolph
to her high school sweetheart, follow at Ila’s
She still had time to spend which made him the man of
Mickey, and a loving mother home at 1425
30 years preparing taxes with the house at an early age. He
to her three children. Linda
Colorado Ave. from noon to
had so much love and respect
H and R Block.
was born on Feb. 21, 1950,
2 p.m.
for his mom, and he was
Karen believed in educa-
at Long Beach, California,
Karen was born on Sept.
genuinely concerned for her
tion. Each of her daughters
to Robert and Clara Wat-
20, 1945, at Everett, Washing- fi nished college at her insis-
wellbeing. He worried about
kins. Linda had fi ve siblings, ton, as the second daughter
her as she started to get older
tence. Now grandchildren
Robert Jr., Beverly, Barbara, of Dan and Nan Martin. She have been pushed into higher and spoke to his siblings about
spent her early childhood on education.
James and Allen Watkins,
preserving and passing on her
and many nieces and neph-
a small farm in Bellingham,
culture and legacy. Likewise,
Karen is survived by her
ews.
Washington.
husband of 56 years, Tom; her his mom worried about
On Dec. 11, 1968, she mar-
Karen began her career
daughters, Katrina Rudolph- Eugene and wanted him to
ried Mickey Joseph Cowan
with livestock with Mulligan, Wise, Heather Rudolph and
make a good life for himself.
in Tacoma, Washington.
a Hereford steer. She trained Sara Rudolph; her grandchil- Together, they ran the North
They raised three children,
him to pull a cart, ride with a dren, Zachary, Phoebe and
Powder Motel for the past
saddle and rein. A year later Alex Wise; her sisters, Cher- fi ve years, and they helped to
Carolee, Michael and Trina.
the family acquired Nellie,
Linda stayed at home when
ryl Martin, Daphne Hall and look after one another. Eugene
raising her children to ensure a fi ne old kid’s horse, who
llo Widman, all of Baker City; could make his mom laugh
they had her full attention
would carry all the kids at
and her brother, Dan Martin like nobody else. He was so
and care. When her young-
one time.
funny, and he had such a
of Harper.
est, Trina, was in elemen-
Summers picking straw-
She was preceded in death quick wit and sharp sense of
tary school, Linda became a
berries, raspberries, and
by her parents, Dan and Nan humor.
registered CNA and brought beans funded the purchase
Growing up, his mom
Martin.
Trina to work with her at the of a 3-year-old standard bred
relied on him to fi x and repair
Karen loved fl owers, es-
nursing home where she was mare, fresh off the Sulky
everything from the family
pecially wildfl owers. How-
Racing Track, and named her ever, she fi rmly believed in
employed.
home, her rental units, to her
In 1990, Mickey and Linda Jypse. Karen was off and run- donating to charities rather
many $1,000 junk cars that
moved from Southern Cali-
ning, literally.
she insisted on driving. That
than sending fl owers when
fornia to Haines to operate a
Karen was 14 when the
is where Eugene learned to fi x
someone passed.
dairy farm. During the dairy family moved to Baker.
Her favorite charities were and repair almost anything.
farm adventure, Linda want- A house with a large lot
If he didn’t know how to fi x it,
the Arthritis Foundation,
ed to go back to her passion of provided room for the family and the Shriners Hospital for he would always fi nd a way to
caring for people. She opened and the stock that came with Children. This may be done
fi gure it out. As his skills grew,
an adult foster home at their them. A short time later a
through Coles Tribute Center, Eugene eventually developed
residence. Linda named
small acreage on the east
a true passion and talent for
1950 Place St., Baker City,
the home Serenity Farms
edge of town was purchased
restoring and selling classic
OR 97814.
Adult Foster Home. She fi rst and housed the family and
cars. He loved talking about
To light a candle in
started caring for the elderly. livestock. There Karen and
memory of Karen, go to www. his cars and how he found
As time went on Linda began her siblings raised bummer
them, the repairs he did, and
colestributecenter.com.
caring for developmentally
lambs, milked cows, and had
the profi t made when he
Eugene Meier
disabled. She has had many their horses.
resold them. He could spot a
North Powder, 1972-2021
Karen was 17 when she
people come into her home
diamond in the rough from a
Eugene Don Meier, 48, of
over the years whom she has began living her dream. The
mile away.
North Powder, left us too soon
cared for as her own. In July family purchased a piece of
Eugene loved his daughter
on April 10, 2021, after losing Stormy very much, though he
2020, her sweet niece, Jana,
land south of Baker large
his battle with colon cancer.
moved to the farm to help
enough to be called a ranch.
regretted being unable to be
A private celebration of his the father he wanted to be for
care for the residents and in It could support a cattle herd,
the process enjoyed spoiling
sheep, her horses and various life will be held by the family, her. Eugene cherished every
followed by an ash scattering photo of Stormy. He had every
her precious Aunt Linda to
other habits more suited to
ceremony at a future date.
ranch living.
pieces.
single picture of her, from baby
Though Eugene undoubtedly pictures to all of her school
Karen married Tom
Linda loved fellowshipping
had his faults, he loved his
with her Al-Anon family, wor- Rudolph on Sept. 5, 1965, in
pictures. He was proud of her,
shipping and studying God’s Baker City. She and Tom fol- family and friends, and he was and he wanted to build a rela-
words with her church family lowed various paths into the beloved by all who knew him. tionship with her as she grew
Eugene was born on July
at Harvest Church in Baker future. A year later, Tom was
older. Eugene would agree
City, adventuring on side-by- inducted into the Army. Tom 26, 1972, at Portland, where
that his daughter is his legacy,
side rides in the mountains
ended up in Germany. Karen he was raised. He attended
and though he was not always
both David Douglas High
with family and friends, din- followed and set up house
able to show it, he would want
ing out, shopping, and being keeping for them. They were School and Reynolds High
Stormy to know how much he
with her animals.
allowed time to tour Europe. School. Eugene was the oldest loved her.
Her children remember
They toured Germany, Scan- of fi ve kids, and he took the re-
See Obituaries/Page 3A
waking up early and hearing dinavia, Holland and Austria. sponsibility of being the oldest
Linda’s gospel music play-
Karen and Tom returned to
ing throughout the house on live and work in La Grande,
many mornings. She loved
Hermiston and Bend. That
taking fl owers on many oc-
adventure ended and they
became TK Construction in
casions to others who were
Baker City. Karen kept books,
having a hard time. Linda
dearly loved her grandkids
and they treasured the times
they came to the family farm
and fully understood that
the word “No” means ask
Grandma.
Linda is survived by her
• Lumber
devoted husband, Mickey
•
Plywood
Cowan, and their adorable
• Building Materials
pet, Patches; her oldest
daughter Carolee and son-
• Hardware
in-law David, and their four
• Paint
children, Christopher and
• Plumbing
his wife, Stephanie, Ashley,
•
Electrical
Nathan and Autumn Ralston;
And much more!
her son Michael and daugh-
ter-in-law Trisha, and their
three children, Ashley, Aimee
3205 10th Street
and Anthony Cowan; her
Baker City
daughter Trina and her son,
541-523-4422
Sky Ward.
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Linda was preceded in
Saturday 8 am - 5 pm
death by her father, mother
Closed Sun
and her beloved brother, Allen
Watkins.
For those who would like
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
to make a memorial donation
in honor of Linda the fam-
ily suggests Heart ’N Home
Hospice through Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home & Cre-
mation Services, P.O. Box 543,
Halfway, OR 97834. Online
condolences can be made at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
News of Record
on Page 3A
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com