A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021
OBITUARIES
Marilyn Thompson
Elgin, 1943-2021
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
August 5, 1971
Faced with an August 15 deadline on the proposal made
by Farmterials for management of the Baker municipal air-
port, the city council met with city manager Vern Jacobson
in “closed session” Tuesday night to consider recommen-
dations generated by Jacobson regarding airport manage-
ment.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 5, 1996
Gross proceeds increased more than $900 from a year
ago when the 1996 Baker Junior Livestock Auction Sale
ended Saturday afternoon.
Gross proceeds were $87,056.95, an increase of $914.93
from the $86,142.02 brought in at the 1995 auction. There
were 178 lots sold, two fewer than a year ago.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 5, 2011
For Jack and Kari Waldhaus, Hawaii is home, and Baker
City is for summer vacations.
Well, “vacation” in their case means slaving away at
carpentry.
The Waldhauses own the Victorian house at 2515 Court
Ave.
Last year, when Jack got a job in Hawaii, the couple
moved from Baker City to Honoka’a. Once Jack had his
week of vacation stored up they came back, but not to
relax.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 6, 2020
For more than a century the Baker County Fair and the
youth-raised livestock that go along with it have been a
part of the county’s culture.
While COVID-19 has shut down event after event this
year, community members and participants were deter-
mined not to let the pandemic dismiss the hard work of
4-H and FFA members in raising and training their animals.
While the Fair this week isn’t open to the public and
doesn’t have the attractions it normally does, including the
open show, youngsters will still have the opportunity to
show and sell their pigs, sheep, steers and other animals.
On Wednesday morning youths gathered in a temporary
ring at the Leo Adler baseball fi eld, near the Fairgrounds,
to show the swine they’ve raised from piglets.
Today the sheep, goats and small animals will be on
display, and Friday the steers enter the ring.
Terri Siddoway, president of the Fair Sale Commit-
tee, said that while the Fair is different, some aspects are
familiar.
“The sale part is fairly normal, with the exception of not
having all of the buyers in the barn,” Siddoway said.
That’s not to say there weren’t hours of planning needed
to make it happen. But Siddoway said the efforts were well
worth it.
“One of the reasons we really wanted to go through all
of the work to make this happen was so that the seniors
would have the opportunity to do this,” she said. “The kids
have been positive and happy to be here, and that makes
me really happy. For them to be thankful that we did it
makes it all better.”
OREGON LOTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Aug. 2
14 — 19 — 21 — 32 — 36 — 45
Next jackpot: $1.3 million
POWERBALL, July 31
1 — 21 — 22 — 34 — 47 PB 4
Next jackpot: $211 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Aug. 3
1 — 9 — 17 — 27 — 34
Mega
24
Next jackpot: $191 million
WIN FOR LIFE, Aug. 2
8 — 33 — 60 — 75
PICK 4, Aug. 3
• 1 p.m.: 4 — 6 — 5 — 9
• 4 p.m.: 4 — 9 — 1 — 4
• 7 p.m.: 9 — 5 — 7 — 4
• 10 p.m.: 5 — 4 — 7 — 3
LUCKY LINES, Aug. 3
1-5-12-13-20-24-26-30
Next jackpot: $48,000
SENIOR MENUS
FRIDAY: Barbecued ribs, baked beans, corn, rolls, potato
salad, pudding
MONDAY (Aug. 9): Chicken cordon bleu, rice pilaf, mixed
vegetables, rolls, carrot-raisin salad, cherry cheesecake
TUESDAY (Aug. 10): Chicken-fried chicken, mashed
potatoes with gravy, corn, rolls, pea-and-onion salad,
brownies
WEDNESDAY (Aug. 11): Chili cheese dogs with onions,
carrots, Jell-O with fruit, ice cream
THURSDAY (Aug. 12): Old fashioned steak, red potatoes
with gravy, peas, rolls, green salad, cake
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $5 donation (60 and older), $7.50
for those under 60.
CONTACT THE HERALD
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
$10.75 for print only. Digital-only rates
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
Marilyn Nola (Scott)
Thompson, 77, of Elgin,
died July 29, 2021,
at her son’s home in
Baker City.
At Marilyn’s re-
quest, there will be no
Marilyn
services.
Thompson
Marilyn was born
on Sept. 7, 1943, at La Grande to Noel
and Ethel (Halsey) Scott of Elgin. She
graduated from Elgin High School in
1961, where she participated in many
activities and sports. She also attended
Eastern Oregon College.
Marilyn married Terry Helman of
La Grande and they had three children,
Kari, Darin and Kristi. Due to Terry’s
employment with ODOT, the family
lived in La Grande, Pendleton, John
Day, Nyssa and Ontario before set-
tling in Baker. She later married Miles
Thompson in Baker where they lived
for several years. They later settled out
in her childhood home on Cricket Flat
outside of Elgin, where she lived until
her death.
Marilyn worked for the First Na-
tional Bank in La Grande and Baker
and later was co-owner, with her sister,
of Certifi ed Personnel Service Agency
of La Grande and Baker City. She also
worked for several insurance agencies
in Baker and La Grande.
Marilyn gained many lifelong
friendships and cherished her family.
She could not be prouder of her chil-
dren, grandchildren, and great-grand-
children. “Mare” was that mom who
never missed her children’s sporting
events and other school activities. She
was also that mom who treated all her
children’s friends as part of her family.
Marilyn is survived by her husband,
Miles Thompson; her son, Darin Hel-
man; her daughter, Kristi Helman; her
stepson, Miles (Mick) Thompson; her
sister, Anita (Jeffrey) Wilson, and her
brother, Harlan Scott; her grandchil-
dren, Lindsey Helman, Logan Hagey,
Connor Hagey, Shaun (Lucy) Roland,
Evann Brown and Eiann DeLint; sev-
eral great-grandchildren; and several
nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her
parents, Noel and Ethel Scott; her sis-
ter, Rosalie Winter; her daughter, Kari
DeLint; and her granddaughter, Katie
Helman.
Melissa Wilkinson
Baker City, 1973-2021
Melissa Ruth Wilkin-
son, 47, of Baker City,
died peacefully at home
surrounded by her loved
ones on Aug. 1, 2021.
There will be a
celebration of her life
Melissa
service on Friday, Aug.
Wilkinson
7 at 1 p.m. at the Baker
City Church of the Nazarene, 1250
Hughes Lane, with Pastor Troy Teeter
offi ciating.
Melissa was born on Aug. 4, 1973, at
Tacoma, Washington, to Ed Ager and
Carolyn Parker. Melissa graduated from
Foss High School in 1991. After high
school, she attended Pierce Community
College and graduated from Eastern
Washington University in 1997 with a
degree in Elementary Education. She
would later earn a master’s degree in
Education from Heritage University.
Melissa and her future husband, Rob,
met in college in 1994 and became
friends very quickly. He proposed to Me-
lissa on Feb. 12, 1995, because he said,
he couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day.
Her beauty, kindness, loving personality,
and infectious smile captured my heart
instantly. We were married on June 23,
1997, in Las Vegas.
After college, Melissa and I made our
home in Kennewick, Washington. Me-
lissa taught for several years at South-
gate Elementary, and then Desert Hills
Middle School making many friends
along the way. In 2008, we moved to
Plainview, Texas. After staying home
for four years to raise our children,
she returned to teaching at Plainview
Christian Academy and then Estacado
Middle School, making more friends. In
2019, after completing the school year,
Melissa and the family joined me in Los
Alamos, New Mexico. Melissa was hired
to teach at Pinon Elementary. Unfortu-
nately, in October of 2019, Melissa was
diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma
brain tumor. After surgery and recov-
ering, Melissa went back to teaching
part-time until COVID closed schools.
I’ll never forget the reaction of Melissa’s
kids when she returned to school in Jan-
uary 2020. All her students ran up to
Melissa and waited patiently for a hug.
Even in that short time, Melissa made a
huge impact on her students. In August
of 2020, we decided to move back to the
Pacifi c Northwest to be closer to family
and relocated to Baker City.
In addition to being a wonderful lov-
ing mother to our fi ve children, Melissa
impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of
youth through teaching. She absolutely
loved sharing her gift of reading and
writing with her students. Melissa was
a beloved teacher by both students and
co-workers. Melissa passed on her gift of
curiosity and being a lifelong learner to
our children.
Melissa was an incredibly talented
individual who had many hobbies. She
loved spending time with family and
friends. She had a green thumb and
designed all kinds of different fl ower
beds over the years. She loved to read
and would spend hours on her favorite
swing with a good book. She was also a
very good artist who would paint mu-
rals on the kids’ walls when they were
younger. Melissa loved animals, and we
had many pets over the years who were
also part of our family. To many, she was
known as the pet whisperer and saved
many wounded animals over the years.
Throughout the years, there were many
times we would receive calls from people
who found a wounded bird, dog, cat, etc.
Melissa would nurse these animals back
to health, more times than not.
Melissa faced many health chal-
lenges over the years, but she always
remained a positive light in the lives of
others and never asked, why me. She
truly was an inspiration to me, our chil-
dren, her loved ones, and all she came
into touch with. Melissa had a rare gift
of taking care of others’ needs before
her own, even while fi ghting cancer. She
was my best friend, wife, mother of our
children and leaves a huge hole in our
hearts, as well as anyone she touched.
However, I know she would want all of
us to keep on living, go on adventures,
create memories, and make a difference
in lives of others, just as she did.
Melissa is survived by her husband,
Rob; her children, Drew, Erin, Tatiana,
Zack and Jordan; her parents, Ed
(Debra) Carolyn (Bill); her siblings,
Betty (Gary), Teresa (Jeff), Darwin, De-
wayne, Brian (Crystal) and Jack. She is
also survived by many nieces, nephews,
cousins, and friends.
The family would like to thank
Melissa’s medical team at the Chris-
tus Cancer Center in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, her St. Luke’s Medical team in
both Baker City and Boise, and Heart
’N Home Hospice for excellent and
tender care.
We would be honored for memori-
als to be made to the following orga-
nizations: In Kennewick, Washington:
Benton Franklin Humane Society or
the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities. In
Plainview, Texas: PAWS Pet Adoption
or YMCA of Plainview. In Los Alamos,
New Mexico: Los Alamos Schools
Foundation or The Family YMCA.
In Baker City, Baker County YMCA.
You may make your donation through
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel,
1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR
97814.
To light a candle in memory of Me-
lissa or to leave a condolence for her
family, go to www.grayswestco.com.
Emmett Soden
Formerly of Baker County,
1936-2021
Emmett Conrad
Soden, 84, left this
world on his way to
heaven on May 24,
Emmett
2021, while tending to
Soden
his garden.
There was a cel-
ebration of life service at the family
home on June 5.
Emmett was born on Oct. 19, 1936,
at Richland to Marion Vaughn and
Louise Margaret (Steelman) Soden. A
few years later, Emmett was joined by
his sister, Marie. The family also lived
in Baker prior to moving to Moses
Lake, Washington, when they heard of
the opportunities of irrigation coming
to the Columbia Basin.
While in high school Emmett was a
standout on the defensive line on the
Moses Lake football team, placed sec-
ondnd in state heavyweight wrestling,
had many grand champion lambs,
was on the livestock judging team and
worked on the farm with his father
and granddad. Emmett graduated
from Moses Lake High School in 1955.
Emmett attended Washington
State College (now WSU), but was
called home after one quarter due to
his father having a heart attack.
Emmett met Peggy Walker on the
school bus. Emmett knew Peggy was
the one, so they married on April 23,
1960, in Moses Lake. Emmett and
Peggy welcomed three daughters, Deb-
ra, Tammy and Teresa, over the next
four years. They raised their family in
the Mae Valley and Stratford areas.
Emmett saw the best in everyone,
taking many children under his wing,
teaching them life skills, how to fi sh,
hunt, help others and not ask for any-
thing in return.
He rarely visited people without
bringing something to share. He
always planted a large garden and
would deliver crops to family, friends,
those less fortunate or homebound.
Emmett was an avid hunter,
fi sherman, gardener, welder, pipe
layer, concrete layer, meat cutter, or
just working in his shop. He loved the
farm and ranch life, attending his last
gather of cows and calves on May 14,
2021, while riding his Kawasaki mule.
His greatest love was his family.
Emmett loved selfl essly and greatly.
It’s impossible to describe the positive
impact he had on so many lives.
Emmett is survived by his lov-
ing wife of 61 years, Peggy; his three
daughters and their husbands, Debra
(Joe) DeAguiar of George, Wash-
ington, Tammy Walters of Ephrata,
See Obituaries/Page A3
NEWS OF RECORD
DEATHS
Mary Hurtado: 93, of Baker
City, died July 29, 2021, at Saint
Alphonsus Regional Medical
Center in Boise. Miss Hurtado
will be taken to Sacramento,
California, for services and
interment. Services are under
the direction of Coles Tribute
Center, 1950 Place St. Baker City,
OR 97814 To light a candle in
memory of Mary, go to www.
colestributecenter.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Robert Kent Nelson:
Memorial service, Aug. 14 at
11 a.m. at the Baker City Church
of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes
Lane. A reception will follow the
service at the Nazarene Church’s
Family Life Center. Memorial
contributions can be made to the
Burnt River Community Church or
the Northeast Oregon Compassion
Center through Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.,
Baker City, OR 97814. To leave an
online condolence for Kent’s family,
go to www.grayswestco.com.
Virginia Kostol: Interment
will be Saturday, Aug. 14, and a
Celebration of Life service will
be held Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. at
the First Presbyterian Church,
Fourth and Washington, in
Baker City. Donations may be
made to either The Salvation
Army or Baker County Historical
Society, through the Coles Tribute
Center, 1950 Place St., Baker
City, OR 97814. To light a candle
in Virginia’s name, go to www.
colestributecenter.com.
Stan Grove: Celebration of
his life, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. at Quail
Ridge Golf Course, 2801 Indiana
Ave. There will be a no host bar
and some of Stan’s favorite foods.
Keitha Kay (Luster)
Howard: Pot luck and memorial,
Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at
the Missouri Flat Grange Hall,
1050 Hughes Lane. Please bring
friend chicken, potato salad or
rolls. Beverage will be provided.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
OFFENSIVE LITTERING:
Michael Steven Myers-Gabiola,
30, transient, 1:50 p.m. Tuesday,
Aug. 3 in the 1600 block of Auburn
Avenue; cited and released. He
was also cited for third-degree
theft at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday in the
1200 block of Campbell Street.
PROBATION VIOLATION:
Jessica Dianne Stricker, 43, Baker
City, 8:41 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2 in
Baker City; cited and released.
WARRANT (Baker County
Justice Court): Brian Anthony
Heredia, 31, Baker City, 6:34 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 2 at Main Street
and Auburn Avenue; cited
and released.
VIOLATION OF
RESTRAINING ORDER: Darci
Lynn Hanson, 23, Baker City,
12:04 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2 in the
1000 block of Tamar Street; cited
and released.
FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL
TRESPASSING, THIRD-DEGREE
THEFT: Michael Steven Myers-
Gabiola, 30, transient, 10:49 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 2 in the 2200 block
of Resort St.; cited and released.
SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL
TRESPASSING: Cooper Alex
Horn, 25, Baker City, 11:18 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 1 in the 1200
block of Campbell Street; cited
and released.
BOOK SIGNING ~ by local author!
Meet
Deb Sue
Stevenson-Hamby
discuss the book
and get it signed!
August 7th, 11 am -1 pm
Royal Artisan, 1912 Main St., Baker City, OR
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com