A8 The BulleTin • Sunday, June 13, 2021
OBITUARY
Winning auction bid for a seat
on Bezos’ rocket: $28 million
BY JUSTIN BACHMAN
Bloomberg New
Blue Origin raised $28 mil-
lion by auctioning a seat to ac-
company founder Jeff Bezos on
a July 20 rocket ride — the first
time the company will carry
people to space.
The identity of the winner
won’t be revealed for a few
weeks, Blue Origin said Satur-
day. The day’s live auction fol-
lowed weeks of online bidding
with more than 7,000 submis-
sions from people in 159 coun-
tries. Bezos’ brother, Mark, will
also make the trip.
The 11-minute excursion
from Van Horn, Texas, will
carry as many as six passen-
gers. Blue Origin hasn’t yet re-
vealed who else will be aboard
the New Shepard spacecraft.
The automated flight will be
the company’s 16th but its first
with humans aboard.
Blue Origin is vying with
Elon Musk’s Space Explora-
tion Technologies and Rich-
ard Branson-backed Virgin
Galactic Holdings Inc. to offer
trips to space to a small num-
ber of wealthy tourists. Bezos
has compared space tourism to
the barnstormers whose stunt
flying helped fuel public fasci-
nation in the early days of avi-
ation and made planes a com-
mon mode of transportation.
Passengers aboard New
Shepard, named for pioneer-
ing astronaut Alan Shepard,
must be:
• Between 5 feet and 6-foot-
4-inches tall, weighing 110
pounds to 223 pounds.
• Able to climb the seven
flights on the launch tower in
less than 90 seconds and sit
strapped in the vehicle for as
long as 90 minutes without ac-
cess to a lavatory.
Able to withstand gravi-
tational forces of as much as
5.5 times the person’s normal
weight during descent and 3
times the weight for as long as
two minutes on ascent.
Would-be passengers were
advised to consult a medical
professional about medical
conditions and their ability to
fly on New Shepard. Custom-
ers also must provide informed
consent, acknowledging the
various risks of flying to space.
WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB
Star dog handler hurt in
wreck en route to show
Associated Press
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — The
road to this year’s Westminster
Kennel Club dog show passed
through a pandemic and a ma-
jor change of date and venue.
For one of the nation’s best
known dog handlers, the road
also proved dangerous.
Bill McFadden, who has
guided two Westminster win-
ners, was rear-ended and in-
jured while driving a van full
of dogs cross-country to the
show, his wife and fellow star
handler, Taffe McFadden, said
Saturday. He was hospitalized
for a time after the crash Tues-
day in Wyoming and is now
recuperating at home in Aca-
mpo, California, she said. He
will be off the show trail for a
while.
Despite the shock and worry,
“I’m really glad to be here. I
wish my husband was with
me,” Taffe McFadden said as
she and the couple’s assistants
readied their canine charges.
“It’s a highly coveted dog show
to be at, and for them to work
this hard to make it happen is
pretty awesome.”
The Westminster show
moved from New York City to
a suburban estate, and from
February to June, so it could
be held outdoors as a pan-
demic precaution; organizers
also closed the show to the
public. Judging began Satur-
day toward the best in show
prize, which will be awarded
Sunday night.
Four of the seven finalists
get chosen Saturday night.
OBITUARY
Margaret “Holle” Young
April 22, 2021
Margaret “Holle” Young
passed away on 4/22/21 at
the age of 73, aft er leading
a full and rewarding life that
was defi ned by her generosity
in acti ons as well as in spirit.
She will conti nue to be loved
by her two children, Jessica
and Chris, sisters Allyson and
Valerie, as well as extensive family and friends.
Holle dedicated her life to the advancement
of science, women’s rights, reading, and
the conti nued advancement and spread of
knowledge. In that spirit, she acted on those
foundati onal principals through her career as
a public-school teacher in South Central Los
Angeles for over 25 years, teaching Science
to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. Beyond being an
educator, she also volunteered to oversee a drug,
alcohol, and abuse program, for children in need
of support as an additi onal way to give back to
her community and have a positi ve eff ect on the
lives of her students.
Having been born in the small mining camp of
Palmer, Alaska and growing up in mining towns
throughout the Western US, Holle gained the
spirit of adventure as well as well as the strength
to stand on her own principles. She had the spirit
of a true wanderlust as she traveled Europe aft er
high school and which laid the bedrock for her
beliefs that only through knowledge of other
people and cultures, could one truly be able to
understand and help those around her.
She obtained a masters degree and two bachelor’s
degrees before starti ng her career as a mother,
teacher, and mentor, which she used to positi vely
aff ect everyone she came in contact with.
Holle reti red to Bend Oregon in 2011 where
she conti nued her devoti on to service through
her volunteering with the Deschutes Historical
Museum as well as conti nued philanthropy for
both local and internati onal causes.
SpaceX already ferries as-
tronauts to the International
Space Station for the National
Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration. Both SpaceX and Vir-
gin Galactic are preparing to
fly nongovernment customers.
Blue Origin will donate the
auction proceeds to its Club for
the Future foundation, which
aims to inspire young people to
pursue careers in science, tech-
nology and mathematics.
Bezos, who spends about $1
billion a year to fund Blue Ori-
gin, has been slowly selling off
his stake in Amazon.com Inc.
to invest in his space endeav-
ors. He will step down as CEO
of Amazon on July 5.
OBITUARY
Joanne Rolfing Gehlert
August 9, 1929 - May 29, 2021
Today we celebrate the
life of Joanne Rolfi ng
Gehlert, formerly of
Bend, OR and recently
of Tucson, AZ. As a result
of numerous health
challenges,
Joanne
quietly and graciously
left us on May 29, 2021.
She was preceded
in death by her fi rst
husband, Dudley Seymour Jones, her beloved son,
Phillip Dudley Jones, and her husband of 34 years, Fred
Gehlert . Joanne is survived by her daughters, Dana
Jones Studebaker (Tom), Lisa Rolfi ng Jones, Fred’s
daughters, Lucy Schmidt and Carolyn Jean Gehlert,
and three grandchildren.
Born on August 9, 1929 in Charles City, Iowa and raised
in Wilmett e, Illinois, Joanne was known for her dazzling
smile and cheerful countenance. Joanne and Fred lived
in Bend for over 30 years. They enjoyed many friends
and social acti viti es, oft en involving the Bend Golf
Club. Joanne was a consummate “social butt erfl y,”
who loved to cook and entertain her close friends and
neighbors in her warm, inviti ng home. With an avid
curiosity about her world, Joanne traveled extensively
throughout the United States, Europe, the Caribbean
and South Pacifi c. Of all Joanne’s adventures, the one
she treasured the most was the helicopter tour over
the Grand Canyon.
Moving to Tucson in her later years to be near her
daughters, Joanne dearly missed the natural beauty
and her close friends and associates in Bend. She
dreamed of her eventual return. Per her request,
no memorial service will be held. The family deeply
appreciates the compassionate end of life care given
at TMC Hospice-Peppi’s House. In her memory, we
request donati ons be sent to TMC Hospice-Peppi’s
House, 2175 N. Wyatt Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712 or at
www.TMCHospice.com.
OBITUARY
Bernard Raymond Shapen
January 23, 1930 - April 7, 2021
Bernard
R.
Shapen
(“Bernie”), passed away
in Bend, OR at age 91.
He was born Bernard
Schapendonk in Chicago
to Nicholas and Lorett a
Schapendonk,
who
changed their surname to
Shapen in 1945.
Bernie is survived by his
wife of 59 years, Virginia
Shapen of Bend; son
Rodney (Amy) Shapen of
Bend; son Kevin (Della)
of Post, OR, and daughter
Therasa (Keith) Brandt of Bend. He is also survived by
six grandchildren: Zane, Ian, Eva, Morgan, Parker, and
Victoria.
Bernie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War,
discharging in1953. Prior to his service, Bernie worked
as a landscaper in Griffi th Park in the City of Los Angeles,
and conti nued with the City of LA driving a street
sweeper for 30 years. He reti red in 1980 and moved the
family to Bend.
Bernie was immersed in hot rod culture growing up in
Southern California. He had a passion for automobiles
for his enti re life, owning many classic cars over the
years. The cars were both beauti ful and functi onal, and
were driven to car shows across the country with Virginia
at his side navigati ng.
Bernie and Virginia enjoyed many trips and drives.
Annual summer road trips during their boys’ growing
up years made many good memories. Bernie got a kick
out of hosti ng family and friends in Bend and sharing
the beauty of the area with others. Bernie never met a
stranger who didn’t end up a friend. He was a “character”
and used many funny and unique sayings remembered
by his family with a smile.
Contributi ons may be made to Ronald McDonald
House of Bend. Visit the guest book at www.niswonger-
reynolds.com. A celebrati on of life will be held at a later
date.
James R. Smith
November 24, 1944 - June 2, 2021
James R. Smith (Big
Jim) passed away
6/2/21 peacefully
and surrounded by
his family.
Jim
was
born
11/24/44
in
Hunti ngton
Park
CA. to Clarence and
Fern Smith, joining
his siblings Ray and
Georgia.
Jim married the love
of his life Joanne
Thomas on May
25th, 1966. They
moved to Bend in 1979 to raise their family.
Jim worked for Consolidated Supply for 30 years making
many friends throughout the community and was an
avid golfer and fi sherman.
Jim was a family man and loved taking an acti ve role as
husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa.
Jim is survived by his wife Joanne, daughters LaDonna,
Lynett e, and Jenniff er, grandchildren Tarah, Kelsee and
Taylor, and great-grandchildren Brantley and Landon.
Celebrati on of life to be announced at a later date.
OBITUARY
Phyllis E. Bauer
April 9, 1920 - March 23, 2021
Phyllis E. Bauer went
to be with God on
March 23, 2021,
just 17 days before
her 101st birthday.
She passed away
peacefully with caring
family, friends, and
much love all around
her. All who knew her describe Phyllis as a kind,
welcoming, and loving person. She was gracious
and had a strong belief in God, accepti ng Jesus as
her Savior and into her heart. She was an amazing
friend and great cook, always ready to try a new
recipe. She loved to read and was an accomplished
arti st and painter. She was a loving wife and mother
and a super fun grandmother. Her bright blue eyes,
infecti ous smile and frequent laugh delighted all
around her.
Phyllis was always busy and engaged in the
community. She volunteered in the SMART reading
program at various schools in Sunriver and Bend,
OR., was an acti ve member of PEO for 59 years, and
loved playing bridge- which she conti nued to do
unti l she was 100 years old. She also loved to travel.
Phyllis Edna Gesine Witzel was born April 9, 1920,
in Ashton, Illinois, the middle child of Adam and
Anna Witzel. Aft er high school, at the age of 17, she
att ended the University of Illinois and graduated
in 1941 with a B.S. degree In Nutriti on, Dieteti cs,
and Chemistry. In 1942 she interned in Dieteti cs at
The University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Then she took her fi rst job in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina as a Diet Therapist. It was there, while in
the hospital recovering from appendiciti s, that
she met the tall, dashing Donald Bauer, an intern
in medicine assigned to her surgery fl oor. They
married in July, 1943 on Long Island and moved to
Durham, N.C. where Phyllis worked in Diet Therapy
and Don was a resident in Pathology.
The following year Don was called into the Army
as a fi rst Lieutenant Medical Corps and was sent
overseas to Belgium, France, and then Germany.
For the fi rst two years of his service Phyllis stayed in
Illinois, but in 1946, aft er the war ended, she went
with their 1-year-old daughter, Pam, to Heidelberg,
Germany to join Don for his fi nal year of service.
They returned to the U.S. in 1947. Over the course
of their 50 years of marriage, Phyllis and Don had
fi ve children and moved 9 ti mes. She loved every
place she lived and made many friends along the
way. Phyllis lived in her own home in Bend unti l
she was 99. Tired of the chores of homeownership,
she moved into the wonderful residenti al facility
of Whispering Winds where she conti nued to
meet new friends and renew old friendships. Every
place they lived both Don and Phyllis were always
acti ve in their church. They att ended Hollywood
Presbyterian Church for many years, served on the
Internati onal Christi an Scholarship Foundati on,
and belonged to other Christi an groups and bible
studies.
Phyllis is survived by her fi ve children, Pam
Mueller (Michael), Jack Bauer (Carolyn), Rebecca
Bauer (Greg Baker), Annie Bauer, (Dan Melcon,
deceased), Donald Bauer (Wendy), 8 grandchildren
and eighteen great-grandchildren.
A Celebrati on of Life will be held Saturday, August
21st at 11:00 A.M. at the Community Bible Church
in Sunriver, OR.
Donati ons can be made in memory of Phyllis to:
Partners in Care 2075 NE Wyatt Ct. Bend, OR 97702,
or at their Website www.partnersbend.org for the
new Hospice House.