RECORDS
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
HeRMIsTOnHeRaLd.COM • A5
OBITUARIES
Robert Howard ‘Bob’ Phipps
Mariko ‘Mars’ Hanami
Judith Marlene ‘Judy’ Van Tassel
Anderson, South Carolina
Hermiston
Waitsburg, Washington
December 14, 1929 — March 29, 2021
February 25, 1921 — May 10, 2021
September 30, 1952 — April 16, 2021
Robert Howard “Bob” cil, San Francisco Coun-
Phipps, age 91, passed cil, and San Diego Council
away Monday, March 29, where he formed an inner-
2021, at his home in Ander- city troop that was spon-
son, South Carolina, with sored by his church. He
his wife of nearly
continued par-
ticipating in the
70 years and his
BSA
program
family at his side.
Bob was born
after his retire-
December
14,
ment from the
1929, in Beemer,
Navy in the Blue
Nebraska,
to
Mountain Coun-
cil in Pendleton,
the late Floyd
Oregon, where he
Loch Phipps and
formed another
Thelma “Edna”
church-spon-
Townsend.
He
Phipps
sored troop. He
was
preceded
was
honored
in death by his
with the District
eldest son, Wil-
liam Floyd “Bill”
Award of Merit.
Phipps;
grand-
In addition to
children Daniel,
his scouting, he
Desiree and Dar-
was very involved
cel Evans; sister Mary Ann in his church, the First
Board; and brother Charles Church of God, as a Sunday
“Raymond” Phipps.
school teacher; a member
Bob was a graduate of of various committees; and
Pendleton High School chairman of the board. He
Class of 1949 in Pendle- was also a lifetime member
ton, Oregon. After gradu- of the Pendleton VFW Let
ation, he joined the U.S. ’er Buck Post 922.
Navy and attended elec-
He was an instructor in
tronics school after boot the electronics department
camp at Treasure Island in of Blue Mountain Com-
San Francisco, California. munity College in Pend-
He served aboard the USS leton, Oregon, and then at
Kenai Peninsula College in
Rowan DD-782.
When his tour ended, he Soldotna, Alaska, after he
returned to Pendleton where and Irene relocated there to
he met and married his wife, be closer to their grandchil-
Jaimiee “Irene” Findlay, on dren in 1983.
Bob and Irene spent the
November, 1, 1951.
He was recalled to active next 34 years in Alaska
duty during the Korean war where he spent the sum-
in 1952. He continued his mers at Poachers Cove in
service until June 1974 Soldotna helping with the
when he retired as an elec- development of new lots
tronics chief technician. and enjoying his retire-
During one phase of his ment, fishing and spend-
service, he was responsible ing time with family and
for the upkeep of sites and friends.
In 2016, he and Irene
for the instruction of naval
reservists in Pendleton and moved to South Carolina to
North Bend, Oregon, and in be closer to their children,
Walla Walla and Tri-Cities, grandchildren and extended
Washington. He became family.
Bob is survived by his
an instructor of electron-
ics at Treasure Island. He loving wife Irene of South
also served aboard the USS Carolina; his daughters Dor-
Jason AR8, a naval repair othy McCune of Georgia
ship. A highlight of his and Pamela Sue Evans of
naval career was when he South Carolina; sons Rob-
served at the Communica- ert (Judy) Phipps of Flor-
tion Station at San Miguel ida and Russell (Pam Jean)
in the Philippines from of South Carolina; daugh-
1969-1971, accompanied ter-in-law Diana Phipps
by his family. Although he of California; sister Bon-
was not a submariner, he nie (Larry) Ghrist of Ore-
was attached to Sub Ron gon; 16 grandchildren; 37
Three Staff for two years great-grandchildren; four
great-great-grandchildren;
prior to his retirement.
Bob was very active in and numerous nieces and
the Boy Scouts of Amer- nephews.
ica for over 50 years. He
A graveside service
was a Wood Badge trained will be held at Dolly Coo-
scouter who taught adults per Veterans Cemetery, 140
and youth. He served as Inway Drive, Anderson,
an assistant Scoutmaster, South Carolina, on June 11,
Scoutmaster and as a com- 2021, at 2 p.m., assisted by
mittee member in Empire, Standard Cremation and
Oregon, the Far East Coun- Funeral Center.
Mariko “Mars” Han- dren had left to go to col-
ami died May 10, 2021, lege. She was an active
in Hermiston at the age of member of the VFW Aux-
100. She was born Febru- iliary and she and her hus-
ary 25, 1921, to Shoji and band attended many state
Matsumi Ishii
conventions
Kumasaka
in
throughout
Seattle, Wash-
Idaho. They also
ington.
She
attended many
attended Olym-
Army reunions
pic View and
of the Cannon
Lincoln
High
Company
of
School, Class of
the 442nd Reg-
imental Com-
1939.
bat Team in
In her grow-
ing up years she
Las Vegas, Los
Hanami
helped in the
Angeles, Seat-
tle and Hawaii.
family
green-
houses and gar-
They traveled
den. As a teenager she was throughout the Western
active with the Green Lake states to the reunions of the
Fieldhouse basketball team 148th Field Artillery.
and Green Lake softball
In 2005 they moved to
and basketball teams of the Hermiston to be near her
Japanese Courier Leagues. daughter, Jan. Mars was
In 1940 she went to busy with her garden, can-
Japan with a group of girls ning, sharing her produce
sponsored by the Japa- and dish cloths and scrub-
nese Baptist Church. They bers. She started bowling
traveled together for three in the 1960s in Rexburg
months and she stayed and since October 2005 in
for a year when her sister Hermiston, she had bowled
May joined her and they twice week with seniors
traveled to scenic spots until she was 96.
The highlight of her
and visited relatives. They
returned to America in 100th birthday was the
visits from the Hermiston
February 1941.
She was attending Wil- Police Department and the
son Business School when Hermiston Fire and Emer-
the evacuation of all Jap- gency Service Department.
anese of the West Coast They held a soft spot in her
was ordered. In April 1942 heart.
she was incarcerated with
Mariko is survived by
her family in the Puy- her son, Mark Minoru Han-
allup Assembly Center ami of Mountain Home,
(Puyallup Fairgrounds). Arkansas; daughters Jan-
In August 1942 they were ice Kiku Hanami of Herm-
sent to the Minidoka Relo- iston, Oregon, and Gail
cation Center in the des- Asa Shenfield (Floyd) of
ert of south-central Idaho. Omaha, Nebraska; grand-
In September she went to children Heather Han-
the Rexburg area of east- ami, Corpus Christi, Texas,
ern Idaho with her brother Erika
Murchison-Blake
Akira and his family on (Matthew), Chapel Hill,
the work-release program North Carolina, Brandon
to help with the harvest of Shenfield, Ft. Collins, Col-
orado, and Christie Shen-
potatoes and sugar beets.
In the fall of 1943 she field, Omaha, Nebraska;
went to Chicago and then and great-grandson Amir
Murchison-Han-
to Hattiesburg, Missis- Makai
sippi, to marry Takeshi ami, Chapel Hill, North
“Tug” Hanami on Decem- Carolina.
ber 18, 1943. When he was
She is preceded in death
sent to Europe with the by her parents; her hus-
442nd Combat Team in band of 68 years, Takeshi
May 1944, she returned to “Tug” Hanami; son Jon
Chicago and worked at the Y. Hanami; brothers Akira
Edgewater Beach Hotel. Kumasaka, Haruo “Ham”
Upon Tug’s return and Kumasaka and Roland
his discharge in Novem- Shozo Kumasaka; and sis-
ber 1945, they went back ters Mitsuko Furuyama,
to the Rexburg area and May Fujioka and Mutsuko
raised their family. For Kumasaka.
many years she worked at
A private family burial
radio station KRXK, Part will be held.
Service and Rexburg Flo-
Please share memories
ral. She was a member of of Mars with her family at
the community Presbyte- burnsmortuaryhermiston.
rian Church.
com. Burns Mortuary of
In 1972 they moved to Hermiston, Oregon, is in
Caldwell after the chil- care of arrangements.
Judith (Judy) Marlene ton, Oregon.
She was universally
Johnson Van Tassel was
born September 30, 1952, loved by all of her imme-
in Moses Lake, Wash- diate and extended fami-
ington, and passed away lies, which also includes
many
sisters
unexpectedly
and brothers-
after heart sur-
in-law. Her lov-
gery April 16,
ing sunny posi-
2021, in Port-
tive personality
land, Oregon.
attracted all who
Judy is sur-
vived by her hus-
knew her; she
band, Lorance,
will be sorely
of Waitsburg,
missed by all
Wa s h i n g t o n ,
her numerous
sons Kevin of
family members
Van Tassel
and friends.
Waitsburg and
Judy was a
Monte, daugh-
ter-in-law Cian,
member of the
and one baby granddaugh- Dayton, Washington, SDA
ter, Emmaline Shea, of church and remained a
Bend, Oregon.
faithful member all her
Judy is also survived life. She loved to share her
by her four brothers, Jim love of God with her beau-
Johnson of Hermiston, tiful voice, often accom-
Oregon, Jeff Johnson of panied by Lorance on his
Milton-Freewater,
Ore- guitar.
gon, Jerrold Johnson of
Memorial
services
Hermiston, and Joel John- will be conducted at
son of Ocala, Florida, as the Hermiston, Oregon,
well as aunts, uncles, and Seventh-day
Adventist
many nieces and nephews. Church on June 27, 2021,
She was predeceased at 11 a.m., to be followed
by her parents, Dr. Mil- by a graveside service and
ton James and Wanda Lor- interment at Hermiston
raine Johnson of Hermis- Cemetery.
LeEtta H. Wineland
Hermiston
October 24, 1936 — May 10, 2021
LeEtta H. Wineland ceramics, quilting, sewing,
of Hermiston was born fishing and camping. She
October 24, 1936, in was a past member of the
Emmett, Idaho, the daugh- Eagles and Moose lodges.
ter of Edwin and Blanche
She is survived by her
(Wimer) Norris.
husband of 67
years,
Ron-
She passed away
ald; daughters
at her home with
Rhonda Mundy
her family by her
and
Melanie
side on Monday,
Roberts; sons
May 10, 2021, at
Ronald Wine-
the age of 84.
land Jr. and
L e E t t a
Brian Wineland;
moved to the
nine grandchil-
Hermiston area
dren;
seven
as a child where
Wineland
great-grandchil-
she
attended
dren; and four
school. She mar-
ried
Ronald
Wineland on January 6, great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in
1954, in Stevenson, Wash-
ington. The couple trav- death by her parents; 12
eled for several years fol- brothers and sisters; daugh-
lowing Ron’s construction ter Debra; and a grandson,
work. In 1972, they settled Kevin Roberts.
A private family gather-
back into Hermiston where
ing was held.
they have lived since.
Burns Mortuary of
LeEtta worked at Good
Shepherd Hospital in the Hermiston is in care of
laundry department for arrangements. To leave an
over 21 years. She retired online condolence for the
family, please go to www.
in 1999.
She enjoyed working burnsmortuaryhermiston.
in her yard, working with com.
Taekwondo demonstrations to benefit local girl
HeRMIsTOn HeRaLd
Board breaking and
other demonstrations are
featured during a benefit
event at Eastern Oregon
Family Taekwondo.
Donations
will
be
accepted to support May-
sie, a 2-year-old local girl
who was diagnosed with
ependymoma.
The rare cancer was
found in the youngster’s
brain.
She has undergone sur-
gery to remove most of
the tumor; however, she’s
headed to Seattle with her
parents to undergo radia-
tion treatment.
Nearly 100 students
will participate in the
break-a-thon, which is
Saturday, May 22, at noon
at 155 W. Coe Ave., Stan-
field. People are encour-
aged to donate $5 for a
board. The event also
will feature brick break-
ing, self defense and forms
demonstrations.
For more information,
contact Erwin Watson at
541-571-5176 or ewat-
son24@hotmail.com.
priorities
A hundred years from now it will not matter what My bank account
was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the
world may be different because I was important in the Life of a Child.