A2 • Friday, March 12, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
OBITUARIES
Gary Robert Pedersen
Sandy
June 8, 1943 — March 3, 2021
Dr. Gary R. Pedersen
passed away from pulmo-
nary fi brosis complications
on March 3, 2021.
Gary was born in Oregon
City to Nancy Marie Edith
Salmon and Fred Findal
Pedersen on June 8, 1943.
Gary attended elemen-
tary schools in Rockaway
Beach, Reedsport and Cor-
vallis. He graduated from
Corvallis High School in
1961 and was privileged to
serve as student body presi-
dent his senior year.
After graduating from
Oregon State University,
Gary was accepted to the
University of Oregon Dental
School (Oregon Health and
Science University now)
and graduated in the class of
1970.
While in dental school,
Gary met his soulmate,
Sonia (Sunny) Green, who
was enrolled in a dietetic
internship at the medical
school. Sunny and Gary
were married in Sunny’s
hometown of Oxford, Kan-
sas, on July 27,
1968.
The event was
a fi rst for Gary in
several ways: First
time east of Reno,
Nevada, fi rst time
meeting Sunny’s family in
person and fi rst time expe-
riencing Midwest weather
in July.
The next adventure after
dental school was the move
to Astoria to build a dental
practice, make new friends
and get acquainted with the
weather. All of these
took a little time, but
we were very happy.
In 1977 our son
Eric arrived, so we
got involved with
his activities, such as
soccer, scouting and sports.
We are extremely proud
of Eric, who has a beauti-
ful family and works for the
Sandy Fire District as a fi re-
fi ghter and paramedic.
Dr. P, as he was called at
the offi ce, had many won-
derfully loyal staff members
who worked with him. Small
town practice has the bene-
fi t of seeing offi ce patients
out and about, and following
their activities and families.
After 37 years of dental
practice, Dr. P totally retired,
including the last fi ve years
part-time. Sunny and Gary
enjoyed several trips to
Europe and winter time at
their home in Sun Lakes,
Arizona.
Gary is survived by
his wife, Sunny; son, Eric
(Rebecca) and granddaugh-
ter, Piper, of Sandy; sis-
ter, Carolyn (John) Solva-
son, of Eugene; brother, Jon
(Trista), of Beaverton; niece,
Gretchen (Ryan) Guttridge
and their two boys, Cayden
and Jack; and nephews, Matt
Solvason and Ryan Peder-
sen (Macki).
Special note: My life has
been fi lled with many joys;
most of which has been the
love of my family, won-
derful friends and loyal
patients. I love every one of
you. Thank you to all.
ter, Theresa; her parents,
Ralph and Ethel; along with
sister, Colleen Schinderle,
and brother, Ralph “Skeet”
Brown.
She is survived by her
children, Debby Crawford,
of Spokane, Washington,
Colleen (Nick) Blagaich,
of Springfi eld, Joe LaPrai-
rie, of Springfi eld, and Butch
LaPrairie, of Springfi eld;
grandchildren,
Brandon,
Rebecca, Stephanie, Tay-
lor and Taiya; and honorary
grandchildren, David, Steven,
Andrew, Tayler Quinn and
Anna.
She is also survived by two
brothers and a sister, Vernon
“Sonny” (Tess) Brown, of Til-
lamook, Ernie (June) Brown,
of Marietta, Georgia, and Pat
(Jim) Nichols, of Warren-
ton; and numerous nieces and
nephews who miss her dearly.
An outdoor celebration of
life will be held during her
favorite time of the year, sum-
mer, with the date, time and
location to be determined.
In lieu of fl owers, we ask
that any donation you can
make be to your local hos-
pice — these people are truly
angels!
his wife, Dawn; daugh-
ter, Heather Ficken-Sovince
(Ben) and grandchildren,
Callahan and Clayton; son,
Jason Ficken, and grand-
children, Hunter, Alice
and Fiona; siblings, Molly
(Leonard) Brown, Mindy
(Ron) Sloper, Tracy Gray
and Jack (Teresa) Ficken;
sisters-in-law,
Sandra
(Chuck) Kienholz and Rox-
anne Headley; cousin, Mike
Roby; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
A celebration of life
will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may
be made to Astoria High
School athletics, the local
Clatsop County 4-H scholar-
ship fund or the Astoria FFA
chapter.
Caldwell’s
Luce-Lay-
ton Mortuary is in charge
of the arrangements. Please
sign our online guest book at
caldwellsmortuary.com
Dorothy Brown LaPrairie
Springfi eld
Oct. 13, 1943 — Feb. 10, 2021
Dorothy Estella (Brown)
LaPrairie, of Springfi eld,
loving mom and grandma,
passed away peacefully in her
home on Feb. 10, 2021.
One of the six children
of Ralph and Ethel Brown,
Dorothy was born at home
in Molalla on Oct. 13, 1943.
She grew up in Molalla and
then later moved to Gearhart
in 1951. She attended school
in Gearhart and high school in
Seaside.
Dorothy married Ber-
nard “Frenchy” LaPrairie in
November 1959. Frenchy was
a logger and long-haul truck
driver. Dorothy and Frenchy,
along with their children,
resided in Gearhart, Seaside,
Kansas and Colorado. They
later divorced; Frenchy died
in 1991.
Dorothy was fortunate to
have two loves in her life.
Bob Langa, also from Sea-
side, preceded her in death in
1984.
Dorothy was a home-
maker for most of her life, but
her fi rst job was at The Grill
in Seaside. She also worked
at the Bumble Bee Sea-
foods cannery in Astoria, but
quit the job because the jit-
neys (small fork-lifts)
scared her.
Dorothy was a
great mom to her
children. As a home-
maker, her fried razor
clams, fresh from
the beach, were everyone’s
favorite.
Dorothy’s summers were
spent with her children and
family having blackberry
pickin’ parties with all the
cousins, picnics and catching
crawdads at Klootchy Creek
outside of Seaside and sitting
in the sunshine visiting with
family and friends.
She will always
be remembered by
family as a tomboy
who loved to have
fun! She loved look-
ing over old photos
and her collections
of angels and salt and pepper
shakers.
Dorothy was small in stat-
ure, and very large in her
generosity to other people in
need. She opened her heart
and home to so many, and
impacted their lives in a tre-
mendous way.
Dorothy was preceded
in death by an infant daugh-
Sterling John Ficken
Astoria
Nov. 1, 1949 — Feb. 27, 2021
Sterling John Ficken, 71,
passed away Feb. 27, 2021,
at his home in Astoria.
Born Nov. 1, 1949, to
John Nicholas Ficken and
Angela Elaine (McGov-
ern) Ficken, he was the old-
est of fi ve siblings. He mar-
ried Dawn Colleen Headley
in 1976 in Astoria.
Sterling attended Lewis
and Clark Consolidated
Grade School and Astoria
High School, graduating in
1968. In 1970, he received
an associate’s degree from
the Clatsop Community Col-
lege agriculture program.
Sterling held many jobs
during his youth, caddy-
ing at the golf course, milk-
ing cows, logging and cut-
ting and wrapping meat at
Zero Zone Locker. He was
a shareholder at the Asto-
ria Plywood Mill before its
closure.
Working for Ag-Bag, his
travels took him across farm-
land throughout the west-
ern states. Talking to poten-
tial customers was right up
his alley! He worked at the
rock pit for Warrenton Fibre/
Nygaard Logging, and was
employed for over 20 years,
refusing to retire!
Sterling and his brother,
Jack, started the Ficken
Brothers Hog Farm, raising
both commercial and show
pigs to help and support the
area youth. It was at this time
he affectionately became
known as “Boss Hog.”
4-H and Future Farm-
ers of America were the cor-
nerstones of his youth, offer-
ing him many opportunities
for travel and education, but
most of all, fun! He was the
fi rst Clatsop County chapter
president.
Some of his best memo-
ries were of summers spent
with friends at the county and
state fairs. His involvement
with the fair continued as an
adult. Serving as an auction
ring-man he hustled the bids
with his iconic “yeeeeeeup”
and his cane to get the best
price possible for
the kids.
He served as
a Clatsop County
Fair Board member
for many years, and
was a current mem-
ber and past president of the
Clatsop County Livestock
Association.
He was a cheerleader for
the youth in the commu-
nity. His passion was coach-
ing Little League and Babe
Ruth baseball teams, includ-
ing being the “Commish.”
He could always be found
at Astoria High School bas-
ketball games, and as part of
the Chain Gang at football
games.
Well known for his trad-
ing abilities, he always had
seafood, apples or aspara-
gus to share with friends and
family. Sterling was blessed
by many friendships, includ-
ing the Lewis & Clark gang,
golfi ng buddies, Scandina-
vian Benevolent Society,
dinner group, party group
and the Big O. He
didn’t know a stranger.
Always there to
offer his support and
encouragement to his
children, Sterling was
the best “Poppa” to
his grandchildren, taking
an active interest in all their
activities, making sure the
kids always had an ice cream
and a little “jingle” in their
pockets.
Sterling is survived by
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