Leo Blando

Leo John Blando, 76, of Baker City died May 29, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Blando was born May 15, 1926, at Aberdeen, S.D. He was a son of Phillip and Mary Hoffert Blando. He was raised and educated in Aberdeen. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Upon his honorable release from the service, he returned to school and graduated from Northern State College at Aberdeen, S.D. Upon graduating, he moved to Portland and was employed by U.S. Bank.

In 1968, while working for the bank in Baker City, he met and married his wife, Velma Valentine Fisher. He worked for the U.S. Bank for 30 years in Baker City, Redmond and Portland.

He served on the Board of Directors of Alpine International. He and his wife, Velma, lived in Portland from 1970 to 1998 before returning to the Baker City area.

Leo was a devoted and loving husband, and dearly loved his step-children and grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed his avid gardening, fishing, and hunting.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Helen and Eva Ann.

He is survived by his wife, Velma of Baker City; his stepchildren, Elaine Thomas of California and John Fisher of West Linn; grandchildren, Michelle and Sandra Slone and Megan, Paul and Joe Fisher; brothers, Delbert Blando, and Joseph Blando of Aberdeen, S.D., and Edward Blando of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Heart Association through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Gladys Sieg

Gladys May Sieg, 81, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 26, 2002, at Eugene.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Lenny Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate.

Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St.

Gladys was born in Baker City on Oct. 29, 1920. She was the daughter of Jennie Mitchell and Ford Mitchell of Baker City.

Gladys was a 1938 Baker High School graduate and worked the next three years as a secretary for the Works Progress Administration. She married Norbert Sieg in 1941.

After Norbert’s discharge from the U.S. Army in 1946, the couple began farming with Norbert’s brother, Desmond, and father, Lynn. They farmed at Wingville until the ranch sold in 1983.

Gladys was very active in the Lutheran Church. She worked with Kid’s Club, was a member of the Altar Committee and the Lydia Circle. As a stewardship chairman of WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) she oversaw shipments to Lutheran World Relief. She especially liked working on the quilts that were sent in these shipments.

After Norbert died in 1990, Gladys continued living in Baker City until 1995 when she moved to Eugene to live with her son, Nolan Sieg, and his family.

Survivors include a sister, Vera Bennett of Baker City; her daughters, Karen Hobson of Arlington, Wash., Mardean Moss of Redding, Calif., and Debra Carstensen of Salem; her son, Nolan Sieg of Eugene; and her three grandchildren, Jason Moss, Andrea Sieg and Ryan Sieg.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggestions memorial contributions to the First Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Ellen Williams

Ellen Williams, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 27, 2002, at Meadowbrook Place in the presence of her family.

There will be a celebration of Ellen’s life beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Elkhorn Athletic Club, 1243 Second St.

Ellen was born on March 21, 1922, at Minot, N.D., to Millie Gaslin and Orville Planer. Ellen grew up at The Dalles. She graduated from The Dalles High School in 1940 where she first developed her lifelong passion for art.

Ellen married Henry L. andquot;Snooseandquot; Williams in 1940 at Goldendale, Wash. They moved to Baker City in 1944. They had six children: Harry Williams, Dana Williams Endicott, George Williams, Beth Williams, Terry Williams and Jerry Williams.

Ellen was an accomplished artist and teacher and served as the first president of Crossroads Arts Center. Her paintings hang at the Oregon Trail Regional Museum, the Baker County Public Library, the Sumpter Junction and in many local homes and businesses.

In 1983, Ellen donated andquot;Crossing the Powderandquot; to the Oregon Trail Museum, a painting that later was photographed and distributed as a postcard, with the proceeds dedicated to the museum. Ellen’s artistic legacy endures in her students, family, children and grandchildren.

Ellen’s life and art encourages us to consider beauty in even the smallest details of our lives, her family said. She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her sister, Olive; her children, Harry Williams of Baker City, Dana Endicott of Ontario, Terry Williams of Boise and Jerry Williams of Nacogdoches, Texas; and many nieces and nephews; and nine grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Beatrice; her husband, Henry; her son, George; and her daughter, Beth.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Trail Regional Museum through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Leona Kasten

Leona M. Kasten, 93, of Baker City, died May 25, 2002, at Settlers Park.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Kasten was born June 8, 1908, in Baker City to Alex and Lillie Irvin Holland. She attended school in the Pocahontas area. She married Orval Kasten at Weiser, Idaho, on Oct. 18, 1941. They farmed on the Oregon Slope near Ontario for many years. After selling the farm, they moved to Bend.

Mrs. Kasten worked at St. Charles Hospital and also at a large hotel in Bend for 14 years. After her husband’s death in July of 1974, she moved back to Baker City where she had lived since. She provided child care at the Methodist Church for many years.

Mrs. Kasten loved her garden and canning, making pies, crocheting, and she enjoyed visiting and being with people.

Survivors include her nieces and nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a sister, Edith; and brothers, Wilbur, Lloyd, Verl, Marvin and Orval Holland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or the American Cancer Society through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

William Eardley

William D. Eardley, 71, of Concord, Calif., died May 24, 2002, at Concord.

There will be no services.

Mr. Eardley attended St. Francis Academy and Baker public schools. He was a Baker High School graduate.

He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and he was a radio and television broadcaster and director for 30 years.

Survivors include his son, Steve of Seatac, Wash.; two brothers, Jim of Pendleton and Dick of Meridian, Idaho; and two granddaughters.

Thomas Vollmer

Thomas Wesley Vollmer, 25, of Portland, died May 19, 2002.

His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Lutheran Church in Eugene.

Mr. Vollmer was born on June 1, 1976, at Baker City to Andrea Nicholson Wiggins and Wesley Vollmer. He moved with his family to McMinnville in 1980 where he lived until 1985 when they moved to Corvallis. He lived there until 1989 and then moved to Eugene where he lived before moving to Portland in 2001.

He worked at Starbucks and Renner’s Grill in the Multnomah Village of Portland. He also worked at the Birkenstock Store in Eugene and for a number of years he had worked at Nordstrom in downtown Portland. He received numerous acknowledgements for outstanding customer service.

His was a gourmet cook and loved music, art, design and people of all ages and backgrounds.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Andrea and Bill Wiggins of Springfield, and his father and stepmother, Wesley and Nancy Vollmer of Corvallis; and a brother, Alexander of Seattle, Wash.

Memorial contributions may be made to Looking Glass Youth Services in Eugene or the Thomas W. Vollmer Memorial Fund at the University of Oregon College of Education through the UO Foundation, P.O. Box 3346, Eugene, OR.

The Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Hylton

Barbara Dale Hylton, 66, of Prineville, died May 26, 2002.

Her graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville. Bishop Rulon Workman will conduct the service.

Barb was born on Sept. 17, 1935, at Hailey, Idaho, to Silas and Virda Worthington Allred. She grew up in Hailey and attended schools there.

She married the love of her life, Clark David Hylton, in Hailey on April 1, 1951. In 1952, they moved to Prineville and lived at the Ochoco Ranger Station. While living there they had three children. In 1965, they moved to Prineville where she had lived since.

Barb loved working with people, and loved her jobs working in various retail stores in Prineville. She had a love and a passion for bowling, and really enjoying coaching the youth bowling program.

She spent 30 years with the Prineville Bowling Association, serving in various leadership positions at the state and local level. She also served as the secretary for the Mop Droppers League for 26 years and was elected into the Bowlers Hall of Fame in 1995.

Barbara was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Eagles Auxiliary. She loved the outdoors and spent hours tending her rose garden. One of her greatest treasures was her fishpond, created by her son, Stuart. Her true pride and joy was spending time with her grandson, Jared.

Survivors include her daughters, Bobbe and her husband, Larry Bilyeu, of Baker City, and Annette Hylton of Madras; her grandson, Jared Bilyeu of Ashland; her mother, Virda Allred of Prineville; her brother, Donald, and his wife, Chelta Allred, of Park City, Utah; a sister, Lois Waters of Paicines, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clark; her son, Stuart; her father, Silas; her sister, Wanda Shacklett; and her beloved companion of the last 13 years, her dog, Mandy.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Women’s Bowling Association, P.O. Box 142, Prineville, OR 97754 or the charity of one’s choice.

Whispering Pines Funeral Home of Prineville is in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Nemec Sr.

Leonard Nemec Sr., 88, of Baker City died May 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with all of his family at his bedside.

At his request, there will be no services.

Leonard was born Feb. 11, 1914, in Weston, Neb., to Henry and Frances (Bures) Nemec. He married Martha Kulhanek on June 19, 1934, in Dwight, Neb., and they had five children.

The Nemecs farmed in Butler and Dodge counties before moving to David City in 1948 where they owned and operated a tavern for two years. In 1950, they moved to Baker and lived on a ranch on Auburn Road before moving to town in 1956. Leonard worked at Burnt River (Ellingson Lumber Co.) for 29 years, retiring in 1979. Leonard loved working at the mill.

He was a loving father and grandfather who enjoyed his family and wanted them to be with him all of the time. He especially loved watching his sons and grandchildren participate in sports over the years and hunting and fishing with them. He also loved watching television and listening to polka music. His family and home meant everything to him.

Survivors include his wife, Martha; sons, Leonard Nemec and his wife, Norma, of Baker City, and Dan Nemec and his wife, Margaret, of Clackamas; daughters, Dee Swinyer and her husband, Carl, of Sumpter, Donna Brackin of Baker City and Mary Ann and her husband, Rich, of Redmond; 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; four grandsons, Jim Brackin, Matt Nemec, Donny Swinyer and Ronny Swinyer; a granddaughter, Doorie Hindman; a great-granddaughter, Angie Minor; a son-in-law, Chuck Brackin; and 11 brothers and sister: Rudolph Nemec, Christina Hromas, Ludmilly Kavar, Eva Kohowt, Henrietta Wesely, Adolph Nemec, Henry Nemec Jr., Emma Buresh, Frances Kovar, Georgia Buresh and Bohumil Nemec.

Contributions in Leonard’s memory may be made to the DAV Van Fund, in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Monna McCormick

Monna Rae McCormick, 85, of Halfway, died May 15, 2002.

A celebration of Monna’s life will take place Saturday, June 22, at 1 p.m. at Wild Bill’s in Halfway.

Monna was born Jan. 4, 1917, at Halfway to Charles Henry Lee and Viola andquot;Oliverandquot; Lee.

She married Joe E. Harrison in 1943 in Lakeview. They had two children: a son, Wayne Lee Harrison, and a daughter, Linda Jo Harrison. Monna married Wayne andquot;Macandquot; McCormick in 1968 and lived in Prineville until Mac passed away in 1979. She moved to Springfield, then on to Halfway in 1997.

Monna enjoyed reading, gardening, crocheting, embroidery and making pies. She wrote poetry and short stories, loved flowers, birds and rides to the mountains and lakes to look for rocks.

She was a loving, kind person who always had a smile and a friendly word for all.

Monna is survived by her son, Wayne Harrison, and his wife, Shari; her daughter, Linda Jo Fountain and her husband, Dick, of Springfield; a grandson, Jerry Campbell and his wife, Jennifer, of Springfield, grandson, Justin Campbell and his wife, Mary, of Eugene; six great-grandchildren: Brendon, David, Brogan, Tarrin, Danika and Kendra; her sisters, Marge Sagers of Halfway and Jeanne Daniels of Las Vegas; nephews, Dennis Curtis and his wife, Inez, and Tom Curtis, all of Halfway, Greg Daniels and his wife, Jan, and Gary Daniels and his wife, Linda, of Kenai, Alaska; a niece, Ronda Maki of Las Vegas; and a special friend, Dalene Davis.

Contributions in Monna’s memory may be made to the Granite Peaks Assisted Living Construction Fund of Pathway Hospice, in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Ione La Kamp

Ione M. La Kamp, 67, of Baker City, died May 23, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

At her request, disposition was by cremation, and a gathering for family and friends will take place Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at The Main Event, 1929 Main St.

Mrs. La Kamp was born Nov. 29, 1934, at Gifford, Idaho, to Edward J. and Meta (Stellyes) Torgerson. She received her education in Gifford and Lewiston, Idaho. She came to Baker City on April 26, 1959. She worked as a bartender for Andy DeVos at the Stirrup Room for many years, and at other locations.

She enjoyed crocheting, but her hobby was her lodge affiliations, which she dearly enjoyed being involved in. Mrs. La Kamp belonged to the Baker City Rebekah Lodge No. 8, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and was a past president of the Eagles Lodge.

She is survived by her husband, Laurance andquot;Billandquot; La Kamp of Baker City; sisters, Betty Duncan of Kansas, Erma Auer of Lewiston, Velma Liebenstein of Vancouver, Wash., Carol Plaehn of Tacoma, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one sister.

Contributions in Mrs. La Kamp’s memory may be made to the Baker City Rebekah Lodge or the U.N. Pilgrimage through the Rebekah Lodge, in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.