‘Bobbie’ Lichner, John Kringlen, ‘Ernie’ Patton

‘Bobbie’ Lichner

Roberta Lee “Bobbie” Kelley Lichner, 69, of Milton-Freewater, a former Baker City resident, lost her battle with lung and pancreatic cancer on Jan. 30, 2010, at her home.

She died in the loving arms of her husband, Jim. Bobbie and Jim celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2009.

There will be a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Thursday at the family home, 1706 Oak St., in Milton-Freewater.

She was born May 31, 1940, at Baker City to Laura Jean and William Daly Kelley. Bobbie attended Baker schools and graduated with honors from Baker High.

She then moved to work for the Oregon State Liquor Commission at Milwaukee where she met her husband, Jim. The couple had three children.

She later attended Lane Community College at Eugene to train as a licensed practical nurse. Bobbie worked at Sacred Heart Hospital on various floors before working as an emergency room nurse and later as a trauma nurse.

Her family moved to Sitka, Alaska, in 1973, where she worked at Sitka Medical and First National Bank. Bobbie played softball for many years and was also involved in her children’s sports. She coached Sitka teen baseball.

She was an avid bowler and really loved being a team member in Sitka’s bowling league. Bobbie and Jim spent a lot of time in the outdoors of Alaska where they enjoyed hunting, boating, and fishing.

In the mid-1990s they returned to Oregon, and she became a volunteer for the Oregon State Parks while her husband was the park ranger for Hat Rock State Park at Hermiston. She received recognition for 10,000 hours of volunteer work along with other honors.

When they retired, they took up full-time RVing where they hosted at several state parks as well as at Fish and Game sites. They resettled in Milton-Freewater, for the last eight years where Bobbie loved reading, cards, crafts, walking with her dog, and visiting with family and friends.

She also volunteered to read to children at Grove Elementary School.

Survivors include her husband, James Paul Lichner; son, Brian Lichner; daughter, Katrina Baughn; and many loved grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

John Kringlen

John Arthur Kringlen, 88, of Baker City, died Jan. 30, 2010, at his home.

His memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Mel Harris will officiate. A light supper will be served afterward at First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St., where John was an active member.

He was born on June 15, 1921, at Hatton, N.D., to John and Anne Kringlen. In December of 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served 18 months in the South Pacific.

On April 6, 1945, John married Eleanor Lorraine Grove of Reynolds, N.D., while on leave in Oxnard, Calif. He then served in Okinawa for six months until the end of World War II.

After attending Whapeton School of Science, John and Eleanor moved to Grand Forks, N.D, where John worked for the U.S. Air Force and started Kringlen Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

He was transferred to Baker in 1962 where he continued his business until semi-retirement. John never did completely retire, but could be found most days working at his shop on Highway 30.

He was a beloved husband and father.

“John is special to all of us and will remain in our hearts forever until we meet again,” his family said.

Survivors include his devoted wife of 64 years, Eleanor; three daughters, Jeanine (and David) Carlson of Tigard, Cheryl (and Ross) Dowdy of Walla Walla, Wash., and Vicki (and Robert) Busse of Nampa, Idaho; two sons, Michael Kringlen of Portland and Ron (and Jeannie) Kringlen of La Grande; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Kringlen; three sisters, Kay Voiss, Ruth Kvernan, and Phyllis Eng, all of North Dakota; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Sylvia Hastad and Amy Haugen; and four brothers, Ralph, Henry, Donald, and Philip.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church of Baker City or the charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR. 97814.

‘Ernie’ Patton

Ernest Ray “Ernie” Patton passed away January 28, 2010. There was a celebration of his life at 4 p.m. Jan. 30, 2010, at the Hillcrest Memorial Center in Kennewick, Wash.

Ernie was born August 29, 1943, one of two children to Ada and Arlie Patton in Baker City, OR. He was a loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend. His fanaticism for golf was legendary and he traveled extensively in the western U.S. to find his perfect game.

Ernie spent his childhood and a large portion of his adult life in Baker City. He graduated from Baker High School in 1962 and entered the Army National Guard that summer. Ernie married his first wife, Barbara (Rosales) Patton that same year. They had two sons, Jeff and Tony.

In 1968, Ernie joined Cascade Natural Gas Corporation as a backhoe operator and spent the rest of his working career with them. In 1988, he moved to Sunnyside, WA to be District Manager and in 2004 he ended his career as the Eastern Regional Director out of Kennewick.

Ernie was a long time member of Baker Elks Lodge 338, joining in the early 1970s and serving as the Exalted Ruler in 1975.

In 2001, Ernie married the love of his life Esmeralda (Arteaga) Patton and they moved to Kennewick where they made their home. He loved spending the mornings working his crossword puzzles.

He will forever be remembered in the hearts of his families and missed by his many friends. Ernie was easy with a smile, quick with his wit and generous with his love. The world was a better place with him in it.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Esmeralda Patton, his brother Roger Patton, his two sons and their wives Jeff and Diana Patton of Dallas, TX and Tony and Elizabeth Patton of Vancouver, WA. His lifelong friend Barbara Patton and The Rosales’s. Step Children Teresa Arteaga, Kevin and Jill Arteaga, Anthony Arteaga. Grand Children: Anastacia Patton, Andrew Ashcraft, Kaitlyn Read, Nathan Patton, Kennedy Patton, Joshua Patton, Troy Patton Dominique Arteaga. Great andndash; Children: Jeremiah Read.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Red Cross for Haiti Relief.

To sign the online guestbook go to:

www.hillcrestmemorial.com

The Baker City Herald publishes free obituaries that are edited to fit news guidelines. Photos are encouraged. Paid space is available for families who would like the information to appear without changes.