‘Bill’ Wendt

Baker City, 1923-2018

William J. “Bill” Wendt, 95, of Baker City, died Sept. 15, 2018, at his home.

An inurnment with military honors will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Bill was born on Sept. 5, 1923, at Baker to Margaret (Romig) and William Wendt. He graduated from Baker High School and following school he joined the United States Army.

He served on active duty for five years during World War II — from September 1940 to August 1945. He was with the Company F 186th Infantry out of Baker City and was promoted to staff sergeant in 1942.

In 1946 Bill enrolled in Oregon State University at Corvallis and attended until 1950 majoring in metallurgical engineering. After his time in college, he went on to work at the Kennecott Copper Mine for 19 years.

He was also the owner of his own mine, the Sanger gold mine, for 58 years. The Sanger Mine has been family-owned since the early 1900s.

Bill enjoyed eating lunch and playing pinochle at the Senior Center in Baker City.

“Dad lived a long life and now he has moved on to another grand adventure, may your spirit be released to the heavens. Rest in peace dad,” family members said.

The family expressed a special thank you to Heart ’N Home Hospice for the tenderness they showed Bill.

To light a candle for Bill or to leave a condolence for the family, go to www.colestributecenter.com.

Olen Ragsdale

Baker City, 1931-2018

Olen Ragsdale, 86, of Baker City, died on Sept. 2, 2018, at Settler’s Park Assisted Living Facility in Baker City

His memorial service will be Friday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. at Baker United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. Interment will follow the service at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held immediately following at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St.

Olen Dinkle Ragsdale was born on Nov. 8, 1931, at Elk Falls, Kansas, to Richard and Hazel Ragsdale. He came to Oregon in 1938 with his parents and grandfather Dinkle. They lived in the Lime and Rye Valley area as his father was an electrician at Oregon Portland Cement Co. He went to schools in Lime and Huntington before moving to Baker City his senior year. He played football in Huntington and lettered in both baseball and football. His football career ended quickly at Baker High due to an injury. He graduated from high school in 1950. Except for a few years on the Oregon Coast, he lived most of his life in Baker City.

In 1949 he met his wife to be, Adele Bacon, through her brother, Leonard. They were married on July 19, 1953, and had two children — Michael, a self-employed Baker City businessman, and Deanna, a registered dietitian of Franklin, Tennessee.

Olen received a recommendation from the shop teacher, “Boss” Wolf, to the Carpenters Apprentice program and worked at carpentry until 1952 when he had an opportunity to work for Consolidated Freightways in Baker. Thus began his career in transportation which continued until his retirement in 1984. In 1960 he was promoted to terminal manager, which continued even though the company changed to Eastern Oregon Freight and then to Garrett Freightlines. He was manager at Baker and La Grande. Eventually a terminal opened in Pendleton and he chose to drive heavy duty from Pendleton to La Grande daily.

Olen was an active member in the Baker community. He was a member of Elks Lodge No. 338 for 37 years, a volunteer firefighter for 31 years and a member of the National Guard for 8 years.

He always had a project or two going, be it automotive, plumbing, carpentry or fixing small items. The projects took a back seat after the cabin was in at the river. The family spent many summers at their cabin on Brownlee Reservoir skiing, fishing and hunting with family and friends.

Olen and Adele loved to travel in their motor home and visited many local places that they always wanted to see. Through their travels they met some great friends and continued those friendships over the years. They spent the winter months in Yuma, Arizona, visiting Mexico from there.

Olen is survived by his wife, Adele; his son, Mike (Diana Pawelek); his daughter, Deanna Ragsdale Lawlor (Steve Lawlor); six grandchildren: Samantha and Eric, (Mike) and Erin, Scott, Jami and Kindra (Deanna and Steve).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Hazel; and his stepfather, Walter Robinson

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Methodist Church, Best Friends of Baker, Inc., FAFA (Forest Access For All) or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

Mary Thompson

Baker City, 1938-2018

Mary Lucille Thompson died Sept. 10, 2018, in Baker City with her family by her side. A private family celebration will take place at a later date.

Mary was born on Aug. 23, 1938, at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Floyd and Ethel Riggs. Mary wed Fred Raymond Niehaus on Aug. 26, 1955, at Campbell County, Kentucky. They had 6 children. Mary later married Thomas Thompson on April 19, 1978, at Fremont, California. Tom and Mary were happily married for over 40 years.

She worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital as a housekeeping manager for many years. Mary loved spending time with her family, she was devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Mary is survived by her husband, Tom, of Baker City; her daughter, Cindy Boyd of Baker City; her sons, Paul Lloyd Niehaus of Baker City and Gary Lee Niehaus of Baker City; her sister, Shirley Hampton; her beloved nephew, Gary Riggs of San Francisco; her stepchildren, Tanya Die of Livermore, California, and Justin Thompson of Tracy, California; 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, John Raymond Niehaus; her daughters, Nora Marie Niehaus and Mary Susan Scott; and her brother, Floyd Riggs Jr.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Mary, the family suggests Marla’s Mall through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com