>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Gifford Ryder Case, 87, died Feb. 27 at his home in Joseph. A memorial service took place March 3 at the Enterprise Christian Church. Burial was at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.

Mr. Case, known as "Giff," was born Sept. 21,1919, on a family farm five miles outside of Milford, Pa., to Arthur B. Case and Emilie (Fieg) Case. He loved sharing stories of his childhood and teen years growing up on the beloved Oak Tree Farm.

In 1938, after trying a year at Drexel Institute College, he set out on a travel adventure across the United States in a 1932 Chevrolet roadster. In Southern California, he met and married Susanna Waggoner. They raised four children in Maywood, Calif.

During World War II Mr. Case served as a radar technician in the Navy. He later trained as an electrician and retired after 34 years.

He belonged to the IBEW Electrical Union for 60 years. Throughout his life, he willingly shared his numerous electrical handyman skills.

Mr. Case was a man of integrity and placed family needs, friendships and his Christian faith above any desire for personal, social or material gain.

He served as an elder, deacon, teacher, youth director and choir member in the Bell Christian Church and as a deacon in the Enterprise Christian Church. He was active in various community service organizations, serving as city councilman and mayor in Maywood, Calif., and was a member of the Lions Club in Hemet, Calif., and Joseph. He was also a Little League coach.

Early on hobbies and interests with the family included camping, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, traveling to national parks, baseball, waterskiing and working on projects at home. Later interests also included golfing, square dancing, traveling and doing things for others.

In 1993, the Cases moved to Joseph, where they built their final home from scratch. He took great pride in his yard and flower beds and enjoyed feeding the birds.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Susanna; children and their spouses, Richard of Williams Lake, British Columbia, Gerald and Sandra of San Clemente, Calif., Lorri and Steve of Billings, Mont., and Daniel and Terri of Murrieta, Calif.; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and a sister.

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Eleanor Eunice Smead, 87, of Eugene and formerly of La Grande, died March 5 of age-related causes. Arrangements are under the direction of Musgrove Family Mortuary of Eugene.

Mrs. Smead was born Dec. 30, 1919, in Auburn, Wash., to Ward and Stella (Magers) O'Neill. She graduated from Auburn High School at the age of 16.

On Sept. 1, 1938, she married Wendell Martin in La Grande, and the couple had four children. He preceded her in death in 1972. In 1976 she married Harold Smead, who preceded her in death in 2004.

She spent a good part of her adult life caring for her family.

She retired from the Farmers Home Administration in La Grande.

In 1980 she moved to Bend, where she lived for 12 years. She lived the last years of her life in Eugene.

Survivors include her children, Dennis Martin and Rick Martin, both of Eugene, Lee Martin of Portland and Barbara Terjeson of Lake Oswego; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene.

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Audrey Maldonado, 89, of La Grande, died Feb. 28 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. March 16 at the La Grande Country Club, 10605 S. McAlister.

Audrey was born Jan. 15, 1918, to L. W. and Adrian (House) Copeland in Pendleton. She was raised in Pendleton and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1935. After graduation she moved to the San Francisco Bay area to further her education and worked for several companies and at the 1938-1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.

While in California she met Jim Maldonado. They were married Aug. 30, 1940. During World War II, Jim served in the military, and they were stationed in Fort Riley, Kan., until he was sent overseas in 1944.

After the war they returned to Pendleton, where Jim worked for Audrey's father in the electrical contracting business. During their time in Pendleton, their first child, Jadon "Herk," was born in 1947.

Soon after his birth the family moved to La Grande, where they operated La Grande Electric. Two more sons were born to Audrey and Jim, Jeffrey in 1950 and James in 1955. Audrey and Jim divorced in 1970.

Audrey was employed in the business offices of Grande Ronde Hospital for 16 years, retiring in 1984. In her retirement she enjoyed volunteering for the Chamber of Commerce. She thoroughly enjoyed her friends, playing golf and bridge and cooking.

Survivors include her sons, Herk Maldonado of Mesa, Ariz., and Jeffrey Maldonado of Tigard; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; a nephew, Richard Wright; and other relatives. Her son James preceded her in death.

Memorials may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Genevieve Pidcock, 90, of La Grande, died March 6 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.

Genevieve was born July 10, 1916, to Roy and Mary (Hug) Flexer in Harney County. She moved to La Grande with her family when she was a child. She attended Riveria Elementary School and graduated from La Grande High School.

On March 27, 1936, she married Howard Pidcock in La Grande. They both attended Kinman Business University in Spokane and worked in Portland during World War II. They returned to make their home in La Grande after the war ended. She worked as the secretary to the Intermediate Education District superintendent (now E.S.D.) for more than 20 years before retiring.

Mrs. Pidcock played the violin with the Grande Ronde Symphony in its early years. She loved antiques and after retirement found great pleasure in buying and selling antiques and glassware. She and her husband moved to Waldport in 1988, where she treasured living near her daughter, Judy, before returning to La Grande in 2006.

She enjoyed reading, flowers and gardening.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in La Grande and had a deep and abiding faith.

Survivors include her husband, Howard; children and their spouses, Judy and Wally Parmenter of Waldport and David and Marjie Pidcock of La Grande; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by a sister, Adeline Horner.

Memorials may be made to "The Smile Train," P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C.

20090-6231.

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Robert Mulhall, 86, of La Grande and formerly of Seattle, died March 5. At his request there will be no public services. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mr. Mulhall was born June 3, 1920, to Leo and Jenny (Price) Smith in Yakima, Wash. He lived in Yakima, Portland and Seattle and served in the Army during World War II. After an honorable discharge, he worked as a manufacturing engineer for Boeing for 25

years. In the 1970s he moved to La Grande, where he was employed as a consultant for the Forest Service for 10 years before retiring.

Mr. Mulhall was an avid mountain climber. He was very active in the Seattle Mountaineers Club and was a member of the first party to climb Mount Adams in Washington State. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Seattle and La Grande and was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Writing was another hobby, and he wrote and published various articles on mountain climbing and politics. Several years ago he began work on a novel about Chief Joseph that has not yet been published.

Mr. Mulhall enjoyed prospecting for silver and gold in the Blue and Wallowa mountains and taking his beloved dog and faithful companion, Roger, with him for long rides. He was a kindhearted man who helped take care of his friends until he was too ill to do so.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Laurie and Pat Adams of Seatac, Wash., and Robert Patrick Mulhall of Seattle; five nieces and nephews; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by sisters, Helen Hamilton and Marion Crimin.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, 97850.

Friends and family may go to www.danielschapel.com to view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence online.

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Olga Marie Rollins, 91, of La Grande, died March 4 at a local care home. A private family memorial service was held March 7 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Olga was born July 3, 1915, to Edwin M. and Hannah Mabel (Miltzpaw) Jensen. She married Don Palmer Rollins Sept. 19, 1934, and they had eight children. They moved to Cove in 1949 and to La Grande in 1963.

Olga enjoyed reading, quilting and fixing dolls and making doll clothes for needy children.

Survivors include her children, Avlys Burton, Kaethe Fry and Ora Rollins, all of La Grande, Floyd Rollins of Tacoma, Wash., Marian Millman of Salt Lake City, Utah, Gladys Ferguson of Dayton, Tenn., John Naetin of Enterprise and Verla Collett of College Place, Wash.; siblings, Thelma Busby of Portland and Clarence M. Jensen of Cherryville; and 27 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

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Arnold K. Bergstrom, 76, of Union, died March 4 of natural causes at his residence. A graveside service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande.

Mr. Bergstrom, known as Arnie, was born May 14, 1930, in Kensington, Minn. He was one of ten children born to Theodore Ewald and Edith Eleanora (Eriksson) Bergstrom, both of whom sailed to America from Sweden in the early 1900s. His father arrived in America first, his mother following in 1911 aboard the Lusitania.

He grew up in a frugal environment and often spoke of his mother making head cheese, using "everything but the squeal."

He graduated from high school in Red Wing, Minn., and served in the Minnesota National Guard in 1949 and 1950.

In 1951 Arnie married Marvis Swanson in Minnesota. They in later years. He later moved to Oregon and married Carol Sheasly in Las Vegas, Nev. They lived in Portland and divorced after a few years. He was employed by Stevens-Tracy Inc. in Portland as an outside automotive parts salesman.

After a long courtship, Arnie married Marcia Bach in Stevenson, Wash., in 1977. Later that year they relocated to La Grande, where they owned La Grande Auto Supply and Grande-Union Auto Supply until the early 1980s. He then was employed as an outside salesman and counter man for Bailey Farm Equipment for some years, after which he went to work for NAPA Auto Parts as an outside salesman and

counter man. He retired at the age of 71.

Arnie enjoyed fishing and hunting in his earlier years. He was a perfectionist at heart, whose hobbies included home improvement projects and woodworking. He always enjoyed visiting with friends and family. He could out-shop any woman, his wife, Marcia, said, coupons, rain checks and all, and she only needed to mention an item and it was immediately at hand.

Survivors include his wife, Marcia of Union; children and their spouses, Deborah Bergstrom and Kirby O'Malley of Zagarolo, Italy, and Rick and Ami Bergstrom and Gregory and Mary Bergstrom, all of San Diego, Calif.; a step-son, David Bach of Tualatin; a brother, Waldo Bergstrom of Melrose, Minn.; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Planned Pethood Inc., P.O. Box 683, La Grande 97850.