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

Armond James Arnoldus, 87, of Imbler, died Oct. 5 in Boise.

A funeral service begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Summerville Cemetery. A viewing will be conducted from 3 to7 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Arnoldus was born July 4, 1919, the son of James Andrew and Edna Pearl (Woods) Arnoldus in Wallowa.

The family moved to Summverville when he was a young child. He graduated from Imbler High School in 1937 and then attended college in La Grande for two years.

He married Vivian Dorian Literal in Portland on March 26, 1942. He served with the Armed Forces during World War II. After the war he went to work at Commercial Iron Works, where helped make gun turret protectors. He had his own barbershop in Hermiston and later worked as a barber in La Grande while farming in Imbler.

Mr. Arnoldus was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He attended New Testament Fellowship for many years with his wife and family. He loved his family as well as hunting, gardening and farming.

Survivors include his wife Vivian of Imbler; daughter Sheryln Arnoldus-Harter of La Grande; a son A.V. and his wife Cheryl Arnoldus of Imbler; two grandsons; two great grandchildren; a brother, Alfred, and his wife Bonnie Arnoldus of Summerville; and sister-in-law Mayme Arnoldus of Union.

His brother, Ted, of Union died earlier this year. Son-in-law Ken Harter also died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association or the Imbler Fire Department in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.

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Margaret Stein of Enterprise died Oct. 3 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. She was 84.

She was born in Joseph, April 21, 1922, the first child of Earnest and Lillian Simmons Quinn. She grew up in Wallowa County, attending Reavis and Enterprise schools, and spent most of her adult life in Wallowa County.

On Feb. 16, 1940, she married Myron Stein. They were married 66 years. She led a simple life and was content to be a homemaker.

She loved cooking, camping, huckleberry picking and spending time with her family.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Joseph Valley Chapter 50, and also a member of the Liberty Grange.

She was baptized about 1965 at the Enterprise Baptist Church. At that time, she was an active member of the Joseph Baptist Church where she helped teach Sunday School.

Though health problems limited her activities in later years, she continued to take car rides around the county, did shopping and took care of her home.

She is survived by her husband, Myron, of Enterprise; son and daughter-in-law Richard and Connie Stein, Enterprise; daughter and son-in-law Saonni and Fred Talbott, Union; daughter and son-in-law Ernestine and Jim Kilgore, Enterprise; sister and brother-in-law Cecile and Harold Lay, Enterprise; and sister Lois Delaney, Enterprise.

Seven grandchildren and 14 great-children also survive. She was preceded in death by two grandsons.

Services were held Saturday at the Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Home Hospice in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 West Main St., Enterprise 97828.

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Elsie Louise Churchill, 90, of Elgin died Oct. 8 at her home. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Elgin Cemetery.

Elsie was born March 12, 1916, the daughter of Clarence and Annette (Brown) Obert up the Walla Walla River in Oregon. The family moved to Sparta for a time before returning to Milton, where her grandfather built the first electric plant and her father built numerous buildings in the area.

Elsie later met and married Ivan Churchill on Oct. 9, 1933, in Walla Walla. The couple moved to Imbler where Ivan worked for Dick and Laurose Hibberd for a time before settling in Elgin.

Elsie enjoyed sewing, loved spending time with her children, was known for her cooking and most of all her outstanding maple bars.

Survivors include her children, Elaine Laurose Scott, Wesley "Wick" Churchill, Annette Howell, Cecil Churchill and Harley Churchill, all of Elgin, Ardith Noyes of Summerville and Chester "Chet" Churchill of Imbler; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; sister Bessie McGuire; brother Harold "Dude" Obert; and other relatives. Her husband, daughter Verlee Jones, grandsons Melvin Lovell and Philip Scott, two great-granddaughters, two sisters and three brothers all preceded her in death.

Memorials contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Mabel C. "Billie" Crampton, 95, of La Grande died Oct. 8 at a La Grande care center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.

Billie was born Aug. 8, 1911, at Thomas, Okla. She was one of eight daughters born to William and Hazel Corn. Her family moved to Boise in 1913.

On Sept. 4, 1926, she married Floyd "Ted" Crampton. They were married for 49 years. Ted died of cancer in 1975.

Billie was a loving mother to two daughters, Patricia Carlsen of Mill Creek, Wash., and Florence Trommald of Walla Walla, who died in 1999. She was a proud grandmother of five and was affectionately known as GiGi to seven great-grandchildren. Billie felt very blessed to also have three great-great-grandchildren.

Billie was well known and respected throughout the community as the owner of the Mode O Day dress shop on Adams Avenue for 33 years, which later became Fashion Crossroads. She was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, and longtime member of the Assembly of God Gospel Tabernacle Church in La Grande, which is now the New Life Center. She was the church organist, taught adult Bible classes and was on the "Gospel Hour" radio program, which was broadcasted directly from the church and brought "spiritual blessing and inspiration through song and word."

Billie and Ted built and pastored the Elgin Assembly of God Church in 1940-1942. Billie was asked numerous times to return and speak to the congregation in Elgin.

She will also be remembered for having played the organ and singing at countless funerals throughout the years in and around La Grande.

Survivors include her daughter, Patricia; sister Florence Keefer of Boise; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives. Her husband Floyd "Ted" Crampton, daughter Florence and husband John Trommald Jr., and six sisters all preceded her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons for Bibles or the New Life Center in care of Daniels Chapel.

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Patricia Anne Jarrard, 77, of Milwaukie died Sept. 16. Her funeral was in September in Milwaukie.

She was born Sept. 9, 1929, in Helena, Mont. She graduated in 1947 from La Grande High School.

She married Fred W. Jarrard, another LHS grad, in 1950. The couple were loyal supporters of the athletic program, giving large donations. They moved to Portland in the early 1950s.

Mr. Jarrard died in 2002.

Mrs. Jarrard is survived by her sons, Aaron, Michael and William; daughters, Denise, Martha and Mary; and seven grandchildren. Two sons, Freddy and Tony, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Road Cafe, 133 NW Sixth Ave., Portland 97209, a charity cafe that works to feed and employ the hungry and unemployed.

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Wesley Johnson, 64, of Enterprise died Sept. 20 in Richland, Wash. A family graveside service will be conducted at the Wallowa Cemetery at 2 p.m. Saturday.

A remembrance potluck dinner is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at the IOOF Hall in Wallowa

Survivors include his mother, Eva Mae Johnson of Lostine, and his father, Willard Johnson of Wallowa.

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Elizabeth Patterson, 97, died Oct. 5 at the Wallowa Valley Care Center in Enterprise. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Baker City.

Mr. Patterson was born June 30, 1909, to Frederick A. and Mary A. Bokop in Defiance, Ohio.

She attended Western College in Oxford, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1931 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education.

While visiting a college friend in Baker City, she met and married Franklin W. Patterson in 1938.

She worked for the TB and Health Association, and was a substitute teacher while raising her children. She then taught Latin and English full-time at Baker High School, retiring in 1971.

She was recognized in 1991 as the Legacy Woman of the Year by the Baker County Chamber of Commerce for a half-century of work in Baker County. Among her many activities were her involvement with the American Field Service program and hosting Anne Rankine from Whitley Bay, North Umberland, England, in 1961. She was a strong supporter of the Community Concert Association, was involved with the American Association of University Women at the local and state level, the Oregon Trail Museum, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Baker City, where she was an active member for more than 60 years.

She moved to Joseph in 1998 to be closer to her daughter and family, enjoying the family cabin at Wallowa Lake.

She is survived by children and their spouses, William Roberts and Marvel Patterson of Chandler, Ariz., John Frederick Patterson of Walla Walla and Charlotte Patterson Williams of Joseph; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Baker City or St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Enterprise.

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Earl "Lavon" Culver, 84, of Elgin, died at his home Tuesday. A celebration of life will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at the Elgin Cemetery.

Mr. Culver was born Aug. 1, 1922, in Union to Francis and Lola May (Kennedy) Culver. He was raised and educated in Elgin.

He married Vera Fruitts on Oct. 24, 1944, in Elgin, and the couple had three children.

He loved hunting, fishing and most of all, farming and ranching. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was active with 4-H and FFA with his children.

He is survived by his wife of Elgin; and children and their spouses, Carlene and Skip Cox of Elgin,Gale and Carolynn Culver of Elgin and Rex and Arlene Culver of Elgin.

A sister, Eva Hill, and a grandson, Todd Culver, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.

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Richard Henry Wiche, 63, of Enterprise, died Oct. 9 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the ILWU Local 8 Union Hall, 2435 NW Front Ave. in Portland. The family will be having private services otherwise. Arrangements are in care of Herring Groseclose Funeral Home of Walla Walla.

Mr. Wiche was born Sept. 16, 1943, in Portland to Fred Henry and Verice Griffin Wiche. He attended schools in Portland and graduated from Madison High School.

On Oct. 11, 2005, he married Karen "K.C." Cornwell in Portland.

Mr. Wiche worked as a waterfront longshoreman for 38 years. His family said that he created his own path off the main roads of life.

He is survived by his wife, K.C. Gabbert-Wiche of Enterprise; daughters, Tanya Roberts of Coral Springs, Fla., Janelle Emery of Portland, Celina Kinzinger of Oregon; and a sister, Ann Holbrook of Otter Rock; and three grandchildren.

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Marchieta L. Blank Herndon, 76, died at home in Wichita, Kans., with her husband at her side, after a battle with cancer. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Cove Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mrs. Herndon was born in February 1930 at Personia, Okla., to Roy and Agnes Sheppard.

In 1962 she married Robert L. Blank, who preceded her in death in 1981. She then married Robert Herndon in 1984. She is survived by her husband, Robert Herndon of Wichita; children and their spouses, Terrine and Chuck Warriner of Salt Lake City, Zane and Sheba Botham of Chewelah, Wash., Rock Botham of Joseph and Bill Herndon of Wichita; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Downing & Lahey Mortuary East are handling arrangements. Remembrances may be sent to the family via www.downingandlahey.com

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Norman Eugene Punches, 77, of La Grande, died Oct. 11 at his home.

At his request there will be no services held. A viewing was held Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Norman was born Aug. 26, 1929, the son of George and Lorretta (Curtis) Punches in La Grande. As a child he was raised by his grandparents. He graduated from La Grande High School with the Class of 1947.

After high school, Norman went to work for Union Pacific Railroad from 1947 until 1952.

On Jan. 1, 1952 he married Jacquelyn Ramsey, and together the couple raised three children.

In 1952 Norman went to work for Bohnenkamps Plumbing & Heating before going to work for Eastern Oregon University from 1968 until his retirement in 1992.

He was a member of the Oregon National Guard as a second lieutenant, past president of the La Grande Swim Club for 10 years, manager of the Veterans Memorial Pool for 12 years, received the EOU Distinguished Classified Staff award in 1983 and was recognized by EOU for his dedication and commitment to Eastern's physical education and athletic programs.

Norman is survived by his wife, Jacque Punches of La Grande; children and their spouses, Pam and Bob Thompson of La Grande, Rod and Kenna Punches of Boardman, and Kim and John Hickman of Milwaukie; sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Ehrman Bates of La Grande; two grandsons and two granddaughters and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics Oregon of Union County in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

To view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence on-line visit, www.danielschapel.com