Obituaries for the day of April 7, 2009

Bryan J. Higgason

Union

Bryan J. Higgason, 73, of Union, died April 3 in Boise.

A celebration of life luncheon will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the La Grande Eagles Lodge. Cremation Society of Idaho was in charge of arrangements.

A complete obituary will be available later.

Mildred ‘Faye’ Weimer

Mildred “Faye” Weimer, 91, of La Grande, died April 3 at a local care center.

Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the Primary Room at the LDS Stake Center on Gekeler Lane. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

A full obituary will be available later. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Brogoitti

1920-2009

Robert Brogoitti, 88, of La Grande, died April 5 at a local care center.

A gathering for family and friends will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. A formal service is not planned at this time.

Robert was born June 14, 1920, to Seaborn E. and Ada Ruth (McClavy) Brogoitti, in Long Beach, Calif. After graduation from high school he attended Washington State for a short time.

He was a farmer and a politician, serving in the 1960s on the La Grande School Board and as an adviser to the Secretary of Agriculture under the Nixon Administration and with the Oregon State Legislature from 1977 until 1989.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in  Helix.

Survivors include his wife, Marion Brogoitti; sons and their wives, Allen and Cathy Brogoitti and Pat and Vicky Brogoitti, all of La Grande; daughter and her husband, Jeannie and Roger Burt of Portland; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Glen Brogoitti of Lyle, Wash.; and other relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Trail Diabetes Association in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

Pansy ‘Eileen’ Conner

1923-2009

Pansy “Eileen” Conner, 85, of La Grande, died April 3. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Pastor Gary Hood from the Crossroads Community Church in  La Grande will be officiating. Committal and burial will follow at the Hillcrest East Cemetery.

Viewing will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Daniels-Knopp Funeral. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.danielsknopp.com.

Eileen was born Oct. 30, 1923, to Bethel Davis and Grace (Hayter) Davis at Hilgard.

The family later moved to  La Grande and settled near Riveria Grade School. Eileen attended La Grande public schools while helping raise her younger brothers and sister.

She married Harold Conner Sept. 17, 1950. The couple were active members of Pioneer Church of God (now known as Crossroads Community Church), where they were the first couple to be married in the church. Eileen spent her time raising her children, along with many day-care children, over the years. The day-care business became a family affair. She was devoted to her family and church family.

As a young girl, Eileen and her brothers spent a lot of time swimming in the Grande Ronde River, hiking in the Blue Mountains, picking huckleberries, helping with the family farm animals and playing with baby chicks. She enjoyed listening and singing while her family played various musical instruments. Later in life, Eileen enjoyed bird watching, picnics, reading and most of all, being with her family.

Survivors include her children, Nadine Faber of Vancouver, Wash., and Sandy and Steve Campbell of La Grande; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, Donald Davis, Myron and his wife, Jackie Mortier, Lester and his wife, Keri Mortier; sister, Patsy Leighton and close friends and family, Debbie and Scott Stevens.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Conner; and brothers, Merlin, Elmer, Victor and Milfred Davis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GRH Home Care Services in care of Daniels-Knopp.

Todd E. Elkins

1965-2009

Todd Evan Elkins, 43, of Albany and formerly of Elgin, died March 3 in an automobile accident.

A celebration of life was held March 10 at Albany First Assembly of God with a reception following. Fisher Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Todd was born May 15, 1965, the second son of Lloyd and Myrtle Elkins (now known as Myrtle Moodenbaugh) in Prineville. Myrtle’s second husband, Glenn Moodenbaugh, raised Todd as his own.

After graduating from Elgin High School in 1983, he moved to Springfield, Mo., attending Evangel University and Southwest Missouri State University. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. For the past 16 years, Todd was employed at Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis.

On Jan. 10, 1986, Todd married Karen Ables, after a friendship that began in the eighth grade. They married in Springfield, Mo., while both were attending college. The next year, the couple moved to Albany where the family continues to live. Their son, Devan, was born in 1986 while they were in Missouri. Their daughters were all born in Albany: Alyssa, 1990; Elani, 1993; and Aleya, 1996.

For the past 22 years, the family worshiped at the First Assembly of God in Albany. Todd enjoyed teaching Bible classes. He was also a sound tech and a leader in the church’s youth group for many years. In the last year of his life, those who knew Todd say he had no greater passion than sitting with friends to read the word of God aloud.

Todd loved people more than anything and had a wide variety of friends. He could build or fix anything, and he often made his talents available to those in need. Young people particularly loved his humor, zest for life and penchant for blowing things up. He loved spending his days on a dirt bike, a street bike or a snowboard.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; son, Devan; daughters, Alyssa, Elani and Aleya; mom and dad, Myrtle and Glenn; brother, Karl; brother, Travis and his wife, Jeana, and their children; an aunt; and extended family. Todd was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Elkins.