Obituaries for the day of June 19, 2008

Christopherson, Fennell, Harpole

Ethel June Jeppsen Christopherson, 83, of Idaho Falls and formerly of Union, died June 16 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Idaho Falls Eagle Rock LDS Stake Center, 2020 S. Charlotte Dr. with Bishop Anthony Passino.

The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be at Milo Cemetery. Coltrin Mortuary in Idaho Falls is in charge of arrangements.

June was born Feb. 11, 1925, to Ethel Mirriam North and Cleon Jeppsen in Brigham City, Utah. On June 29, 1943, she married Ernest William Christopherson in Donald. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

June was a staunch member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with full belief, commitment and testimony. June and Ernie served two full-time missions, one in the Idaho Falls, Taylor Mountain Stake and the other in the Payson, Utah, Mountain View Stake.

Besides Idaho Falls, June also lived in Union, The Dalles and Mattawa, Wash., with her family. She had friends in dozens of places.

June loved flowers, gardening, sewing and most of all music. Her pantry was full of products preserved from her gardening labors.

Concerned for the physical and spiritual health of people she knew, June often cut articles from the paper and sent them to the one in need. She never missed a loved one’s birthday, sending her love in a card or letter. She loved to receive cards from friends and family and saved every one.

Survivors include children, Sherry and her husband, Ted Bohn, of Idaho Falls, Connie and her husband, Max Barnum, of Payson, Utah, Neal and his wife, Pam Christopherson, of Hermiston, Ron and his wife, Natalie Christopherson, of Ephrata, Wash., Wendy Works of Kalispell, Mont., and Greg and his wife, Jolene Christopherson, of Honolulu; 30 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; and five foster children.

Her siblings, who thought of her as a second mother, are Mae Fleming, Dick, Del, Danny and Virgil Jeppsen, who all preceded her in death. Three sisters survive June: Ruth Winzler of Moses Lake, Wash., Colleen DuRette of Salem and Barbara and her husband, Darwin Fergus, of Dayton.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com .

Thomas D. Fennell, 69, of Sutherlin and formerly of La Grande, died June 11. A memorial service is planned for June 28 in Sutherlin. Chapel of the Roses in Roseburg is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas was born June 11, 1939, to Grady and Lorene (Priest) Fennell in Monticello, Ark. In 1947, the Fennell family moved to the Sutherlin area.

Thomas graduated from Sutherlin High School in 1957, and enlisted in the Army 87th Airborne unit. He was stationed in Germany and while serving his country enjoyed parachute jumping. After completing his military service, he became a member of the Oregon State Police and lived and worked in La Grande.

Thomas returned to Sutherlin and began an excavating business. In the mid-1980s, he bought and developed a business running a service station and store in Evanston, Wyo. In the early 1990s, Thomas retired to Sutherlin and took up his favorite past-times: hunting, fishing and reading the Bible. In the last few years, ill-health curtailed his outdoor activities and limited his excursions.

On Dec. 8, 2007, Thomas married Sharon Bjerkbig Hollamon.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Sharon Fennell of Sutherlin; daughter, Tammra and her husband, Jack Chess, of La Grande; sister, JoAnn and her husband, Leland Nelson of Bandon; brother, Jack and his wife, Wendy Fennell, of Sutherlin; brother, Troy Fennell of Roseburg; step-children, Doug Hollamon of Anchorage, Alaska, Monty Hollamon and Sheila Hollamon of Sutherlin; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Howard Harpole, 82, of Albany and formerly of La Grande, died June 15 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital with his family at his side. Memorial services will begin at 10 a.m. June 28, at the First Christian Church in Albany.

Howard was born in 1926 to Marvon and Rosetta (Marsh) Harpole in Elmira. He was raised in the Cottage Grove area, where he lived until enlisting in the Army. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and was in the 341st Infantry, 86th Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war he attended Oregon State University, where he was a member and president of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in June 1950 with a business degree.

Howard married Janet Gebhardt in June 1950 in Corvallis. They had met at Oregon State University. The couple lived in La Grande from 1962 to 1969, where Howard worked in the insurance business.

Howard was a councilman on the Albany City Council, a board member of Albany Boys and Girls Club, a member of Rotary Club of Albany and a deacon at First Christian Church.

He worked as a logger, in insurance sales and in car sales at Hudson Dealership & Garage. He founded Forest Industries Insurance Exchange in 1970, was instrumental in starting Oregon Loggers Association, co-founded Greater Pacific Bank, co-founded Freedom Federal Savings and Loan and co-founded The Oregon Fishing Club.

Howard was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, hunt, golf and garden. He was an avid OSU supporter. Spending time with his family was one of his favorite pastimes. He traveled the world with family and friends visiting more than 47 countries.

Howard is survived by his wife, Janet Harpole of Albany; children and their spouses, Jenine and Jody Williamson of Enterprise, Marlene and Patrick O’Rourke of La Grande, Teresa and Todd Fletcher of Tucson, Ariz., Bruce and Connie Harpole of Albany, and Lisa and Bob McIntyre of Portland; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Eileen Burkeen of Cottage Grove; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund or the Helping Hands Homeless Shelter, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington, Albany 97321.