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

Lindbloom, Schwendemann

Margaret Jane (Singleterry) Lindbloom, 93, of Joseph, died April 30 at the Wallowa Valley Care Center.

A memorial service is planned for a later date. Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret was born April 5, 1915, to Walter and Josephine (Blue) Singleterry in Hastings, Neb. The family moved to a farm they purchased in Avon, Wash., in 1928.

Margaret graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1933. She trained to be a registered nurse at Everett General Hospital in Everett, Wash.

After graduating as a registered nurse, she worked at Children’s Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle for two years. She then returned to Mount Vernon and married her high school sweetheart, Donald Lindbloom. The couple had three children: Karen in 1940, Alice in 1942 and John in 1948.

She enjoyed a rewarding career in nursing. In Mount Vernon, she worked at the Skagit General Hospital and its replacement, Skagit Valley Hospital.

After moving to Puyallup, Wash., she worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1980 and continued to live in Puyallup and Sumner until 1996 when she moved to Central Oregon.

In 2006, Margaret moved to Joseph to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Ben. Margaret was a social person and was always looking for someone to play cards with her. She loved dogs, never meeting a dog she didn’t like.

She is survived by her daughter, Alice Kable; son, John Lindbloom; four granddaughters and one grandson; and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Helen; husband, Don; daughter, Karen Carlton; and brother, Dick Singleterry who died April 22.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa County Community Connection senior meal site, the Humane Society of Wallowa County or any other charity.

Margie Evelyn Schwendemann, 87, formerly of Wallowa and Union counties, died April 26 in Portland. A funeral service will begin at

11 a.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Wallowa Cemetery.

Marge was born Nov. 18, 1920, in Wallowa, the youngest child of Benjamin H. “Dick” and Martha M. (Wise) Anderson. She married John M. “Jack” Schwendemann on Sept. 10, 1946, in Boise. The couple lived in Camas, Wash., Portland, Lake Oswego and Boring, moving to Summerville in 1967. They owned and operated Western Automatic Sprinkler Co. since 1960. When Jack died in 1984, she moved back to Portland in 1990.

Those who knew her say Marge had an indomitable will that helped her survive and overcome many challenges. They considered her an unforgettable person. She valued her family and friends, and made sure to keep up with loved ones through visits and correspondence.

She devoted her life to creating a home and raising a family — her desire being that her children had more opportunities than she had. She was proud of not only their accomplishments, but of the good citizens and people they became.

Whether it was playing pinochle, gambling in Reno, deer hunting, traveling or reading, she was at her happiest. An excellent seamstress, she excelled at embroidery and appliqué. Everyone will miss her good cooking, but especially her baking powder biscuits, cakes and huckleberry pie.

She was a member of the 1909 Society of Emanuel Medical Center Foundation and Emanuel Children’s Hospital Foundation, a lifetime member of Lifeflight and a former member of the Hope Chapter No. 13 Order of Eastern Star.

Survivors include her children, Phyllis Crane and her husband, Marvin, of Clackamas, Malon Cowgill  and his wife, Lola, of Kennewick, Connie Schwendemann and her husband, Pete Peterson, of Portland and John Schwendemann III and his wife, Verna, of La Grande; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, William Richard, Admiral Dewey and George Roland; and a sister, Violet Ripley.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Daniels-Knopp, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.