Obituaries for the day of October 13, 2009

Obituaries for the day of October 13, 2009

Luke Burrows

La Grande

Luke Burrows, 72, of La Grande, died Oct. 10 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth Street.

Timothy Wood

La Grande

Timothy Wood, 57, of La Grande, died Oct. 10 at a local care center. Services will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Church of Christ on 16th and Gekeler Lane. Viewing will be from noon to 1 p.m. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Richard N. Knudsen

Joseph

1928-2009

Richard Norman Knudsen, 80, of Joseph, died Oct. 8 at Richland, Wash. Funeral services will begin at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Enterprise LDS Chapel, 900 E. Greenwood in Enterprise and at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sherwood LDS Chapel, 17234 SW Meinecke Road in Sherwood. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral service from 11 a.m. to noon in Enterprise and from 9 to 10 a.m. in Sherwood. Burial will be at the Oceanview Cemetery in Warrenton. Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Nov. 10, 1928, to August Fritzof Knudsen and Marguerite Avis Blair Knudsen in Portland. He married Sarah Ellen Wheatley Oct. 14, 1950, in Portland.

Following graduation in 1946 from Franklin High School in Portland, Richard began his service as an electronics technician in the U.S. Navy and served again during the Korean conflict.

After his military service, Richard began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1959, and continued with the FAA until his retirement in 1986.

During his career with the FAA he moved his family to Albuquerque, N.M.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Wendover, Utah; Klamath Falls; Eugene; and then back to the Portland area where he lived and worked until his retirement. In 1998, Richard and Sarah moved to Joseph.

While in Wendover, Richard and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an active member of the LDS Church until his death, and he served in many callings in the church including: Bishop, High Councilor and Temple Ordinance Worker. He and Sarah served a full-time mission for the church to Tanzania in East Africa from 1993 to 1995. Those who knew him say he was always pleased to serve others.

Surviving family members include Richard’s brother, Donald and his wife, Ruby Knudsen, of Cathlamet, Wash.; Richard’s beloved companion of 59 years, Sarah; one daughter, Karen Ann and her husband, Lee Dowdle, of Sandpoint, Idaho; three sons, Mikel and his wife, Karen Knudsen, of Brenham, Texas, Bruce and his wife, Vanessa Knudsen of St. George, Utah, and Craig and his wife, Teresa Knudsen of Warren; 25 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren expected soon. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Cathy Ann; and two grandsons, Peter and Steven Dowdle.

Leona J. Pearson

La Grande

1934-2009

Leona June Pearson, 75 of La Grande, died Oct. 8 in the family home surrounded by her children and other loved ones.

Leona was born July 28, 1934, to Harry and Rose Breeden in Worley, Idaho. She was married to Garnet Black May 1950 through 1970. She married Benjamin F. Pearson July of 1979.

Leona was a rollerskate car hop at the boat drive-in in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and was voted queen of her rollerskate club, the Lake City Rollers, in 1946. She worked in many restaurants including the Royal Cafe, Corner Cafe and Truck Stop, Sunshine Inn, Broken Wheel, B&M and Ann’s Cafe, all in Kellogg, and Fancy Dan’s. She owned the Bazaar Boutique on Adams Avenue for seven years.

Leona retired as cook at the Union County Jail in 1999.

Leona loved to bowl and was a member of many bowling leagues. She loved her trips to the nationals, which were like mini vacations for her. Her daughters, Genie and Lenora, shared a few of these times with her.

Lenora enjoyed her time spent with her husband, Ben, while fishing on the Snake and Columbia rivers in their boat. She was known by her grandchildren as the Spark Plug Grandma since she used spark plugs for sinkers while fishing for catfish.

She also loved the times spent with her family at Central Ferry, Farewell Bend and Wallowa for family reunions.

Leona is survived by her children, Genie and Gary Seymour of La Grande, Lenora and George House of Bend, Dan and Ruby Black of Kellogg, Idaho, Tim Black at the family home in La Grande, Larry and Holly Black of Florence, Lou Street of Hermiston, Christie Montero of Eugene, Arna and Gene Pitsner of Moses Lake, Wash., and Joe and Sheryl Curtis of La Grande; one brother, Jack and his wife, Norma Breeden, of Washington; two sisters, Melvina Cameron of Athol, Idaho, and Sharon and her husband, Ray Dingman, of Post Falls, Idaho; many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Benjamin Pearson; son, Kim Black; one brother; two sisters; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.