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

Carper, Miller

Willa Elizabeth Carper, 95, of La Grande, died Oct. 7 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Willa was born April 27, 1913, to Virgil and Willametta (Dildine) Burnett in La Grande. She was raised on a ranch in Palmer Valley where she enjoyed riding horses. She was educated in Elgin and on Aug. 30, 1932, she married Ralph Carper in Promise. He preceded her in death on Nov. 28, 1980.

Willa was a member of a bowling league and she loved to fish. She was a member of the First Christian Church. She enjoyed camping and knitting and crocheting, making afghans for every member of her family and hundreds of hand-knitted washcloths. She was an excellent seamstress and made wedding dresses for two of her granddaughters. She loved her garden and growing flowers. She was known for spoiling her grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughters and their husbands, Dee and Wade Booher and Donna and Roundy Plumley, all of La Grande; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her son, Darrell Carper; siblings, Arthur, Orville, Floyd, Ruby, Vernon and Ernie; and great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Kayla Carper.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or any other charity.

Elmer Theodore Miller, 100, died Oct. 3 at his home. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street in La Grande. Committal and interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery.

Elmer was born Sept. 29, 1908, to Theodore and Leona (Ashmeed) Miller, in Hayden, Idaho. When Elmer was 7 years old in 1915, his parents traveled, by wagon train with five other children, to Union. They all rode in the wagon except for Elmer, who rode his horse, Kit, all the way. Elmer went to school in Union. He met Dillie Bennett and they married Oct. 16, 1929. The couple was married for 78 years until her death on Oct. 7, 2007.

The Millers moved from Union in 1934 to Burns where Elmer worked for Edward Hines Lumber Company for 15 years. They moved back to La Grande in 1948 where he bought his ranch. He ran dairy cows for many years. He also raised hay for his cows (he called them his “Old Girls”) and grain and wheat. He loved his ranch and cows. Those who knew him said he was a kind and quiet man. He was known for the stories he would tell about the “old days.” He loved fishing, camping and traveling in his motor home. Phillip’s Lake was one of his favorite places.

Survivors include his daughter, Gerry Montgomery of La Grande; son, Larry Miller of Graham, Wash.; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was from a family of 11 children; four brothers and four sisters preceded him in death. His sisters, Myrna and Eva, survive him.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, 901 Penn Street in La Grande.