Obituaries for the day of September 21, 2009

Fleming, Laurence, Shaffer, Steen, Sult, Slabaugh

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Sept. 22 — Ruth Fleming, service, 11 a.m., Bollman Funeral Home

Sept. 23 — Raema Laurence, funeral service, 11 a.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center

Sept. 26 — Betty Shaffer, memorial service, 2 p.m., IOOF Hall, Summerville

Ruth Fleming, 85, of Enterprise, died Sept. 19. A service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Cancer Fund.

Leona Steen, 89, of La Grande, died Sept. 18 at a local care center. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Cathy A. Sult, 57, of North Powder, died Sept. 18 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Raema Laurence, 85, of La Grande, died Sept. 12. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street. The La Grande Order of the Eastern Star will be represented at the service. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.

She was born Jan. 3, 1924.

Raema, a master watchmaker, co-owned Laurence’s Jewelry in La Grande and was in business for more than 50 years as co-owner and bookkeeper. She was also involved in every facet of the jewelry business right down to stringing her favorite — pearls.

She was Worthy Matron of Hope Chapter 13 Order of Eastern Star in La Grande. In 1981-’82 she became Worthy Grand Matron of Eastern Star for the state of Oregon and not only visited every chapter in the state, but represented Oregon in many other states as well.

Raema loved to fish, pick huckleberries and camp with her grandchildren and family. Her most favorite activity in recent years was visiting the family cabin in the woods with family, Eric and Devin. She was always there to give a helping hand to her family, grandchildren and friends.

Those who knew Raema say she set the standard for the word “lady.” They say she was strong, independent, wise and classy right down to refusing to give her “true” age. She was an avid knitter and crocheter and loved to spend time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by four grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter; sisters, Genevieve Anderson, Sararose Harris, Beverly Martin and their children; sister-in-law, Ethel Laurence and her children; daughter-in-law, Sharyn Nunn and her husband, Marvin; daughter-in-law, Donna Laurence; and several nieces, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Raema was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Laurence; sons, Jack and Eric Laurence; and brother, Sherman Davis.

Ruth (Bowman) Slabaugh, 100, of La Grande, died Sept. 15 at a local care center. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth was born April 27, 1909, to George and Miranda (Brubaker) Bowman in Nampa, Idaho. She was very active with her family and her brother and three sisters.

She was raised and educated in Onekama, Mich., and went on to nursing school in Chicago. She married Glenn Slabaugh Sept. 8, 1930, in Crown Pointe, Ind., and they had six children.

She moved to the La Grande area from Durand, Ill., in 1956. She enjoyed china painting and needlework.

She is survived by her children James and his wife, Karen Slabaugh, of Felton, Calif., Curtis and his wife, Betsy Slabaugh, of Ironwood, Mich., Paul and his wife, Sandy Lee Slabaugh, of Rockford, Ill., Richard and his wife, Jannan Slabaugh of Pullman, Wash., David and his wife, Dyvon, of Anacortes, Wash., and Stephen of

La Grande; sister, Edna Fore of Hot Springs, Ark.; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband and parents.