Remembering Loved Ones in La Grande, OR
Dale Loren Basso
Oct 24, 2025
Dale Basso, longtime resident and owner of Globe Furniture in La Grande, passed away at home at the age of 72. Dale was born in Aberdeen, Washington on June 29, 1953, to Henry and Jacquelyn Basso. He grew up in Hoquiam and was the middle child and only son.
Dale graduated with honors from Hoquiam High School in 1971. He was...
Charlotte Marie Girdner
Apr 20, 2026
Charlotte Marie was born on May 12, 1936 in Clarksdale, Arizona, one of five children, born to James Donshay and Violet Marie (Pray) Coon. She was raised and educated in Arizona, graduating from the Clarksdale High School class of 1954. Charlotte met Robert James "Bob" Girdner while he was serving in the U.S. Army in the Korean war. They corresponded...
Charlotte Marie Girdner
Apr 20, 2026
Charlotte Marie Girdner passed away Monday, April 20, 2026 at her home near Cove at the age of 89.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cove Cemetery.
A complete obituary will appear in this space when approved by the family.
Dean Laurene Arbogast
Apr 1, 2026
Dean Laurene was born on August 11, 1931 in Long Creek the daughter of Virgil and Regna (Johnson) Cohoe. She was raised on the family ranch near Long Creek and was educated in the Long Creek schools, graduating with the class of 1949. On September 2, 1949 she was married to Leonard "Tuff" Arbogast in John Day. They made their...
Bernie Dean Collier
Feb 24, 2026
Bernie Dean Collier was born on August 21, 1957 in Sheridan, Wyoming to John and Louise (Hewitt) Collier.
He was raised and educated in Union where he graduated with the high school class of 1975. On July 22, 1990 he was married to Constance Faris "Connie" Swogger in La Grande.
Bernie worked as a landfill attendant at Fox Hill Land Fill.
He enjoyed...
Laurel "Grace" Carpenter
Feb 20, 2026
Laurel Grace Carpenter was born on September 21, 1935 in Heppner, Oregon, one of five children born to Russell Kenneth and Hazel Hester (Akers) Miller.
Grace as she was most commonly known, was raised and educated in Boardman. After graduating from the Boardman High School with the class of 1953, she attended Eastern Oregon College (now University). While at Eastern...
Rodney Ralph Terry
Jan 31, 2026
Rodney Ralph Terry was born on May 16, 1950 at Elgin, the last of five children born to Clifford and Pauline (Stuart) Terry. He began grade school in Elgin before moving to Missoula, Montana where he finished his education, graduating with the class of 1968. He began his lifelong logging career in Montana before returning to Elgin where he continued...
Cora Belle Hays
Jan 29, 2026
Cora Belle was born on April 8, 1940 in Farwell, Michigan, one of 6 children born to Hugh Edward and Alice Irene (Rodabaugh) Craford. She was raised and educated in Farwell, Claire and Avoca, Michigan. She lived in various places including Dallas, Oregon where she worked in the Headstart school. After moving to Elgin in the early 1970's she began...
Jill Ann Miles
Jan 21, 2026
Jill Ann Miles passed away at home in La Grande, Oregon on January 21st. She was 65 years old.
Born on September 27th, 1960, Jill was the second of five children born to Gary Lee “Buck” Welberg and Susan Ann (Broich) Welberg. She spent her early childhood in Boise, Idaho and Central Point, Oregon, before her family settled in La Grande....
Jacquetta "Jacki" Le Zurbrick
Jan 20, 2026
Jacquetta Le King-Zurbrick was born June 21, 1939 in Ontario, Oregon to Blondeenne Velta Ivie-King and Leland Howard King.
Jacquetta graduated from Madras Union High School in1957. She was active in sports, Glee Club, FHA, band and was a majorette. Jacquetta had perfect attendance all four years of high school. She was also on the honor roll, a trick her...
Sandra Louise Christensen
Jan 20, 2026
Sandra Louise was born on November 9, 1958, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Herbert Ellsworth and Carolyn (Eccles) Schlosser. After graduating from high school in Orem, Utah, in 1977 she later attended Utah State University. She resided in Salt Lake City, Utah, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Orem, Utah, Logan, Utah, and cities in southern Utah including Hurricane and...
Lola Rhea (Babb) Bennett
Dec 23, 2025
Lola Rhea Bennett was born on May 29, 1955, one of six children born to James Franklyn and Evelyn Annie (Lambert) Babb in Blytheville, Arkansas. She was raised and educated in Blytheville and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
After completing her studies at Blytheville High School, she pursued and earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Lola loved her...
Larry Yeske
Dec 17, 2025
Larry Yeske was one of twin boys born to Henry Frank and Marguerite Agnes (Ellis) Yeske on May 7, 1939 in Pendleton. Larry was raised and educated in La Grande and Baker. After graduating with the Baker High School class of 1957, he entered the United States Navy where he proudly served for four years. After his honorable discharge he...
Sherryl Burke
Dec 8, 2025
Sherryl Burke was born on May 22, 1938, in Halfway, Oregon, to parents Teen and Dorthea (Lee) Reuter. She was raised in both Halfway and Adrian, Oregon, where she developed the strong work ethic and lively spirit that would define her life.
Sherryl married Arthur Warren, and together they welcomed seven children. She later married Malcom Burke, and they added two...
P. Richard "Rich" Cason
Nov 29, 2025
Paul Richard Cason, born on the same property as he lived in Elgin, on June 19, 1935 to Paul Richard and Wilma Alice (Hill) Cason. He was raised and educated in Elgin, graduating with the Elgin high school class of 1954. He then attended Western Oregon University in Monmouth where he received his teaching credentials. He attended Eastern Oregon University...
Leslie Michael "Mike" Kemp
Nov 29, 2025
Leslie Michael Kemp was born on September 23, 1936 in Brainerd, Minnesota, the youngest of four children. When he was five, he and his family moved to Minneapolis where little Micky started school.
In 1946, they moved to Great Falls, Montana, by train. In 1947, they moved to Vanport, Oregon. Vanport at the time was Oregon’s second largest city. It was...
Kenio Kehn
Nov 11, 2025
A funeral service for Kenio Kehn will be held Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Summerville Baptist Church in Summerville. Committal and interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande.
Kenio Kehn of La Grande passed away on November 11, 2025 at a hospital in Portland.
A complete obituary will appear in this space when approved by...
Robert Harold Bonney
Nov 11, 2025
Robert Harold Bonney was born on October 11, 1932 in Bend to Marion Earl and Signe Siegfryda (Briemo) Bonney. After high School he entered the U.S. Air Force but before he completed his basic training his father died and his mother needed him at home. He worked for several years as a Baker in a Portland bakery. Later he became...
John Richard Gray, Sr.
Nov 8, 2025
John Richard Gray, Sr. was born on November 30, 1925 in La Grande to John Elmer and Beulah Margaret (Francis) Gray. Because his father worked for the railroad, the family lived in several small towns throughout eastern Oregon, settling in Hilgard in 1932 when he was 7. While attending elementary school in Hilgard one-room-school, his sister Marjorie introduced him to...
Phyllis Jean Eckstein
Oct 24, 2025
Phyllis Jean Eckstein passed away Friday, October 24, 2025 at her home in Elgin at the age of 83.
A complete obituary will be published in this space when approved by her family.
