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Dana M. Nordin, 56 |
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Dana Mark Nordin, 56, of Mount Idaho, passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2008, at his home in Mt Idaho. He was born in Alexandria, Minnesota to Orrin & Mary Nordin on September 7, 1952. Shortly afterwards, they moved to Garden Grove, California.
Dana attended Crosby Elementary, Walton Jr. High, and Garden Grove High School. It was during those early years that Dana acquired friendships that would last a lifetime. Among them was the infamous Gamma Street gang, with Dana and Brian Biller being the ring leaders. It was the summer of 1960 that their bond was sealed forever as “Blood Brothers”.
Dana never met a person he didn't like. He was a friend to all, clinging to those very special friendships of his youth with frequent phone calls, “just checking up on you”, he'd say. He had a heart of gold and wanted for nothing but your friendship. He was a simple man yet had the depth of a philosopher. Dana was a real “thinker”. He loved to pen his thoughts and poems and share them with others. His most famous saying was “Kick back and coast awhile”. He was always sharing his ideas of inventions or inspirations. He never had a harsh word or criticism for anyone. He had a quiet easy going personality. He grew up in the 60's and stayed there, although his life was quite diverse.
He was the only one of the Gamma Street gang to be drafted into the Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. After serving his country he followed in his father's footsteps as a carpenter. He spent many years in the construction business in California, honing his skills in concrete breaking and sawing. He was very proud of his work. Dana also took after his mom as a collector of collections. He was as he called himself “the King of D-Mart”. His most prized collections were his Hot Wheels.
His early years camping and jeeping with his family would lead to an intense love for off road racing. Again, following in his father's footsteps, he raced in the Mexican 1000 and the Baja 500. The highlight of his racing career was when he raced his quad in Australia. His dream was to ride his quad from one end of the United States to the other. He gave up that dream to move to Idaho in 1998 to help his father in his construction business when his father's health was failing.
Aside from construction Dana also had another very special gift in caring for those less fortunate. He was often called “The Rescuer”. He not only rescued people in need, along the way he rescued any and every animal that came to his doorstep. He spent many years in wildlife rehabilitation caring for every kind of animal you can imagine. He especially loved birds and cats. However, his calling was for disabled animals and people alike. Dana was a huge blessing to his family these past 10 years in caring for Steve, his brother-in-law, in his home. He was heartbroken when just 3 weeks ago, Steve passed away suddenly.
He is survived by his 4 siblings, Jill Kline of Anaheim, California, Lynn (Jim) Welborn of Grangeville, Idaho, Beth (Bo) Wendel of Farmington, Utah, and Reid (Jill) Nordin of Lake Elsinore, California; 11 nieces and nephews, and 4 grandnieces and nephews. Dana's passing leaves another huge whole in our family and he will be missed tremendously. We love you big brother.
Dana was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; his brother-in-laws, Steve Clark and Jan Kline.
A memorial service was held in Grangeville at the Christian Church on January 5, 2009.
According to his wishes, his ashes will be spread near his father's memorial in the Anza-Borrego Desert near Salton Sea, where the family spent many years jeeping.
“I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize.” Phillippians 3:14.
Arrangements were under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com. |
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Thelma "LaVon" Gotzinger, 95 |
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Thelma "LaVon" Gotzinger, 95, passed away at the Grangeville Health & Rehab Center February 9th, 2008, of causes related to age.
LaVon was born November 16, 1912 in Orofino, Idaho to Angus & Ethel Howard Kennedy, the second of four children. Shortly after birth, the family moved to the Doumeqc Plains where she started school, later graduating from Whitebird High School.
The family moved to the Fiddle Creek Ranch on the Salmon River.
LaVon loved to dance. At one of the many dances held along the Salmon River, she met Firmin Gotzinger. They were married in Grangeville on June 9th, 1931. His family owned and operated the Cross-O Ranch at Pollock. Lavon and Firmin settled into their first home on Rattlesnake Creek on the ranch, raising cattle and hay with the Gotzinger family. They moved to Lewiston in 1946. While there, Firmin was a partner with Brad Carrey in the Twin City Sales Yard.
The Salmon River came calling, and in 1947 the Gotzingers returned to Riggins where LaVon worked for the post office and Firmin worked for Salmon River Lumber Company and the Forest Service. In 1952 they took over operations of the Cross-O where they raised their children. Today, the Cross-O is recognized as one of the oldest family operated ranches in the state as well as being an Idaho Century Ranch. Firmin passed away in 1992. The ranch is now operated by grandsons Dave and Aaron Wilson and great grandson, Cody Wilson.
After Firmin passed, LaVon remained on the ranch until her path once again crossed that of her grade school sweetheart, Muggs Bentley. She had most recently been living in Grangeville, spending her time with Muggs.
In 2006, Lavon served as Grand Marshall for the Riggins Rodeo parade, an honor she was very proud of.
LaVon had an impact on the lives of many. She was the surrogate mother and ‘Gram’ to many of the cowboys and hay crew that passed through the Cross-O Ranch while she was there. These people can all tell stories of the positive influence she has had on their lives. She will be greatly missed by many. Gram can now truly go ‘over the top’!
Lavon is survived by her daughter, LaRea Bernard and husband Ron of Yuma, Arizona, and son, Ronald of Lapwai, Idaho; grandchildren David Wilson of Pollock, Ronaine Kinard and husband Chuck of Pierce, Aaron Wilson and wife Sherry of Rapid River, Terri Smith and husband Dan of Pierce, Susan Coimbra and husband Don of Lapwai, William Gotzinger and wife Tamara of Fairview, Oregon; 12 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; her brother, Roy Kennedy of Clarkston, Washington; as well as numerous nieces and nephews that held her dear.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Firmin; her companion Muggs Bentley; a brother, A.V. ‘Bill’ Kennedy; a sister, Maxine Ward; son-in-law Daniel Wilson, and a great grandson.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 16th, at 1:00 p.m. MST, at the Salmon River Community Church in Riggins. Burial will follow at the Riggins Cemetery. Visitation will precede the services at church, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MST.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
Send condolences to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com. |
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Margaret C. Evans, 99 |
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Margaret May Clements Evans, 99, of Grangeville and formerly of Riggins, died Sunday, February 10, 2008, at Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville.
She was born December 19, 1908, in Riverside, Carbon County, Wyoming. She was the second of eight children born to Willa Mae Cox and James Wellington Clements. She went to school in Encampment, Wyoming, finishing the 10th grade (the highest grade available) at age 14. At this age, her mother became ill, so she helped on the ranch, took care of her younger siblings, and went to work for a photographer who taught her to type. Her mother passed away when Margaret was 17.
As a young woman, Margaret took a job with the Internal Revenue Service in Cheyenne, Wyoming to help support her younger brothers and sisters who were in a boarding school.
She married George Hall Evans on March 29, 1931, in Laramie, Wyoming. They moved wherever there was a job available. While in Missouri, their only child, Mary, was born.
Margaret spent two summers on fire lookout towers in Wyoming; ran a hotel/boarding house and drove the school bus in Zuni, New Mexico, and also owned and managed a small grocery store in Denver, Colorado.
After moving to Idaho in the 1940’s, Margaret was a homemaker and didn’t work outside of the home until 1950. She then worked as a medical assistant until retiring. In 1969, she and her husband moved to Riggins, Idaho, where she then worked for the Forest Service at Riggins and Slate Creek.
Margaret was an avid reader, gardener, and baker. She was a fantastic cook and preserved all the family’s fruits and vegetables.
She is survived by daughter, Mary and son-in-law Bill Carter; granddaughter Cindy and her husband, John Sangster; grandson Jim Vaughn and his wife, Vonnie; grandson Dan Vaughn and his wife, Paula; six great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and her brother-in-law, Gene Arrant.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, George; sisters Sophia Swanson, Isabel Ross, and Mae Arrant; and her brothers Charles, James, George, and Eugene.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 15, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. PST, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Grangeville. Graveside services will follow at the Riggins Cemetery, at 3:00 p.m. MST.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Margaret’s name to the Shriners Hospital, c/o Calam Temple, 855 Main Street, Lewiston, Idaho 83501, or to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 311 S. Hall Street, Grangeville, Idaho 83530.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
Send condolences to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com. |
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Merland "Muggs" Bentley, 96 |
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 Merland "Muggs" Bentley, 96, of Grangeville, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Muggs was born Aug. 12, 1911, at Gill Point near Grangeville, a son of Ernest and Eunice Palmer Bentley. He attended Grangeville-area schools and following his education he worked as a packer for the U.S. Forest Service. He started a longtime hobby of rodeo in 1928 and was active until 1964.
He married Jettie Lyda on Nov. 8, 1933, in Asotin, and she passed away in 1974. He married Doris Inghram in 1976 and she passed away in 1993.
He was a member of the Mount Idaho Lodge No. 9 AF&AM, Scottish Rite, Calam Temple, the Elks Lodge and Eagles.
He is survived by his daughter, Yvonne Wright and her husband, Jim, of Roseburg, Ore.; grandchildren Sonja Wright and husband Joe Criscione of Napa, Calif., and Lottie and husband Michael Hamrick of Roseburg; and a great-grandson, Alex Hamrick of Roseburg. He is also survived by a sister, Chloe McCulley of Grangeville; a stepson and wife, Roger and Janice Inghram of Grangeville; and his loving companion, LaVonne Gotzinger of Grangeville.
Memorial services will be conducted later this spring. Services are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
Send condolences to the family at http://www.blackmerfuneralhome.com/. |
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Bernadine "Bunny" Shephard, 87 |
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Bernadine "Bunny" Clara Mager Shepherd, 87, of Grangeville, passed away Sunday, February 3, 2008, at the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born Aug. 1, 1920, in Keuterville, a daughter of John and Bertha Bensching Mager. She married Foy A. Shepherd on Sept. 5, 1943, in Colorado Springs, Colo. They lived in Spokane, Cottonwood, Craigmont and North Carolina before moving to Grangeville. She worked as a nurse's aide at Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville. Mr. Shepherd passed away in 1983.
She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and enjoyed music and her family.
She is survived by her children, Dennis Shepherd of Grangeville, Sharon Latimer of Post Falls, Idaho, and Jane Stephens of Lewiston. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two brothers, Paul Mager of Grangeville and Johnny Mager of Cottonwood.
In addition to her husband, two brothers, Eugene and Francie, and two sisters, Louise Ackerman and Marjorie Shears, died earlier.
A rosary will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, February 11, 2008, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow the services at Prairie View Cemetery in Grangeville.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 10, at the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
Send condolences to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com. |
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