Horace D. Henderson, 97

Horace D. Henderson, 97, of Grangeville, passed away Saturday, December 29, 2007, at the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center, of causes related to age.

Horace was born October 24, 1910 to Idaho County Pioneers Carl and Margaret Harriman Henderson at the Brust Ranch on Joseph Plains. His early years were spent at his father’s homestead at Fly Blow, as well as his uncle’s homesteads on High Range and Spring Camp, all on Joseph Plains. In his early years on Joseph, he broke horses for the Van Pool Brothers Ranch. He continued to break horses for a living for numerous people throughout the years.

Dad watched and learned from the old cowboys on the family ranches and it was there that he learned the cowboy craft of rawhide braiding, a skill that he would eventually become world renowned for. It has been said that Horace Henderson was to rawhide what Ray Holes was to saddle making. Articles about him and his rawhide work have been featured in publications such as the Western Horseman and the Quarter Horse Journal. In 1984, his work was selected by the Idaho Commission of the Arts to be displayed in a traveling exhibition that went to places around the world such as Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Algeria. He often would receive phone calls from people as far away as Australia wishing to purchase his rawhide tack. Even phone calls from Hollywood celebrities were not uncommon. When told that he didn’t charge enough for his rawhide ropes, hackamores or reins, he would just say “A cowboy out workin’ for wages can’t afford those kind of prices!”, and therefore, dad never got rich doing it. He continued to braid rawhide until the age of 94, when failing eyesight just wouldn’t permit it anymore.

When Horace was a small child, the family would spend the school months in White Bird so that his older sister could attend school there, returning to the cattle ranch in the summer. Later, the family sold the ranch and moved to Grangeville where he helped his father with his dray (freight hauled by horse or wagon) business.

He attended schools in Grangeville where he excelled in sports. He started as a freshman on the football and basketball teams and was the starting catcher on the high school baseball team as an eight grader.

His father later sold the dray business and moved the family to a small ranch on the South Fork of the Clearwater River, just below the old Washington Water Power dam and power plant. Dad worked at the power plant for a number of years and then in the late 1930’s seeking some new adventure, he rode the train from Grangeville to Seattle and boarded a steamship for Alaska. He spent two years working in Alaska on a fish trap. He returned about the time World War II broke out.

On May 16, 1942, he married Marjorie Lee of White Bird at Nezperce. The war was going strong then and because of his experience running the power plant on the South Fork, he took a job as a power plant operator at the Tungsten mine in Stibnite, Idaho. This mine supplied the allied forces with the majority of their Tungsten. He worked there until late 1944, moving his family then to Fenn where he worked for Hauger farms for a short time. In 1945, he purchased the family home in White Bird where his four children were raised.

He worked briefly for the “Sage of the Salmon” Bill Jackson at his small sawmill on the Herb Brown ranch on Skookumchuck flats. Later he worked for Everett Cox at his sawmill on the Clearwater. In the summer of 1948, he helped build the sawmill at White Bird, where he worked until the late 1950’s. He then took a job at a small mill located on the old Remington homestead near White Bird. In 1959, he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service at Slate Creek where he worked until his retirement in 1972. He and Marge separated in 1971.

In 1972 he married Marine Twogood, sold the family home in White Bird and moved to Grangeville. Marine passed away in 2004. In 2005 he moved into the Meadow Lark Assisted Living Home. In July 2007, he married his long time friend, Lillian Holes, and they resided together at the Meadow Lark until he was admitted to the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center in November 2007.

Dad was a life long lover of horses and the cowboy lifestyle. He said he didn’t remember the first time he rode a horse by himself, but he suspected it was before he could walk. He was an avid hunter, killing countless deer and elk in his lifetime, as well as a Bighorn Sheep at age 75 and an Alaskan Caribou at age 85. He served as the Grand Marshall for Border Days in 1988 at age 77. Spectators at the Rodeo still talk about how he “buzzed” the arena on his horse during his grand entry. In June 2007, he was chosen to serve as Grand Marshall of the White Bird Days celebration, but was unable to attend due to ill health.

Horace is survived by his wife, Lillian, of Grangeville; Richard Henderson of Anchorage, Alaska, Allen Henderson and wife Janet of Lewiston, Idaho, Marie Henderson Ingram of Clarkston, Washington, and Rita Henderson Mundt and husband David of Grangeville; nieces Barbara Brotnov of Clearwater, Pat Vessey of Stites, and Carly Key of Grangeville. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Cliff Caldwell of Portland, Oregon, Gina Henderson Heath of Fairbanks, Alaska, Shae Henderson Hollandsworth of Soldotna, Alaska, Guy Ellibee of Clarkston, and Brad Mundt of Grangeville; nine great grandchildren: Mia Heath, Brock Ellibee, Brandon Ellibee, Samuel Ellibee, Meagan Ellibee, Hunter Caldwell, Jordyn Nielson, Jeylin Neilson and Kierra Nielson.

Cremation will take place and at his request, no services will be held. A private family memorial will take place at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Robert D. Pendergraft, 75

Robert Donavan Pendergraft, 75, of Nezperce, died Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at his home.

Bob was born July 15th 1932 to Don C. & Nada Bethel Pendergraft. He graduated from Colton High school & San Bernardino College in California. He served in the U.S. Navy. He married Virginia Price on January 18, 1952 in San Bernardino, CA. He became a self-employed electrician in California. Later, he became an electrical engineer in Boise, Idaho & Anchorage, Alaska.

Bob was a master craftsman of gun stocks and was well known in the area for his work. Bob always could find a way to solve a problem. His most recent project and his pride and joy was his Bio-Diesel business, helping people make their own fuel.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Robert Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Virginia Penergraft, at their Nezperce home; daughters Patty Epeldi of Nezperce, Candace Starkweather of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Michael Pendergraft of Wasilla, Alaska; grandchildren, Holly Swopes & husband, Todd of Nampa, Idaho, Heather Epeldi of Nampa, Cassie Epeldi of Nampa, Jodie Hilliard of Boise, Tiffany Hilliard of Arizona, and Mikey Pendergraft of Wasilla, AK; great-grandchildren Kristen and Travis Swopes, and sisters, Joy Ellen Abernathy and husband, Jimmy of Florena, Alabama and Becky Carrell of Aurora, Missouri.

Funeral services will be on Friday, December 28, 2007, at 11:00 a.m., at the Kamiah LDS Church. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise.

Services are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Hugh A. McAfee, Sr., 76

Hugh Alan McAfee Sr., 76, of White Bird, Idaho, passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2007, due to a lingering illness.

Hugh was born March 4, 1931 in Graham, Texas to Richard W. and Norma Dee McAfee. The family moved to California in 1941.

He followed his brother Dick’s lead into Flat Track Motorcycle Racing at Belmont Stadium in Redwood City, CA. He quickly moved up the ranks to the Expert Class, earning National Racing Number 58 when he went to Daytona Beach in 1953 and placed second in the 200 mile event.

Hugh was a very talented person, having many different ventures and businesses. His last, and probably his favorite, was working for the Screen Actors Guild as a stunt coordinator and stunt man. He also worked in Special Effects with his nephew, Gary Jensen.

He loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting. One if his favorite places was Brownlee Reservoir fishing with his wife, family and friends for his beloved Catfish. Most of all, he loved the country and people of the Salmon River Canyon.

Hugh leaves behind his loving wife of 41 years, Roma; three children, Hugh McAfee Jr. of Cottonwood, Idaho, daughter Glenda Susan Crosland of Dundee, Oregon, and son Lyndon Daniel McAfee of Paradise, CA. He also leaves behind two step children, Roma Christyne Wood of Chico, CA, and step son Robert Barry Reno of White Bird, ID; foster son Robert Wheeler of Chico, CA, and a brother, Richard “Dick” McAfee of Dillon, Montana. Hugh also leaves behind many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Dixie.

Hugh will be greatly missed by his family and friends, all of whom made his life very rich.

Graveside services will take place on Friday, December 28, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the White Bird Cemetery in White Bird, Idaho. A memorial dinner will follow at Hoots Café immediately after the service.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville, Idaho.

Send condolences to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Edward L. Kubitza, 90

Edward Louis Kubitza, 90, of White Bird, died December 8, 2007 at home of natural causes.

Ed was born April 20, 1917, to Frank and Susan Wieshala-Kubitza at their homestead in Coburg, Montana. He grew up in Coburg where his father worked for the Great Northern Railroad. He attended school in Coburg through the eighth grade. He then attended High School in Glasgow, Montana, graduating in 1935. He returned to Coburg where he and his brother, Sam, took over the farm from his parents. They farmed over 1200 acres and made deals with the Indians across the Milk River Valley to make ends meet. He then began raising potatoes and alfalfa and was soon farming over 12000 acres, mostly alfalfa.

He married Mary Ellen McCracken on August 14, 1946, at Turner, Montana. They farmed and ranched in Savoy-Coburg area, east of Harlem, Montana. They left Montana and relocated to Grangeville, Idaho in 1969 where they owned and operated a Coast to Coast hardware store. They got their two youngest through High School, then sold the store and spent their time traveling the country in their motor home. They later retired and spent half of the year at their home in Nampa, Idaho and the other half in Mesa, Arizona.

Ed lost his wife Mary Ellen to cancer in January 1998. He remained in Nampa until 2002 when he married a 30 year acquaintance, Mardell Blankenship of White Bird. He moved to White Bird where he has resided with Mardell until his passing.

As a young man Ed experienced the hardships of the “Great Depression” which made him appreciate what he had and installed an untouchable work ethic. He was most resourceful, not believing in wastefulness, but always willing to help others. Ed had a very good reputation every where he went and made many friends throughout the years from the Indians of the Assiniboine Reservation to business partners and acquaintances made later in life. He was very kind, a true gentleman, loving and devoted husband, father, son, uncle, and friend. If he gave you his word and a handshake, it was gold. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Mardell of White Bird; four children, Jim of Lacey, WA, Rodd of Ketchikan, AK, Judy Turgeon of Surprise, AZ, Twila Kelly and Mark Routen, both of Nampa, ID; one nephew who was like a son, John of North Brighton, RI; three grandchildren, Dick and Nikki Kubitza of Redmond, OR, Shawn Kubitza of Ketchikan, AK, and Kelly Turgeon-Orbe of Clearlake, WA; three great-grandchildren, Dain Turgeon-Orbe, Nicholas Orbe, and Izabella Grace Kubitza.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Susan; four brothers, John, Robert, Thomas, and Samuel; two sisters, Mary and Dorothy, and his loving wife of 52 years, Mary Ellen.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., at Pleasant View Baptist Church in White Bird. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.