Charley Gortsema, 87

Charley Gortsema, 87, long-time farmer in the Grangeville area went to his great eternal reward on August 27, 2005. Charley was born March 10, 1918 in Rogerson, Idaho, to Kryn and Sadie Gortsema. Soon after, they moved to Grangeville where he grew up on the family farm and attended school through the 8th grade. Charley served in the U.S. Army from April 7, 1941 through December 11, 1945. He served in Germany and France during World War II as a mechanic and truck driver and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. While in the service at Fort Lawton, Washington, he met Johanna (Jo) VanOosbree who was working at the Seattle Port of Embarkation. They were married on March 1, 1946 in Sioux Center, Iowa, and made their home in Grangeville. To this union were born 4 children - Kenneth John, Stanley Ray, Marlene Joanne, and Vernon Charles.

Charley’s career was farming and ranching on the Camas Prairie. His passion was raising and breeding registered Quarter horses, which led to his long-term membership in the American Quarter Horse Association and his work with youth as a 4-H horse club leader. He also served for many years on the board of directors for Union Warehouse.

Charley was a life-long member of the Grangeville Christian Reformed Church where he served as deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. Charley’s strong faith in God was practiced in his everyday life and evident to all who knew him.

In recent years Charley enjoyed golfing, especially with his partner Wayne Allgood. Another of Charley’s hobbies was traveling the Camas Prairie and Joseph Plains area with his close friend Muggs Bentley. Charley was well loved for his quick wit and sense of humor, often sharing stories from his past.

Charley was a master welder and mechanic. He built or remodeled most of the equipment he used in his farming and ranching operation. After his retirement from farming he spent many hours working on projects in his shop.

Charley is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Jo Gortsema, sons Ken (Margie) of Grangeville and Stan (Karen) of American Falls, Idaho, and daughter Marlene (Dale) Hansen of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada. Grandchildren include Greg (Julie) Gortsema of New Castle, Colorado; Amy (Darrel) Allen of Fruita, Colorado; Mike Hansen and fiancée Krystal of Delburne, Alberta, Canada; and Matt (Kristen) Hansen of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, with another expected in September. Additional surviving family members include brothers; John E. (Dawn) of Lewiston, Idaho, and Andy (Dorothy) of Fairfield, Washington; sisters Ann Bos of Grangeville and Rosella (Frank) DeHaas of Greencreek; sisters-in-law Grace Gortsema of Sunnyside, Washington, Tena Gortsema of Spokane, Washington, Rosie Gortsema and Anna Marie Gortsema, both of Grangeville, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Charley was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Vernon, brothers Wilbur, Raymond, Neal and Jake, brother-in-law Ralph Bos and sister-in-law Lavonne Gortsema.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Burial will follow at the Prairie View Cemetery, Grangeville. Friends may call Monday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m at the Blackmer Funeral Home. Family suggests, those wishing to honor Charley’s memory may do so by contributing to,The Gideons International or Grangeville Senior Center. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com

Adele Holman , 84

GRANGEVILLE: Adele Holman, 84, of Grangeville passed away Monday, August 8, 2005 at the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Adele was born May 28, 1921 at Grangeville, Idaho a daughter of J.C. and Nancy Jacks Cravens. She attended school in Grangeville and graduated from Grangeville High School in 1939. She then attended Lewis Clark Normal School in Lewiston for 2 years and then graduated from the University of Idaho with a teaching degree. She taught school in Kooskia and Lapwai before marrying Raymond Holman on June 3, 1951 at Grangeville. They ranched and farmed northwest of Grangeville for many years. Mr. Holman passed away in 1997. Adele moved to the Meadowlark Home in Grangeville in 2003.

She enjoyed cooking especially for large groups which included the ranch crew and church activities. She also liked to spend time with her family watching their activities and sporting events.

She was a member of the Grangeville United Methodist and served as a lay leader to the annual conference, and was active in the United Methodist Woman’s group. She was also a member of the Charity Grange #294 where she held several local and state offices, and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Red Cross blood bank where she had over 1000 volunteer hours; she also helped with the American Cancer Society, served as a fair judge at area county fairs and was a 4-H leader.

She is survived by her children;, David Holman, Ron Holman, Nancy Thompson and Carol Warden all of Grangeville, her grandchildren; Chuck Thompson, Charlene Madden, Rebecca Warden, Joshua Warden, Thomas Holman, Matthew Holman, Molly Holman, Kathryn Holman and Pamela Holman, her great grandchildren; Philip, Shandra, Alyssa, Jacob and Jaxon, and her sister in law, Jean Cravens of Lewiston.

In addition to her husband, her parents, two brothers, Jesse Allen and Clayton and a grandson, Joey died earlier.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery, Grangeville. Friends may call Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Family suggests memorial contributions to the Grangeville Activities Fund or to the Grangeville United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com

Tena Rylaarsdam, 74

GRANGEVILLE: Tena Rylaarsdam, 74 of Grangeville passed away Saturday, August 6, 2005 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane from complications of Wegner’s Disease.

Tena was born August 14, 1930 at Oak Harbor, WA a daughter of Henry and Maria Boogaart Hordyk. She attended school in Oak Harbor before moving to Whidbey Island and working as a nanny for her cousin and working in a local restaurant. She married Marinus Rylaarsdam on January 6, 1955 at Lynden, WA. They moved to Grangeville and together they farmed and ranched north of Grangeville for many years. Mr. Rylaarsdam passed away March 10, 1995.

Tena enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting and spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter, Sydney.

She was a member of the Grangeville Christian Reformed Church.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Bob and Ruby Rylaarsdam of Grangeville and her daughter and son in law, Marilyn and Bruce Schoo also of Grangeville and her granddaughter, Sydney Schoo of Grangeville. She is also survived by a brother Henry Hordyk of Tacoma, WA, her sisters, Elizabeth Haldemann of Chinook, Mt, Johanna Roosma of Bellingham, WA and Metdy Shutt of Lynden, WA and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband a sister, Cornelia died earlier.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 13, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, Grangeville. Pastor Jude Reardon of the Grangeville Christian Reformed Church will officiate. A time of food and fellowship will follow the services at the Grangeville Christian Reformed Church. Family suggests memorial contributions to the Grangeville Christian Reformed Church. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com

Ivan Lawrence Ruark, 82

Ivan L. Ruark passed away at his home in Lewiston Monday, August 1, 2005 after battling cancer. Ivan was born July 8, 1923 in Clearwater, Idaho, to Corwin (Stub) and Grace Murphy Ruark.

On November 2, 1942, Ivan married Mildred M. Martin in Grangeville, Idaho. Ivan enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, and was stationed in Italy serving as a “Seabee” (CB). After returning home in 1945, Ivan and Mildred moved to Golden, Idaho where Ivan worked for the State Highway Department. In 1954 they moved to Grangeville where Ivan worked as a foreman for Inland Lumber Company. From 1962-1972, Ivan was employed by the U.S. Forest Service at the Red River Ranger Station. In 1972 Ivan purchased the Lodge Pole Pine Inn in Dixie, Idaho. Ivan and Mildred owned and operated the Inn for eight years, entertaining many guests. Ivan and Mildred retired in 1980 and returned to Grangeville, during their retirement they enjoyed spending their winters traveling together to Arizona.

Ivan is survived by his wife of 62 years, one son and his wife, Alan and Gail Ruark of Quartzsite, Arizona. Three granddaughters and their husbands, Chris and David Zwerneman of Lewiston, Idaho, Cheryl and Steve Culton of Buckley, Washington, and LeeAnne and Wayne Nida of Ferdinand, Idaho, plus three great grandchildren.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, one brother and three sisters.

A graveside service was held Tuesday at Prairie View Cemetery in Grangeville under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Family Hospice in Lewiston. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com