Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
April 25, 1972 - Jan. 21, 2010
"Mel" Melvin Lemond Abbott Jr., 37, of Bellingham, Wash., died Jan. 21 at the home of his sister in Dallas.
He was born at Woodland Park Hospital in Portland to Melvin Lemond and Barbara Mae Gerard Abbott.
Mel grew up in Eagle Creek and graduated from Estacada High School.
He worked for Boeing Co. as an aircraft test technician in Everett, Wash.
He was very artistic and loved his work with Boeing. He enjoyed creative writing and airplanes.
Survivors include his children, Emily Abbott, Eli Abbott and special daughter of the heart, Elizibeth Humphrey, all of Estacada; mother, Barbara Abbott of Bellingham; and sisters, Irene Boswell of Dallas and Jacqueline Strickland of Clackamas.
Memorial service is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Eagle Creek Grange, 24491 SE Eagle Creek Road, Eagle Creek, with a potluck to follow.
Contributions are suggested to the Cancer Care Center, 307 S. 13th St., Suite 100, Mount Vernon, WA 98274.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrangements. To leave an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com. You may also go to his Facebook account to view pictures and memories.
Aug. 15, 1916 - Jan. 23, 2010
Nellie Elaine Tipton, 93, of Dallas, formerly of Vernonia, died Jan. 23 in Dallas.
She was born in Texhoma, Okla., to John W. Shelden and Julia Ann (Davis) Shelden.
She was raised and received her education in Seymour, Mo.
Nellie married her childhood sweetheart, Thomas Ervin Good, on Nov. 10, 1935, in Seymour. They had one daughter, Marylyn, and then divorced in 1943. She and her daughter moved to Payette, Idaho, to be with her parents. It was there that she met Ed Tipton.
She married Reuben Edward "Ed" Tipton on July 19, 1944, in Payette. Following their marriage they moved to Vernonia, where she made her home for 54 years. Ed died on Dec. 11, 1982, in Hillsboro.
Nellie moved to Dallas in 1998 to be near her daughter and son-in-law.
She had worked as a clerk for Safeway Stores, Bob Curl, Deans Market and the Variety Store until 1968, when she retired.
She became an active member of the Vernonia Senior Center and eventually became the bookkeeper for the nutrition program, a position she held for many years. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading, her grandchildren and the neighborhood kids.
Nellie was also preceded in death by two sisters, two brothers, a stepson, a stepdaughter, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.
Survivors include her daughter, Marylyn (Dick) May of Dallas; daughter-in-law, Billie Tipton of Dallas; stepdaughter, Lorella Vice of North Plains; sister, Gladys Anarde of Renton, Wash.; brother, John Shelden of Gray Court, S.C.; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Celebration of life was Jan. 30 at Vernonia Community Church. Interment was in Vernonia Memorial Cemetery.
Contributions are suggested to the Vernonia Senior Center, 446 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064; or Vernonia Cares, P.O. Box 126, Vernonia, OR 97064.
To send an online condolence: www.fuitenrosehoyt.com.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home, Vernonia, handled arrangements.
March 23, 1934 - Jan. 26, 2010
Billy "Bill" Tildon Brown, 75, of Independence died Jan. 26 in Salem.
He was born to William and Pansy Keller Brown.
Bill served in the Army from 1952 to 1954.
Bill owned and operated Tildon's Barber Shop on Main Street in Independence for 19 years.
Survivors include his wife, Gerry of Independence; son, Robin; daughter, Kathleen; and three grandchildren.
Memorial service is pending.
Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.
To send an online condolence: www.farnstroms.com.
May 7, 1930 - Jan. 25, 2010
Donald Clyde Kohl, 79, of Salem died Jan. 25.
He was born in Detroit, Mich., to Ray and Mildred Brown Kohl.
Don grew up in Detroit and graduated from Northwestern High School. He was in the ROTC from 1946 to 1948. Don graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor of science in education in 1953, and in 1961 he received his master of education degree.
Don worked at the Detroit Zoo from 1946 to 1957 performing various duties, including being the conductor on the zoo train. He moved to Oregon and graduated with a master of arts in teaching from Oregon College of Education in 1968.
Don taught sixth grade in Redford Township for two years and at Livonia (Mich.) Elementary for six years. He accepted a position in Oregon with the Teaching Research Division of the Oregon System of Higher Education. He then worked for Salem-Keizer Public School District. He retired in 1997 from Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.
Don enlisted in the Oregon State Defense Force in 1985 as a bagpiper in the pipe band and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant in 1990. He re-enlisted in 1995 and was a lifetime member of the Oregon National Guard Association and State Guard Association of the United States, Sunset Chapter. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and had been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1965.
Don enjoyed vegetable gardening, politics, and his Scottish Heritage-Clan Lamont. He was also a member of NW St. Andrews Society.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Kohl.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Kohl of Salem; daughter, Kathryn Ann Kohl of Prescott, Ariz.; and son, Scott (Melynda) Duncan Kohl of Salem.
Celebration of Don's life was Jan. 30 at Salem First Presbyterian Church.
Contributions are suggested to the Union Gospel Mission.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrangements. To send an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com.
July 14, 1930 - Jan. 22, 2010
Geraldine Miller, 79, of Dallas died Jan. 22.
At her request no public service will be held.
Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.
May 22, 1921 - Jan. 27, 2010
Frances D. Horton, 88, of Monmouth died Jan. 27 in Monmouth.
She was born in Ashland to CV and Monica Burns Loosley.
Frances was raised in Klamath County, a member of a pioneer family, and graduated from Oregon State University.
On June 16, 1943, she married Alan G. Horton and in 1951 they moved to Airlie, where they ranched until 1985.
She went into the Peace Corps and served in Belize and lived in Tigard from 1988 to 1998 before returning to Polk County in 1998.
Frances was a member of St. Philip Catholic Church in Dallas and Daughters of the American Revolution, Chemeketa Chapter, in Salem.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Carol Kreutzer.
Survivors include her husband, Alan G. Horton of Monmouth; son, Chris (Joan) Horton of Monmouth; daughter, Paula Horton of Clackamas; and four grandchildren.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary and memorial mass was Feb. 2 at St. Philip Catholic Church.
Contributions are suggested to Marion-Polk Food Share, 1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE, Salem, OR 97301, www.marionpolkfoodshare.org/.
Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements. To send an online condolence: www.farnstroms.com.
March 5, 1914 - Jan. 27, 2010
Arnold Dalke, 95, of Dallas died Jan. 27.
He was born in Enid, Okla., to Henry and Anna Mathies Dalke.
He graduated from Aberdeen High School in Idaho.
Arnold married Martha Wiens on Nov. 18, 1938, in the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Dallas.
Arnold was an aircraft mechanic at Fairchild Air Force Base for a time. The couple later settled in Dallas in the 1940s. He worked for a propane gas company in Salem.
In the early 1950s Arnold founded Home Comfort in Dallas, a heating-sheet metal and now a HVAC company. Arnold's business philosophy was "it's all about service."
He made many friends in the community and always went above and beyond in helping others. Arnold was a founding member in 1968 of the Polk County Sheriffs Posse in Dallas. He had been very active with the posse.
He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Arnold loved horses. His favorite horse was Clyde, which he got in 1966 and rode for 30 years. He even rode Clyde in the Rose Parade. In the early days Arnold took guided hunting trips to Eastern Oregon.
Arnold attended Dallas Alliance Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, on Aug. 1, 1997.
Survivors include his children, Evelyn Kelley of Albuquerque, N.M., Jim Dalke of Seattle and Jerry Dalke of Wilsonville; brothers, Orlando and Eldon Dalke; sisters, Linda Claassen, Ruth Eden and Pauline Reis; five grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Service was Jan. 31 at Dallas Alliance Church. Graveside service was Feb. 1 at Restlawn Cemetery.
Contributions are suggested to Willamette Valley Hospice or Dallas Alliance Mission Fund in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, which handled arrangements.
To send an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com.
June 20, 1928 - Jan. 27, 2010
Delpha Frazier, 81, of Dallas died Jan. 27 in Dallas.
She was born in Carlton to Luther and Retta Petty Gray.
Delpha grew up in Oakridge in Yamhill County and attended Yamhill High School.
She married Andy Frazier on April 25, 1944, in McMinnville. They honeymooned at Murphy's Camp in the Tillamook Burn where Andy worked as a faller and bucker. She split wood for entertainment. They moved to Valsetz in 1949 and lived at Sunshine Camp before settling in Dallas in 1953.
Delpha worked in Dallas at various local restaurants as a cook and waitress. Delpha worked at Castle and Cook and later Dole Fruit Packing Co. in Salem. She was supervisor of the sanitation department, keeping the cannery clean and driving a forklift. She worked year-around and was the only woman working with 65 men.
Delpha and Andy enjoyed traveling around the Northwest in their motor home. They especially enjoyed the Oregon Coast. Delpha also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Andy Frazier, on Sept. 19, 1993, and a great-great-granddaughter, Mariah.
Survivors include her children, Linda Nelson and Butch and Dennis Frazier, all of Dallas; nephew, Ricky Bloomer; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Service was Feb. 2 at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center.
Contributions are suggested to Juvenile Diabetes Association or Shriners Hospital in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center.
To send an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com.
Jan. 26, 1925 - Jan. 6, 2010
Marjorie May Bales, 84, of Spanaway, Wash., died Jan. 6 in Puyallup, Wash., of complications from hip surgery and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
She was born in Salem to Herman and Anna Russell Brown.
She and her husband, Ralph, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on Dec. 31, 2009.
After retirement they relocated from Sacramento, Calif., and bought a home in Keizer to be close to their families. In 2007 they moved to Spanaway, Wash., and resided with their daughter and son-in-law.
Margie was an avid reader, talented at crocheting, enjoyed arts and crafts of all kinds, the beach, family gatherings, and RV traveling. She had a wonderful sense of humor.
She belonged to the Better Breathers group of Salem. During World War II Margie worked in the Portland shipyards.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Smith; brothers, Bob Brown, Roger and Jim Workman; sisters, Fran Chapman, Anna Young and Berta Martin; and a grandson, Kenny Titus.
Survivors include her husband, Ralph; daughter, Mary (Paul) Venditti Jr.; granddaughters, Debi (Ron) Ramer and Alyssa (Ernie) Beadle; grandsons, Paul (Tina) Venditti III and Jason (Elizabeth) Venditti; sister, Sandy (Mike) Woodward; brother, Richard (Beverly); 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
At her request no service will be held at this time.