A memorial service for John Hirsch will be held at the Burns Elks Lodge on March 23 at 2 p.m. Hirsch died on Jan. 28.

All friends and family of Hirsch are welcome to join in the memorial and dinner that will follow.

A memorial dinner for Doris Defenbaugh will be held on March 27 at 11 a.m. at the Denio Community Hall in Denio, Nev.
Defenbaugh died on Nov. 16, 2009.

All friends and family are welcome to join in a time of sharing. Bring with you photos and memories. For more information, call Marge Defenbaugh at 541-495-2232.

Violet P. Hale, 89, died in Springfield on Feb. 14 after many years of diabetes.

She was born on Dec. 28, 1920, to Frank L. Walker and Dora B. (Phares) Walker in Oregon City. Hale grew up along Ennis Creek and the McKenzie River, attending Blue River schools. She rowed a wood boat to and from school because they met the school bus each day across the river.

She played basketball at Blue River High School, where they had a home-court advantage because the lamps in the gym were much dimmer than electric lights to which the opponents were accustomed.

Hale graduated from Warner Pacific College. She worked as a proof-reader for the Eugene Register-Guard. Her knowledge of biblical Greek was very useful in Bible studies she participated in.

She married Bill Hale on Aug. 7, 1946, in Roseburg. They moved to Burns in 1947. Hale was the choir director at Highland Assembly of God Church in Hines. She taught Sunday School for many years for nursery school age to adults. She was the Chair of the Harney County Republican Central Committee. Hale was also a member of a women’s group that made quilts for babies in the hospital, and other charitable purposes.

Hale is survived by her children, Ruth Williams, Earlene Durant, Grace Ness, Dave Hale, Linda Pifer, John Hale, Steve Hale, Joe Hale and Bob Hale; sisters, Faith Davie, Martha Smith, June Standafer, Ruth Buckle and Rachel Spencer; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Hale; brother, John P. Walker; and sisters, Louine Cox and Merry Davis.

A graveside service was held at the Burns Cemetery on Feb. 19, followed by a memorial service at Faith Baptist Church in Hines. Reverand Mike Fast officiated, Lois White played piano and Lora Fast sang “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” Pallbearers were Hale’s sons — Dave, John, Steve, Joe and Bob Hale — and her grandson, Ralph Williams. Honorary bearers were her many friends.

Contributions in Hale’s memory may be made to Compassion International, P.O. Box 65000, Colorado Springs, CO 80962-9951, or in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Harold Dorman Otley, 92, died on Feb. 15. 

He was born on May 19, 1917, in Burns to Henry and Mary Otley.

Otley ranched with his family in Harney County for his entire life. He had two brothers, Howard and Charley.  At the age of 11, he lived with his parents and brothers in Silvies Valley  during the construction of the Burns-Seneca line. His mother was the crew’s cook, cooking for a crew of 30 men in a tent and his father was the contractor.  The family ranched at Lawen until 1934, when they purchased a ranch in Drewsey; they lived and ranched there until 1944.  The Drewsey ranch was sold and the family purchased the ranch in Diamond.

Otley worked as a mechanic in Juntura for several years and then he moved back to the ranch in 1948 joining his father, uncle and brothers in running the ranch. Upon the death of his father in 1976, the three brothers continued to run the ranch together until 1984 when the ranch was divided between the three.

He met his wife, Mary when she came to Burns to teach at the high school.  They eloped and were married in Klamath Falls on Sept. 3, 1949.  They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last September.

Otley and his wife started to build their ranch, first building a house and all of the outbuildings. They worked with their son, Fred in developing the ranch.  They raised Hereford cattle until 1993 when they began raising crossbreed cattle.  Wanting to stay with “reds,” they chose to raise Red Angus cattle.  The Red Angus Association awarded them the “Commercial Producer of the Year Award” in 2007 and the Beef Improvement Federation awarded them the “Commercial Producer Roll of Excellence” in 2008.

Otley continued to be very involved in ranch operations until the day he died.  The day before he died, he was hanging gates with his son and on the day that he died, he made some adjustments to the feeder that his wife was using, before heading into Burns for his last trip to the store. It was at the grocery store where he suffered a heart attack and medical personnel could not revive him.

Otley was always inventing and re-engineering what he thought was bad design by high-paid engineers. If you asked him to do something it would get done, and it was usually all you asked for and then some. All who have been on the Otley ranch appreciate his “easy open, cable lever” that you will find on many of the barbed wire gates.  At the end of your visit, you probably got a copy of one of his poems that he enjoyed writing in his latter years.

Otley was known as “Papa Boot” to all his grandkids and great-grandkids.  He got his name because his first grandson, Henry, had two grandfathers and two great-grandfathers. Otley was named “Papa Boot” because of his cowboy boots.
Otley celebrated the birth of each of his grandkids.  All  spent time at the ranch working with Papa and Grandma. The grandkids have acquired his taste for graham crackers and half and half.

Otley served 24 years on the Harney County Budget Board, 35 years on the Harney Rural Electric Cooperative and served close to 40 years on various positions of the Harney County Fair. He was also the president of the Oregon Fairs Association, Harney County Fair Grand Marshal and was active on all issues affecting the cattle industry his entire life. He contributed time and money for many groups and efforts working to protect private property, personal freedom, water rights and other conservative causes. He was a long-term member of Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Water for Life.

Otley is survived by his wife, Mary;  brother, Charley; daughter Sherry Stott and husband Doug of Terrebonne; sons, Harry and  wife Mary from Corvallis and Fred and his wife Debbie from Diamond; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Howard.

LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of the memorial services held Feb. 18. Reverend Jackson Cramer and William Cramer, Jr. officiated.  Pallbearers were Glenn Harris, Johnny Sword, Zach Sword, Mike Fine, Jim Davis,  Bryan Dunn, Donnie Sitz and Rich Jenkins.  Honorary bearers were Fred Witzel, Bob Sitz, Ron Yee, Lindsay Slater, Tim Smith, Denny Jones, Bud Garland and Larry Dunn.  An original song was sung by Levi Harris.  Speakers were Dale White and Tim O’Crowley. The Relief Society provided  lunch, which allowed a time of fellowship.

Contributions in Otley’s memory may be made to Crane High School Athletics, Harney County Fair, Oregon Cattleman’s Stewardship fund or any other worthy cause of one’s choice in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Howard “Smokey” Wade Bennison died on Feb. 15.

He was born on Sept. 19, 1914, in Barry, Wash., to Albert W. Bennison and Anna Gertrude Cress. He spent his early years in Spokane, Wash.

Bennison came to Oregon in 1933 and went to work for Edward Hines Lumber Company in 1934. He held a number of different positions throughout his 45 years of working there. He retired from the company in 1979.

Bennison married Virgie Nance on Aug. 26, 1939, in Burns. They were married for 69 years.

He was a member of the Burns Elks Lodge #1680 for 49 years.

Bennison enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, camping, carpentry, bowling, sports and his family.

Bennison is survived by his son, Gary Bennison and wife Valerie; daughter, Nancy Ray and husband Garry; grandchildren, Ted Bennison and wife Beth, and Tonya Fox and husband Ron; great-grandchildren, Catherine and Jonathan Bennison; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Gertrude Bennison; wife, Virgie; brothers, Donald Bennison and Robert Bennison; and sisters, Ellen Barr and Dorothy Olmstead.

Graveside services were held on Feb. 23 in the Burns Cemetery.

Contributions in Bennison’s memory may be made to the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, or Harney County Home Health, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Allen Rede King died Feb. 13, 2010. He was 81.

He was born March 29, 1928, to George and Lenore King in White River, S.D., the second of seven children. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was a working cowboy all his life, on ranches in Western South Dakota and in Oregon. He was a member of the PRCA at age 13 and rodeoed until his early 30s. He married Phyllis Hughes on August 6, 1954. They moved to Oregon in 1978 where they have lived since.

Allen was beloved to his family and many friends who will miss him always. He was an authentic man and spoke his truth quietly and often with a dry wit. He was a man of integrity of whom a person once said, “When Allen King says ‘because it’s just not right’, you feel it is etched in stone.”

He was Dad to daughter Georgia King, of Pendleton, sons Ethan King and his wife Brandi of Redmond and Clayton King of Terrebonne. He was Grandad to Allen King and his wife Angie of Moorhead, MN., Alexa Vein and husband Marc of Fargo, N.D., and Garrett King, Quentin King, Braeden King, Lani King and Ashlee King, all of Redmond. Stories of him will be told to his great-grandchild Sawyer and Riley King, soon-to-be born Gus King and Alaina, Haydn and Nora Vein. He was Bub to brother Clayton King and his wife Connie of Burns, brother Dick and sisters Margee and Beverly. He was Uncle Bub to Monte Beckman of Pendleton, Matt King and his wife Lisa, Carla Davies and husband Matt all of Burns, Katie Carmon and husband Jason of Nevada including great nieces and nephews Chad, Tara, Cody, MacKenzie and Jason, and many other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Alvin and sister Lynn.

To all of them, he was a hero.

Paul Peter Hubert Joseph Reinkemeyer (Rink) died on Feb. 13.

He was born on March 9, 1915, in Linn, Mo., Osage County, to Anna Mertins and Henry F. Reinkemeyer. He had three brothers and five sisters.

Reinkemeyer attended Lone Star School for two years, and then went to St. George Catholic School in Linn. During the spring and fall months, he rode a horse to school and in the winter, he walked. He left home at the age of 14 and went to work haying.

In 1934, he obtained the rank of Sergeant while working for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and was sent to Ontario to work for the next four years. He worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for a time, and worked in construction as a cement finisher and carpenter for most of his life.

In 1938, Reinkemeyer married Oleta Pearson in Ontario. They had two children, Sharon and Paul (Denny). They later divorced.

In 1949, Reinkemeyer moved to Burns as a foreman of the Johnson Construction Company to build the Hines Grade School gymnasium.

On July 6, 1956, he married Imogene Mace Kidwell.

He was a carpenter for Leroy Jackson for a few years, and later went to work for J.W. Copeland Yards, where he drove transfer truck to Portland and other locations. Reinkemeyer was transferred to Banning, Calif., in 1958 to manage a Copeland Yard, and then later back to Copeland’s in Burns. He retired in 1982, but after a few months of retirement went to work for Edward Hines Lumber company in the warehouse. He retired again in May 1988, after working for 59 years.

Reinkemeyer loved to cook and he was known for his fried chicken. He was an avid fisherman, loved to hunt, liked a good party, loved gambling and liked to play pinochle. He had a beautiful yard that he enjoyed taking care of, and did his own yard work until he was 93. He loved to tease everyone and always had a story to tell.

Reinkemeyer is survived by his wife of 54 years, Imogene of Burns; daughter, Sharon Ray of Longview Wash.; son, Paul Reinkemeyer of Kalama, Wash.; step-son, Richard Kidwell of Burns; step-daughter, Lenora Gara of Florence; special son, Dean Gill of Burns; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, five sisters and a great-granddaughter.

Services were held on Feb. 18 in Burns. Burial was at the Burns Cemetery.

Patricia Louise Pitcher, 72, died on Feb. 10 in Reedsport.

She was born on June 1, 1937, in Palmer, Alaska, to Theron and Martha (Gregonioff) Smith.

She married Monty Pitcher on June 21, 1953, in Reno, Nev.

Pitcher worked as a lumber grader for the Edward Hines Lumber Company in Hines for many years. In 1981, she and her husband moved to Winchester Bay, where they owned and operated the Harbor View Motel for 19 years. She retired to her dream home close to Scottsburg, where she enjoyed watching the Umpqua River go by.

Pitcher’s hobbies included gardening, reading, animals and friends.

She is survived by her two sons, Juan of Scottsburg, and Marty of Elkton; daughters, LuJuana Rhen and husband Ron of Bend and Cindy Keith and husband Dennis of Winchester Bay; step-daughter, Cheryl Erickson of Springfield; and sisters, Shirley and Nancy of Alaska, and Sarah of California. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Pitcher was preceded in death by her husband, Monty.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Dunes Memorial Chapel in Reedsport is in charge of arrangements.

Shawn Michael Teninty, 56, died at his home in Hines on Feb. 8.

He was born on Aug. 1, 1953, in Boston, Mass., to parents Jerry and Barbara.

He graduated from high school in Beaverton and attended Lane Community College.

In his younger years he worked as a carpenter remodeling rental units, and as a lighting technician. After suffering from a disabling stroke in 1990, Teninty went to work for Goodwill Industries in Eugene.

Teninty moved to the Burns area in 2001. He enjoyed participating in the Special Olympics and spending time with his friends. He had a special place in the hearts of the Life Skills Group at Harney Behavioral Health.

Teninty is survived by his sister, Marilee Harrigan; brothers, Michael and Gene Teninty; brother-in-law, Larry; sister-in-laws, Sharon and Joyce; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry Teninty and Barbara Kelley.

Memorial services will be held on Feb. 18, at Faith Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Contributions in Teninty’s memory may be made to the Harney County Special Olympics, in care of Carol Sawyer, 283 S. Diamond Ave., Burns, OR 97720.

A funeral service will be held for Paul Reinkemeyer, 94, on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at LaFollette’s Chapel. Following the service a potluck will be held at the Burns Elks Lodge at 3 p.m.

Reinkemeyer died on Feb. 13 at Ashley Manor in Burns.

He is survived by his wife, Imogene Reinkemeyer of Burns; children, Sharon Ray of Longview, Wash., and Paul (Denny) Reinkemeyer of Kalama, Wash.; step-children, Richard Kidwell of Burns, Lenora Gara of Florence, and Dean Gill of Burns; sister, Wilma Reinkemeyer of Bridgeton, Mo.;  three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Contributions in Reinkemeyer’s memory may be made to the Harney County Senior Center.