Alice May (Nelson) Bishop, 95, of Bend died on Aug. 2 of natural causes.

She was born on Aug. 25, 1914, to Willard Ernest, Sr., and Stella M. (Larkin) Nelson, in Bend.

Her parents were homesteaders on the north side of the Bear Creek Buttes, northwest of Brothers. They left the homestead on July 4, 1916, for Eastern Washington by covered wagon. They returned to Bend in June 1919, and her father went to work for Brooks-Scanlon, Inc., as a stationary engineer,  where he ran the McGifford Loader for 25 years.

Bishop attended Bend public schools, beginning her first five grades in a schoolhouse in a boxcar in Brooks-Scanlon logging camps near Lava Butte.  She attended grades 6-8 at Carroll Acres School. She graduated from Bend High School on May 19, 1933.

She married Leo A. Bishop at her parent’s home in Carroll Acres on June 1, 1935.

Bishop joined the First Presbyterian Church of Bend on March 22, 1940, where she taught Sunday school for six years. She was an ordained elder, deacon and a camp counselor. She was also the treasurer of the church memorial fund for 18 years and the church historian for many years.

Bishop was active in 4-H as a member and later as a leader. She was also a den mother to Cub Scouts. Bishop was a member of the Thursday Book Club and read hundreds of books, mostly historical fiction and non-fiction.

She joined the Pine Forest Grange at age 14 and was still a member. She also belonged to the county, state and national granges.

Bishop was a member of the Deschutes Historical Society and the Deschutes Pioneer Association. She served as their Queen in 2005. She was a great-granddaughter of Oregon Pioneers of 1852, who came from Iowa via the Oregon Trail and the Barlow Road to Oregon City, arriving in September of that year.

Bishop and her husband were charter members of the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Foundation for scholarships. She also served on the election board for many years.

She worked for Glenn Ratcliff Insurance Agency, and for St. Charles Medical Center for a combined eight years. In her many other years she was a homemaker.

Bishop is survived by sons, Jerry Bishop of Springfield, Don Bishop of Midland, Texas, and Jim Bishop of Burns, along with their wives; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren; brother, Willard E. Nelson, Jr.; and three nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, one niece and one great-great grandson.
A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, at Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend,  beside the grave of her husband, Leo A. Bishop, to be followed by a public memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE 9th St., Bend, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bishop’s name may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Bend Foundation; COCC College Foundation for Scholarships; or Volunteers for Medicine, Clinic of the Cascades.
Niswonger Reynolds is in charge of arrangements.

Robirta L. Hopper, 81, died on Aug. 5.

She was born on Nov. 24, 1928, at the Folly Farm to Robert and Alva Robirts.

Her mom remarried Alvin Woodruff. Hopper lived with and was raised by Alvin, who she considered her dad.

Hopper grew up and attended school in Burns. She married Walter Smith and had one daughter, Tressa.

In the late 1940s, she moved to Prairie City, where she met and married Jim Mills and had daughter, Jamie.

Mills met with an untimely death, and Hopper returned to Harney County and lived in Drewsey.

She met and married Paul Hopper in 1953 and had daughter, Georgia. The family lived in locations throughout Harney County, until the mid-1950s, when they settled in Burns where she lived until her death.

Hopper was an exceptional seamstress who enjoyed sewing and re-upholstering furniture. She enjoyed and loved to spend time with her family and friends. Hopper never met a stranger — she would strike up a conversation and visit with anyone she met. Hopper will be remembered for her strong-willed personality. In her later years she preferred everyone to refer to her as “Granny.”

Hopper is survived by her daughters, Tressa Hart and husband Gary of Fernwood, Idaho, Jamie Kelley and husband Rick of Burns, and Georgia Hopper of Burns; granddaughters, Dee Ann Jay of Burns and Kim Hill and husband Jody of Burns; great-grandchildren, Amber, Kelley, Brenna and Zander Jay and Nicole Hill of Burns; sister-in-law, Rose Robirts of Burns; nephew, Lee Woodruff and wife Jennie of Burns and China; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; brothers, Jim Robirts and Earl Woodruff; and sister, Gladys.

Graveside services were held in Burns Cemetery on Aug. 10.

Contributions in Hopper’s memory may be made to Harney County Home Health/Hospice or Harney District EMS. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Leona Lea Guthridge died on Aug. 7 in Canby.

She was born in Kingman, Kan., on Oct. 12, 1916, to Rudolph and Anna Mark.

Guthridge moved to Hines with her family in 1945. She was employed as a secretary in the personnel office of Edward Hines Lumber Company shortly after arriving in Hines and worked in that capacity for approximately 35 years.

Guthridge enjoyed her job, her flower and vegetable gardens and quilting.  Many of her quilts have been featured at the Harney County Fair and the Harney County Quilt Shows.

After retiring from Edward Hines Lumber Company in 1980, she and her husband, Bill, moved to a small farm in rural Malheur County for 25 years before returning to Burns.

Guthridge was baptized in 1944 at the Church of Christ in Caldwell, Idaho.  She was an active member of the Burns Christian Church for all of the years she lived in Harney County and in the Ontario Christian Church while in Malheur County.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, William C. (Bill) Guthridge of Canby; son, Bill Guthridge and wife Selma of rural Burns;  daughter and son-in-law, Judy Keeney and husband Bob of Canby; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great- great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Burns Christian Church at a later date. Contributions in Guthridge’s memory may be made to the Burns Christian Church, 125 S. Buena Vista, Burns, OR 97720.

Crown Memorial of Tualatin is in charge of arrangements.

Marlene Joan Fraser died of cancer on July 30 at her ranch.

She was born on April 11, 1934.

Fraser was married to Charles E. Fraser for 40 years.

She was very passionate and loved her Angus cattle and the ranching way of life. She was the co-owner and operator of the Fraser Ranch in Burns, where they  run registered Angus and Red Angus cattle. Their operation has produced numerous Midland Bull test winners; national, state and county fair champions; and  high sellers and champions at the Red Bluff Bull Sale.

Fraser had shown cattle all over the country since the 1940s and had fond memories of the old California State Fair and the Cow Palace in the early days.

Fraser was a 4-H leader for 25 years. She truly enjoyed helping the youth.

Fraser is survived by daughters, Louann Fraser  of Burns and Leeann Coupé of Wheatland, Calif.; Chad Wright of Terrebonne; and  grandchildren, Chris Coupé of Wheatland, Calif., and Kim King of Loma Rica, Calif.

Contributions in Fraser’s memory may be made to the American Angus Association Junior Program in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

A celebration of life service for Curtis Robert (Felt) Faltstrom will be held on Aug. 12 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 393 W. “A” Street in Burns, at 1 p.m.

Faltstrom died on March 19. He was born in Burns on May 31, 1941, to Chester A. Felt and Helen Smith Felt.

Emory Hale Baird died on Aug. 1.

He was born on Aug. 13, 1918, in Beloit, Kan., to Jay Orah and Iva Baird, the second of eight children.
Baird loved hunting and fishing as a young man and worked on neighboring farms to help his family during the Depression years.

In 1939, Baird went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as an accountant/bookkeeper, and relocated to Harney County at what is now the Malheur Refuge. He often commented how “he almost got back on the train when it stopped in Crane and he looked around.”

It was in Crane where he met his lifelong sweetheart and companion, Ruby Oard. They were married on May 17, 1942. A short honeymoon followed before Baird joined the Army Air Corps. He trained as a B-17 pilot and bombardier and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1943.

Baird was stationed at Ridgewell Air Base England as a bombardier as part of the 8th Air Force, 535th Squadron, 381st Bomb group. He was wounded in action during a mission over Germany and was awarded the Purple Heart. He flew 32 missions over Germany before returning stateside as he wanted to see his daughter, Phyllis, who had been born while he was in England. In June 1945, Baird left the Army Air Corps as a 1st Lieutenant and accepted a position as purchasing agent at Bonneville Dam.

His wife missed the juniper and sage country and they moved back to Burns where Baird’s other three children — Dick, Jim and Beverly — were born.

Baird and his brother-in-law, J.O. (Jinks) Harris purchased Dillman Hardware, and started Harris Hardware. Baird and his wife purchased the Harris’ share in 1975 and renamed the business Baird’s Hardware.

On May 14, 1949, Baird applied for and received recognition for the Burns National Guard Unit. He served as the local Commander for 17 years before he accepted a promotion to Major. He retired from the Oregon National Guard in 1965.

In 1980, Baird retired and he and his wife spent many winters as “snowbirds” in Arizona.

Baird was a member and leader of many community organizations — American Legion, VFW, BPOE, Kiwanis, school board and Chamber of Commerce.

Baird is survived by his wife, Ruby; children, Phyllis, Dick, Jim and Beverly; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three brothers; and two sisters.

A celebration of Baird’s life will be held on Aug. 21. The time and place will be announced at a later date.

 Ida Elenora “Mac” Lange, 84, died on May 11.

She was born on Sept. 23, 1925, in Fryburg, N.D., to Frank Kenneth and Mable (Boicourt) McCullough.

Her family, sister Opal and brothers Raymond and Russell, moved to Bismarck in 1933, then in 1942, to Burns, where she met her future husband, Oscar Wood Lange. She graduated from Burns High School in 1943.

Lange attended the University of Oregon and Eastern Oregon (State) College while her husband served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1947, she graduated and began teaching art in Salem.

A year later, in 1948, she married Lange, who was working at the Burns Times-Herald. Within the same year, the Langes moved to Madras, and co-published the Madras Pioneer for 10 years. They established Oscar’s Sporting Goods and River Guide Service, beginning in 1959, and many remember their love of the outdoors and the big fish sign over the store on Fifth Street.

Lange began her 30-year career in the Madras and Metolius schools. While teaching art, math and English at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels, as well as third grade, she also served and loved her community. For 20 years she served as a board member for the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon,  which operates many facilities for disabled individuals.

Lange served the 509-J School Board and was a 36-year member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, as well as being active in Eastern Star, Elks and Lutheran Church. In 1976, she helped the town paint colorful bicentennial fire hydrants and recently worked on the Madras Centennial Committee, Community Read Program and Deer Ridge Correctional Institution Board.

Throughout her life, Lange was interested in genealogy and art. She worked in clay with a variety of fires, oils, acrylics, watercolor and most interestingly incorporated sand, charcoal and bits of nature.

Lange loved playing bridge, recently delighted in her Red Hat Society and was ever ready to support her church and the Jefferson County Museum.

She loved riding in a biplane and Model-T, family picnics, camping and traveling the back roads. In addition to being a wonderful mother and homemaker, her grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Lange sewed her daughter’s gowns and dresses and full-heartedly taught her grandchildren snippets of life, history and pinochle. Being active in her local study/book group for over 50 years helps explain why her home is filled with books, maps and articles.

She made hundreds of overflowing scrapbooks, not to mention memories and letters of the many students and friends she had over the years. Lange faithfully wrote hundreds of letters to keep in touch and would always stop and talk with a ready smile.

As a life-long learner, she was fascinated and interested in so many things throughout her life, and loved and found interest in everyone she met, whatever their path.

Lange is survived by her sister, Opal Hennings-Berry of Phoenix, Ariz.;  daughters Annette, of Tigard, Marjorie of Redmond and Phyllis of Madras; grandchildren, Brynn, Kenny, Brent and wife Jen; great-grandchildren, Ella and Cormac; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

A graveside service was held on May 21, at Mount Jefferson Memorial Park Cemetery in Madras, with Pastor Jan Kozak officiating.

Contributions in Lange’s memory may be made to the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon, P.O. Box 430, Redmond, OR 97756, or Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 789 (395 SE C St.), Madras, OR 97741.

A funeral service for Harriette Hasbrouck will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at The Gardens Funeral Home Chapel, 2949 Austin Highway in Fallon, Nev.

Donations in her memory may be made at the Bank of America in Fallon. Funds will be used to support her passion for higher education.

Judy Flathers, 97, died on July 2, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born on Nov. 2, 1912, in Klepp, Norway, to Carl and Bertha Severson Gunderson.

Flathers graduated from high school in Lewistown, and was a homemaker.

She married Robert Flathers on Jan. 18, 1948, in Lewistown, Mont. He died in 1985.

Flathers is survived by her daughter, Shirley Smith of Eugene; son, Bob Flathers of Burns; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services were held on July 8 at Lane Memorial Funeral Home. Contributions in Flather’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Rod Knieriem died on July 25 at Harney District Hospital.
He was born on Nov. 12, 1954, to Roy and Dolores Knieriem in Sellersville, Pa.
Knieriem enjoyed his work in the auto body business and made many friends through the business. He loved the outdoors, and he was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Knieriem is survived by his wife, Lorie Knieriem of Burns; son, Robert Knieriem of Edgewood, Wash.; brothers, Rick Knieriem and Randy Knieriem of Burns, and Ted Knieriem of Centervalley, Pa.; stepson, Garret Griffith; stepdaughter, Nichole Lantus; and granddaughter, Nicole Knieriem.

There will be no services held at his request. Contributions in his memory may be made to the family to help with costs, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488; Burns, OR 97720.  LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of arrangements.