Williams, Alford, Peterson, Ledridge, Pace

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Feb. 19 – Dennis Williams, memorial service, 5 p.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center

Feb. 20 – Aleene Alford, funeral service, 2 p.m., Bollman Funeral Home, Enterprise

Feb. 23 – Marion Peterson, graveside service, 11 a.m., Daniels-Knopp

Dennis Ledridge, 63, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 12 at his home. No funeral service is planned.

He is survived by his wife, Janie, and sons, Steven of Seattle and Kevin of Vancouver.

Arthur “Melvin” Pace, 82, of Helix and formerly of Wallowa Lake, died Feb. 13 at his home. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin was born June 2, 1926, to Arthur M. Pace and Elsie (Lomatch) Pace in Enterprise. He attended Enterprise High School, where he was active in FFA, graduating in 1944. He attended college in Corvallis. He was inducted into the service, and later honorably discharged.

For several years, he lived and ranched north of Enterprise. Melvin married Myrn McKeirnan in 1947. They had four children together, later divorcing. He moved to Enterprise, continuing to raise cattle and grain. He was active in the Oregon Wheat Growers League, serving as president in 1965.

Melvin married JoAnn Burnette in 1966. The couple had one daughter, Janelle, in 1968. After living away from the county for several years they returned to live at Wallowa Lake, later moving to Helix to be closer to family.

Melvin enjoyed his family, hunting, fishing and working with horses.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, JoAnn of Helix; daughters, Janelle Hill and her husband, Jason, of Pendleton, Gloria Jeffery and her husband, Charles, of Tempe, Ariz., Barbara Twitchell and her husband, Wayne, of Portland, Yvonne Crapo and her husband, Dean, of Portland; son, Michael Pace of Portland; stepchildren, Lynette Harrington and her husband, Ron, of Monroe, Wash., Susan Davis and her husband, Wayne, of Enterprise and Tim Burnette and his wife, Danette, of Ione; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister, Laura Jean Locke of Enterprise.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.

Marion Albert Peterson, 90, of Union, died Feb. 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Union Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center in La Grande is in charge of arrangements.

Marion was born Oct. 15, 1918, to Fred W. and Agnes (Horn) Peterson in Union. He graduated from Union High School with the Class of 1936. During World War II he served with the U.S. Navy from 1942 until his honorable discharge in 1945. He served with the Pacific Fleet.

On July 27, 1946, he married Emmagean McCrae in Union. For 59 years they lived in the home that he built in Union.

Marion worked for the Union sawmill for 17 years and then as a logger. After retiring from logging he worked as a custodian for the Union Elementary School for 13 years until retiring at the age of 70. He loved spending time with his family, and each summer he grew a large garden.

Survivors include his wife, Emmagean Peterson of Union; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Ann and Dan Ceniga of Pendleton; son and daughter-in-law, Jay L. and Julie Peterson of Union; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; a nephew; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Fred Peterson Jr.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 2620 N. Commercial Ave., Portland 97227.

Dennis Ray Williams, 64, of La Grande, died Feb. 14 at his home. A memorial service will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in

La Grande. The family requests that attendees dress casually since Dennis was not a suit and tie guy.

Dennis was born April 6, 1944, to Curtis and Lula Mae (Hardman) Williams in Baker City. He was raised by his mother, Lula Mae Luster, and step-father, Gilbert Luster, and grandparents, Viola and Henry Hardman, of Baker City. He went to school in Baker and North Powder.

Dennis went to work at the Boise Cascade sawmill when he was 19 years old. He worked there until retirement in December 2008 after 44 1/2 years. He was a millwright for more than 12 years and later ran the re-saw until retirement. He married Barbara Wilhelm of Elgin in June 1975.

His family says Dennis really enjoyed retirement and the duties of becoming the “house woman.” His enjoyments were first, his family, and school sports. He mainly loved football and followed the local high school teams very closely with basketball and baseball following close. Dennis was looking forward to barbecuing some steaks on his new Brinkman barbecue he bought for his retirement gift. He loved food and was eager to try something new. He only liked two kinds of pies – hot and cold. Dennis loved fresh tomatoes and onions out of the garden.

Dennis enjoyed the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and loved to drive around in the spring and see the new baby animals. He was a farm boy at heart and loved to talk about growing up on a dairy.

Dennis is survived by his wife of almost 34 years, Barbara Williams of La Grande; sons, Derek Williams of La Grande and Steve and his wife, Paula Williams, of Kuna, Idaho; daughter, Debbie and her husband, Jeff Graham of Ohio; grandchildren; one great-granddaughter born in November 2008 and a great-grandson due in April 2009; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Peggy Frizzell of Summerville, Reggie and Cinda Childers of Kodiak, Alaska, and Alfred Wilhem Jr. of Prineville; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the North Powder area. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and father-in-law, Alfred Wilhelm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Cancer Society, 0330 SW Curry, Portland 97201 or for research and services for those with Lou Gehrig’s disease at The ALS Association, Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250, Calabasas, CA 91301.