Walter R. Olp

La Grande 1927-2019

Walter Ralph Olp, 91, of La Grande, died June 6 at his residence. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. June 21 at the La Grande Church of Christ.

Walter was born June 22, 1927, in Baker City, to William and Ruth (Worley) Olp. He was raised in Baker City and moved to La Grande in 1961. He married Louise Paschal.

Walter was employed at Boise Cascade until retirement. He enjoyed fishing, building and flying model airplanes, league bowling, painting, wood working and spending time with family. He also enjoyed watching football and basketball, particularly the Oregon Ducks.

Surviving relatives include his children and their spouses, M. Elaine Olp of La Grande, Donna and Mike Shields of La Grande, Carolyn Pierce of Imbler, Theresa and Scott Arnson of La Grande, and Lisa Olp-Kiser of La Grande; and 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruth, three brothers and three sisters.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.

Bonnie Sparks

Elgin

Bonnie Sparks, 52, of Elgin, died June 12 at her residence. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Myrna D. (Collings) Potts

La Grande 1934-2019

Myrna Dell Potts, 85, of La Grande and formerly of Baker City, died May 22 at her home. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 21 at Hillcrest Cemetery, followed by a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. at the Riverside Park Pavilion. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Myrna was born Feb. 25, 1934, to Denzel and Annie Violet (Hicks) Collings in Helena, Montana. Myrna’s mother died when she was a baby, and she was raised by her father and grandmother in Montana, Idaho and Oregon, finally settling in Granite. She moved to Baker City when she was a teenager, where she finished high school.

On March 3, 1952, Myrna married Henry “Hank” Earl Potts in Baker City. They lived at and ran the Fremont Power Plant until 1963 when they moved to Baker City. In 1964, they moved to La Grande in 1964. Myrna and Hank had been married for 60 years at the time of his passing in 2012.

Myrna was a Girl Scout leader for many years and always had a story to tell about those times. She was a member of the Methodist Church and the Rusty Wheels Car Club. Myrna enjoyed working in her flower garden, camping and spending time with her family.

Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses, Jeri and Keith VanVickle of Cove, Leo and Suzanne Potts of Seattle and Earlene Gillette of Seattle; sisters, Vonda Braun of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Joann Barnes of Helena, Montana; and five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1650 NW Naito Parkway, Portland 97209; the GRH Hospice, PO Box 3290, La Grande 97850; or the Girl Scouts of America.

Jay B. Freih

La Grande

Jay B. Freih, 28, of La Grande, died June 13 at a local care facility. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Sandra L. Spence

La Grande

Sandra L. Spence, 75, of La Grande, died June 13. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Paul Wayne Metcalf

July 17, 1938 – June 11, 2019

Paul Wayne Metcalf, 80, of Summerville, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at his residence. At his request, there will be no service.Paul was born on July 17, 1938, in La Grande, Oregon to Robert and Geraldine (Ansell) Metcalf. He resided in La Grande, OR; Springfield, OR, and Summerville, OR. He graduated from La Grande High School and attended Eastern Oregon College. He married his one true love, Bertha (Bert) Self on August 3, 1957.Paul was employed with the Oregon Department of Transportation, a Faller for Weyerhauser Logging and a Building Contractor. He was the most honest man in the business. He had to retire due to heart surgery. Paul enjoyed tying fly’s and making fly rods, wood working, lawn and gardening, hunting and fishing. He also loved to travel in the USA, Canada and Mexico, enjoyed swimming, football, basketball and shooting. He was a member of the NRA. He especially enjoyed making his furniture, teaching his sons how to hunt and fish and be a good sportsman, and how to do carpenter work and respect for others and to kick ass when needed.Paul is survived by his wife, Bert; sons, Kirt Metcalf (Kathy) of Grants Pass, OR and Kip Metcalf (Liz) of Sun River, OR; brother, Keith Metcalf (Kathy) of Umatilla, OR; uncle, Richard Ansell; 3 granddaughters, Crystal McConkle and Courtney Poyner of Bend, OR, Abigail Metcalf of Grants Pass, OR; 1 grandson, Michael Fenicle of Sun River, OR and 2 great grandchildren, Kincaide Poyner and Adelene Poyner of Bend, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Geraldine and son, Kevin Metcalf in 2005.Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 4th Street, La Grande OR 97850 to help with funeral expenses.

Donna K. Patterson

July 2, 1931 – June 8, 2019

Donna K. Patterson, age 87, peacefully passed from this world to a glorious new one on 8, June 2019 at her daughter’s home in Riverton, Utah. Donna, the seventh of eight children, was born on 2, July 1931 in Garland, Utah to Ralph M. and Lalove Archibald King. Her parents homesteaded a farm in Richfield, Idaho where she spent the majority of her formative years as a typical depression-era farm girl. She married R. Dean Benedict in 1947, and in very short order they became the parents of seven children. They moved to Pocatello, Idaho in 1955 where Dean established his medical practice. She and Dean divorced in 1960 leaving her with the challenges of being a single mother. She managed to make time to take classes in the drama dept. at Idaho State College which led to a call to be the drama director in her LDS congregation. She was very good at it, and her road shows always took first place. In 1981 she married Archie Badger Patterson who has been the love of her life. They lived in Oregon City for several years before relocating to LaGrande, Oregon where they resided for 27 years, They were active participants in their community, and they were devoted to their LDS faith. They served together in the California Ventura mission in 1994 and for several years they regularly traveled to serve in the Boise temple. Their lives have been examples of service and generosity. Donna never abandoned her central Idaho farm girl roots. She and Archie had a huge well-kept garden, honey bees, chickens and fruit trees. They were avid hunters and on two occasions they drove their trailer to Alaska to spend the summer fishing. Donna loved animals and trained one of the best trophy winning hunting dogs on record. She was a fabulous cook. She was also very talented in working with stained glass, and her art was admired by all. Before her passing, she made sure all of her children and grandchildren were presented with an artistic stained-glass creation. Her family was her pride and joy. She was always promoting gigantic family reunions and she knew her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren by name. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers: Roland King (who died of wounds sustained as a tank commander in France during WWII), Verl (Merlynn) King, Sterling (Aldean) King and Wendell (Mary) King. A sister, Ruby (Ray) Robinson, her oldest son, Timothy Dean Benedict, a granddaughter Mandi Hudson and a grandson, Matthew Benedict also preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Archie Patterson, her brother Jack (Susan) King and her sister Venna (Ralph) Riley. Children left to mourn her loss include: Kay Benedict (Daughter In-Law) of Magna, UT, James P. (Christy) Benedict of Hyde Park, UT; Russel K. (Maxine) Benedict and J. Stanley (Brenda) Benedict both of Rexburg, ID; Cynthia (Raymond) Capell of Riverton, UT; Lalove (Richard) Hilton, of Dillon, MT; Barbara Benedict of Cedar City, UT; Shari (Bruce) Ginther of Pasco, WA; John (Laura) Patterson of Oregon City, Sue Ann Patterson, and Jan Patterson both of Portland, OR. Her living posterity also includes 48 grandchildren, 125 great grandchildren, and 8 great- great grandchildren.There will be a viewing and a memorial service for family and friends at the LDS Stone Ridge Building, 12070 South Laurel Chase Drive Riverton, Utah at 3:30 p.m. on the 16th of June. There will be a viewing at 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral at 10 a.m. on the 18th of June near LaGrande, Oregon under the direction of the Loveland Funeral Chapel at the LDS Church at 11206 McAllister, Island City, Oregon followed by a luncheon. She will then be interred at the the Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 By-Pass, in Archie’s home town of Richland, Washington. Flowers can be sent to the Loveland Funeral Chapel at 1508 4th Street, La Grande Oregon.

Dianna Jo “Danny” Thorson

November 23, 1947 – April 28, 2019

Mrs. Dianna Jo “Danny” Thorson (née Binam) died peacefully in Good Samaritan Hospital on April 28, 2019 in Portland, Oregon at the age of 71.Dianna is survived by her sister, Shirley Stephens of LaGrande, OR; daughter, Rita Thorson of Saint Helens OR; son, Thomas O Thorson of Tigard OR; daughter, Elizabeth Thorson of Vancouver WA; grandson, Dustin Thorson of Sandy, OR; granddaughter, Sheon’tay Brown of Vancouver WA, and two great-granddaughters, Lilli and Aubri. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas M. Thorson of Independence OR; parents, Claud and Sylvia Binam of Prineville OR; Brother, Archie Binam of Prineville OR; sister Betty Gross of LaGrande OR.Dianna was born on November 23, 1947 in Prineville, OR to Claud and Sylvia Binam. She attended Crook County High School in Prineville, OR. She married Thomas Thorson in 1966. She worked in Healthcare and Cleaning Services during her working career. She enjoyed fishing, camping, reading, and family time.A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 1 pm on June 14, 2019 at Valley Fellowship in La Grande, OR, with a reception to follow. Pastor Steve Kirkeby will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dianna’s life.