Obituaries
Juanita Rose Steffens
My precious, beautiful mother passed at home, 84 years young, on her oldest daughter’s 70th birthday (LaVina R. Fonseca), Sept. 2, 2007.
She was born Jan. 5, 1923 to Dewey and Lula Belle “Sunny” Chamberlain in Tulsa, Okla.; later divorcing. During the Depression at a very young age her mother married Roy “Buck” Smith and they rode freight train box cars to the Mojave Desert to the towns of Barstow and Hinckley in California for a better life.
After reading a book “Going to Oregon,” Buck and Sunny took Juanita, 12, and Buddy, 11, and headed for Oregon, winding up in a little town then known as Cave City, Ore. in the Illinois Valley in 1935. Needless to say they loved it and stayed.
Juanita married Laddie Freitas and had three children: LaVina Rae, Delores Darlene and Laddie Buck. Later divorcing, eventually marrying Robert G. Steffens Jan. 20, 1947. In 1950 they packed up the three kids and their bags and moved to Venice, Calif.
Robert “Bob” went to work for Beverly Building Cement, pouring many patios and driveways to the stars. In the meantime, Juanita started cosmetology school at Santa Monica City College, graduating and becoming a Cosmetologist, working at some of Santa Monica’s finest hair salons. She eventually had her own shop in Santa Paula, Calif.
In 1954 her parents, Buck and Sunny, had the Rogue Valley Ballroom in Medford, Ore. After six or eight months they needed Bob and Juanita to relocate back and help them run the ballroom. It was quite the experience meeting all the musical Country, Pop, Rock ‘n’ Roll artists that they brought to the Ballroom.
When Buck and Sunny were out on the road managing Jim Reeves and other artists, Bob and Juanita ran the Ballroom. They had roller-skating during the week and music on the weekends and other special occasions. They also started the first live one-hour TV show on KBES TV every Saturday night.
When the Armory was built, the Ballroom had to be destroyed. The Steffens moved to Ventura, Calif. Bob worked for S.P. Milling Co. driving truck; finishing 20 years with the Teamsters.
In 1975 they retired to Cave Junction. She went to all the softball games, even following them out of town, as far as Eugene. Eventually all the girls awarded her a large trophy designating her “Number One Softball Fan.” She also was the L.A. Dodgers biggest fan. She so loved the game. You think she’s slowed down by now? “Not yet.”
They spent all winters in Arizona for many years after retiring. After much talk in 1984 they sold their home and moved to Apache Junction, Ariz. It was while moving she contracted Valley Fever during a huge dust storm. It was nearly impossible for her to go outside. In 1987 they moved to Palmdale, Calif.; she would be close enough for me to help her.
In 1990 we moved them to Cave Junction where they re-retired to Ol’ Joe’s Mobile Home Park. They had nine wonderful years. Bob passed on Jan. 1, 1999. June of 2002 she moved in with Ron and LaVina Fonseca, her daughter and son-in-law in Cave Junction, until her health worsened.
Residing at Forest Meadows in ‘06, and in July ‘07 moved to Nona’s Place where she passed on Sept. 2, 2007.
There will be no services as per her request. She said she had a wonderful life and that’s how she wants her family and friends to remember and think of her.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Ronda Rae Gillett April in 1969; her brother, Charles “Buddy” Smith in 1973; her mother, Sunny Smith in September 1974; her father, Dewey Chamberlain in 1976; her dad, Buck Smith in March 1981; a daughter, Darlene Ross in October 1984; a grandson, Danny Lee Kelley in May 1994; her husband, Robert George Steffens in January 1999; plus so very many dear, dear friends.
She leaves a daughter, LaVina Fonseca, Cave Junction; a son, Laddie Buck Steffens, Vista, Calif.; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
(The preceding is a Sponsored Memorial)
Ray Wolf
Raymond “Ray” D. Wolf of Cave Junction, loving husband, father, and friend, passed on Sept. 2, 2007 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland from congestive heart failure.
Ray was born in Truman, Minnesota on Dec. 17, 1926 to Henry H. and Rosie M. (Neuenschwander) Wolf. He attended school in Truman and was a volunteer in the United States Air Force Army in 1946. Ray spent two years in Japan and was proud to be a veteran and loved his country. After returning to Minnesota in 1948 he married and had five daughters and one son.
Ray was a student his whole life. He had a quest for learning and had knowledge in many areas of interest to him. He had the true pioneer spirit; worked hard and invented new ways of fulfilling his goals in whatever he did. Farming, ranching and gold mining were his life’s work until he passed.
Ray started out farming on one rented farm. After a lot of work and creative farming he ended up owning many farms and ranches in Minnesota. Ray received the honor of “Minnesota Farmer of the Year” during the early 1970s. He also received awards for developing nutrient combinations that enhanced healthy growth in hogs. Ray got his pilot’s license while farming so he could fly his own plane from place to place on business.
After moving to Oregon in the mid-1970s Ray soon began to build a reputation as a gold miner. His love of mining was apparent to all who knew him. For several years during the 1990s he was the secretary and then president of the Waldo Mining Association and was still a member.
Ray spent 25 years during the summer months in Alaska mining on his various claim sites. He has many friends in the Fairbanks and Central Alaska areas. He also had gold mining claims in California, Nevada and Oregon. People have come from all over to learn from his knowledge in gold mining.
Ray enjoyed life and appreciated every day he had. He had no fear of trying anything new such as flying in an ultra-light when he was a mature adult. He loved music and dancing with his wife, Barbara, whom he married on Thanksgiving day, 2004.
Ray was strong, kind, gentle, humble, self-assured, honest, hard-working, generous, fun-loving, had a great sense of humor; and his smile could light up a room. He was a true gentleman and was admired and respected by all who knew him and was always available to help anyone who needed it.
Ray is survived by his wife, Barbara, Cave Junction and Medford; his children, Pat (Tom) Smith of Sammamish, Wash.; Sandi (Ken) Bahr of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota; Lynda (Duane) Meyer of Winnebago, Minnesota; Connie (Darrel) Urban of Truman, Minnesota; Karen Plathe and special friend Doug Smith of Fairmont, Minnesota; son Steven Wolf of Duluth, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; sister Esther Worden of Litchfield, Minnesota; brother Lawrence (Bernice) Wolf of Blue Earth, Minnesota; sister-in-law Eleanor Wolf of Fairmont, Minnesota and several nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brother Wilbert Wolf, brother-in-law John Worden, and step-son (Barbara’s son) Bradley Gandee.
Ray Wolf made a difference, and his memory will be remembered with love and respect.
A celebration of life for Ray is planned on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Junction Inn Boswell Banquet Room, Cave Junction at 2 p.m. All who knew Ray are welcome.
(The preceding is a Sponsored Memorial)
Daniel C. Powell
A funeral service for former Cave Junction resident Daniel Powell, 82, who died at home in Medford on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, was held on Sept. 17 at the Grants Pass Church of Christ.
Interment was at Eagle Point National Cemetery.
Mr. Powell was born on June 9, 1925, in Spur, Texas.
He was known in Illinois Valley as a cattle rancher in the White School House area, and former owner of Holland Store. He worked many years building the roads and bridges of Oregon.
Mr. Powell served during World War II in Italy. He was an enthusiastic hunter, outdoor sportsman, and rock hound.
He is survived by six children; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
former wife Eleanore Powell; and three step-children.
His first wife, “Jamie,” preceded him in death.
Virginia I. Noble
Cave Junction resident Virginia Irene Noble, 76, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass.
A potluck lunch with family and friends will be held Saturday, Sept. 19 beginning at 1 p.m. at Jerome Prairie Bible Church dining hall.
Mrs. Noble was born on Oct. 2, 1930 in Akron, Colo. She worked as a telephone operator for GTE in California. She also tended bars in Grants Pass. She enjoyed reading and cooking.
Mrs. Noble is survived by a brother, Bill Wolverton, of Kennewick, Wash.; three sisters, Martha Crabtree, of Bremond, Texas, Winona Leach, of Grants Pass, and Becky Zelmer, of Medford. She also leaves behind her companion, Carlos Pierson, of Cave Junction.
She was preceded in death by three husbands: Jim Shippy, Ernest Fitch, and Raymond Noble.
Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives is in charge of arrangements.
Damon W. Slack
Former Illinois Valley resident Damon Walker Slack, 37, died unexpectedly at his home in Prescott, Ariz. on Aug. 25, 2007.
A graveside service is planned for Nov. 24 at Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junction.
He spent the first half of his life in Illinois Valley attending valley schools. He graduated from Illinois Valley High School in 1988. He served in the U.S. Army before settling in Prescott, where he was an artist, entertainer and collector.
Mr. Slack loved hunting and camping.
He is survived by his brother, Kevin Pavlak, of Lincoln, Calif.; and his stepfather, Mark Pavlak, of Sonora, Calif. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol A. Pavlak.
Ronald F. Cole
Ronald F. Cole, 71, of O’Brien, died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 in Selma.
A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at 111 E. O’Brien St. in O’Brien.
Mr. Cole was born on Aug. 4, 1936 in Klamath Falls, Ore. to Ronald & Marie Cole. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1952 he moved to Illinois Valley.
For 40 years he worked as a logger, and for many years was active with his mining claim. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Waldo Mining Association.
He enjoyed going for coffee at the Junction Inn, mining, metal detecting, hunting, and fishing.
Survivors include two daughters, Teresa Terrill, of Shasta Lake, Calif., and Candice Clark, of O’Brien; a brother, Roy Cole, of Salem; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Southern Oregon Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Elvy Lee Robinson Jr.
Elvy Lee Robinson Jr., 49, of Cave Junction, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 at home.
A graveside service was held Friday, Sept. 21 at Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junction. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Robinson was born on Nov. 19, 1957 at Loma Linda, Calif. In 1976 he graduated from high school. At age 19, he served a mission in Halifax, Canada for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following the mission, at age 20, he met his wife, Tammy, and they married in 1978 in Palmdale, Calif. He and his wife were sealed in the LDS Los Angeles Temple in 1988.
He had two years of EMT training. Years later he received a Personal Training Certificate and owned his own gym. Lee & Tammy had four children, and moved from El Mirage, Calif. to Cave Junction in 1996.
He was a member of the LDS Church Cave Junction Ward. His hobbies included weight-lifting, reading, on-line computer games, writing poetry, and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Tammy Ann Robinson, of Cave Junction; a son, Jacob W. Robinson, of Cave Junction; two daughters, Crystal Leann Robinson, of Cave Junction, and Amanda Ellis, of Selma; his parents, Vern & Barbara Carlson, of Cave Junction; grandmother, Jean Wiemer, of Victorville, Calif.; a sister, Brenda Bowers, of Selma; two brothers, Mike Christophersen, of Cave Junction, and “Jon,” of New Jersey; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Elvy Lee Robinson III; father, Elvy Lee Robinson Sr.; brother, Chuck Christophersen; and a granddaughter, Miranda Denise Massey.
Carl W. Stump
Carl W. Stump, 80, of Selma, died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 at his home.
No services are planned. Southern Oregon Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Stump was born on Sept. 3, 1927 in Oklahoma. He lived in Washington state for several years and worked as a truck driver in the logging industry. He married the former Norma Darling, who survives.
He moved to Selma 17 years ago from Washington.
He enjoyed metal detecting, mining and working as an auto mechanic.
Besides his wife, Norma, survivors include his son, Tony Stump, of Longview, Wash.; four daughters, Shirley Hansen, of Kalama, Wash., “Cindy,” of Rainer, Wash., Suzanne Madtson of Springfield, Ore., and Cathy of Longview; and 17 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Jim Stump; and daughter, Tonia Stump.
‘Mike’ John
Lloyd Michael “Mike” John, 72, of Selma, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass.
Arrangements are pending with Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives.
Carol M. Sidell
Carol Margaret Sidell, 64, of Selma, died Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 at her home.
A private service has been held. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sidell was born on Aug. 8, 1943 in Chicago, Ill, to Joseph & Mandie Sweeney. On April 30, 1963 in Chicago she married William “Bill” Sidell. In 1995 she moved from California to Merlin, and in 2000 she moved to Selma.
Her hobbies included gardening, and bird-watching, and she was an accomplished seamstress. She especially enjoyed her pets Sadie, Babbie, Samantha and Tabatha, and the local wildlife.
Survivors include a daughter, Michelle Sidell, of Ashland; a son, William “Bill” Sidell, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; a sister, JoAnn Boerst, of Gilbert, Ariz.; a brother, Jim Sweeney, of Chicago; and a granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2005.
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