Sadie D. McGregor
Mary Margaret Hansen
Willma Alberta Gard Bennehoff
Willma Alberta Gard Bennehoff
(1918 – Dec. 22, 2007)
Baker City life time resident, Willma Alberta Gard Bennehoff passed away on Dec. 22, 2007, at age 89. She was born in 1918 to Harriet Creathbaum Gard and Bert Gard, living her childhood years on the Auburn Beaver Creek Ranch. Willma graduated from Baker High School in 1936. After high school she did two years of Business school in Portland, Oregon only to return to Baker and continue the ranching life she so loved. In 1956 she married Duane E. Bennehoff where they lived and worked on the Auburn Beaver Creek ranch before moving into town in 1967.
Willma was a homecare provider and working partner with her husband Duane.
They enjoyed restoring and selling homes in the Baker area. She also worked several years at the Brooklyn School as a cook. She was an active member of the Baker Veterans Women’s Auxiliary and Baker County Extension. Willma is survived by two children Glen E. Bennehoff and Brenda Bennehoff Boyle, and step children Gary Bennehoff and Bert Bennehoff.
Donations in her memory can be made to the Baker Veterans Women’s Auxiliary through Coles Funeral Home.
Mary Margaret Hansen
(June 10, 1926 – Dec. 29, 2007)
Mary Margaret McEnroe Hansen, 81, of Baker City, Ore., died Dec. 29, 2007, peacefully at her home.
She was born June 10, 1926, to Joseph P. and Sarah (Jean) Bartshe McEnroes at Baker City. She had two siblings. Joene and Joe. She attended St. Francis Academy through grade school and graduated from Baker High School in 1944. She attended nursing school at St. Elizabeth in Baker City, graduated in 1947 with an associate degree in nursing as a Registered Nurse.
Mary Margaret married Charles D. Hansen on Sept. 11, 1948. Together they had three children, C. Douglas Hansen (deceased in 1995), Mary Jo Grove and Patricia Ann (died at birth in 1961)
Mary Margaret retired from nursing when Doug was born in 1951. She spent many happy years raising her children and taking care of their home. She worked for the Catholic Church on several different occasions. One of her favorite jobs was that of being secretary for three legislative sessions. Two with Mike Nelson and one with Mike Payne. She and Chuck lived in Salem during those Legislative sessions, a time they thoroughly enjoyed. One of her favorite projects was sewing baby blankets with the “Grannies” which she has done for almost 20 years. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, the Hospital Auxiliary, St. Francis Alter Society and her Birthday Club all for over 50 years each. She was voted Baker County Legacy Women of the Year in 1999.
She and Chuck were strong and active supporters of school activities for over 40 years. Anyone who knew Mary Margaret knew that she possessed a faith so strong that she made an example for all. She was very active in the Catholic Church and was considered the chief organizer for most events and functions that took place there. Her family and friends meant everything to her. It was a joyous day in Heaven when she joined her family.
She wrote in an anniversary letter to her friends and family “Almost fifty years later, Chuck and Mary Margaret still love Baker Valley. The snow capped mountains, the green fields, the desert sagebrush, the warm summer days, the cool summer evenings, the cold nippy winters, the first wild flowers. This is Baker, this is our home...”
Mary Margaret is survived by her daughter, Mary Jo and her husband Jim; daughter in law, Debbie Hansen; four grandsons, the pride and joy of her life, Marc Hansen, Casey Grove, Darren Hansen and Mitchell Grove; brother, Joe McEnroe; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Chuck; children, Doug and Patricia; parents and her sister, Joene.
Memorial contribution may be made to the “Grannies” Quilt Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Sadie D. McGregor
(July 29, 1921 – Nov. 18, 2007)
Long time Livermore, Calif., resident Sadie Darlene McGregor, 86, died on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. Her health had been permanently affected by a stroke suffered in 1999. Since then, she lived as well as she could within her limitations. During this past year, she faced numerous health problems, ultimately weakening her beyond recovery.
Born on July 29, 1921, to Guy Ernest Tripp and Sadie Elizabeth Criddle in Downey, Idaho, she lived most of her early years in Idaho and Oregon. She married John Vernon McGregor in 1941. Their marriage lasted 64 years until John died in 2005. As a couple, their first move was to Wonderland, Calif., where John worked on the construction of Shasta Dam. Shortly after, John was called to serve in World War II, leaving Darlene stateside as a soldier’s wife. She returned to Oregon to live with her parents, awaiting the birth of her first daughter. After the war ended, Darlene and John lived in Baker just long enough to welcome their second daughter. The desire for stable work motivated a move to California. A third daughter was born shortly after the family moved in 1948 to a small house on the north side of the sleepy little town of Livermore that served as the family home for over twenty years.
Darlene was an active member of her community. When her daughters were young, she engaged in their activities by serving as Room Mother, Girl Scout leader, PTA officer, church volunteer and proud audience member when her girls performed at various events. Darlene also served her community as a licensed child care provider. The families of the children in her care were grateful to have someone as loving and capable as Darlene in their lives. Later, she worked at Duarte’s Pharmacy for many years as a bookkeeper and sales clerk. She enjoyed the challenge of this work. She liked helping familiar customers as they shopped and visited in the store.
In the 1960’s, she enrolled in classes offered through Chabot College and became qualified as an early childhood teacher. She worked at Mary’s Nursery School where she again enjoyed fostering the growth of young children.
Darlene was a spirited person who enjoyed the pleasant gifts that life offered. She took delight in the simple pleasures that nature provides, appreciating family, friends, neighbors, nature, and pets. She loved poetry, limericks and puns, daily comics and silly jokes. During the later part of her life, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren became the joys of her life. Her last year was filled with increasing health problems, but she still maintained her positive and encouraging spirit in moments of strength and clarity.
She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Jansen, Diana McGregor and her husband John Jurcso, and Jone McGregor; brother-in-law, Elzie McGregor and sister-in-law, Sally Dell; grandchildren, Bonnie, Kristie, Laura, Andrea, Ian and Devon; great-grandchildren, are Maggie, Kaylin, Megan and Hannah and Adam; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Dec. 15 in the Regional Meeting Room of the Dublin Civic Center. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Hope Hospice, Dublin, Calif., or the Friendship Center in care of LARPD, or a favorite charity.
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