Loretta Gushman
Mel Luster
Delberta Walker
Loretta Gushman
(July 25, 1921-Oct. 8, 2008)
Loretta Ann (Davis) Gushman, longtime resident of Haines and Baker City, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, after a short illness.
Graveside services were held Monday, Oct. 13, 1 p.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery with Cliff Cole officiating.
Loretta was born in Aitkin, Minn., July 25, 1921, to Samuel and Bessie (Layton) Davis. Loretta grew up on a turkey farm with her three sisters and parents. She graduated from high school in Little Sioux, Iowa, while living with her sister, Velma Alton.
She married Leroy Eugene Wallis in Woodbury County, Iowa in October 1939. They farmed in Little Sioux and she returned to Aitkin to be with her family while Leroy served in the Army. They had one daughter, Judy.
Loretta moved to Portland, Ore., where she worked for a few years before marrying Richard "Dick" Gushman in 1947 and moved to Haines. Loretta gained a son, Dick, in her marriage and they had a daughter, PattiJo, together.
Loretta worked and operated her own drive-in "The Little Red Hut" at Radium Hot Springs. She later worked for Baker Mill and Grain in Haines as a bookkeeper for a short time.
They moved to Baker City when PattiJo was in high school. Loretta loved to work in her garden and yard, and enjoyed cooking for friends and family. She truly was a Great Cook! Sometimes you would find her on the bank at the pond just waiting for the big one to take a bite. She was a member of the Baker City VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Post #3048,
Survivors include her children: Dick and Cheryl Gushman of Baker City; Judy and Ben White of Baker City; PattiJo Campbell and Kirby Pereira of Beaverton, Ore. She had five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; parents, Samuel and Bessie Davis; sisters, Francis Groppo, Wilma Broselle, and Velma Alton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary of Baker City, Post #3048 through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Mel Luster
(Sept. 8, 1935-Oct. 9, 2008)
Melvin Keith Luster, 73, of Baker City, died Oct. 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Visitation was from Noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Gray’s West & Company. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel with interment at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Melvin Luster was born on Sept. 8, 1935, in Baker City to Melvin James and Gertrude Lillian (Modrel) Luster. He was home schooled graduating in 1953. Melvin continued his education in engineering through correspondence school. He worked as a tunnel engineer surveyor until retiring in 1993. Mel is accredited with introducing lasers to tunnel surveying.
He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper for one year.
On May 15, 1955, Melvin married Carolyn Rose Pifher in Baker City. They raised nine beautiful children in their 53 years of marriage.
Mel enjoyed golf, hunting, fishing, snow shoeing, hiking, horseback riding, camping, boating, cutting firewood, and building lots of projects. He was a member of the Blue Mountain Snowmobile club.
He is survived by his beautiful wife and soul mate Carolyn Luster; 9-children: James and Lewina Luster of Aloha, Ore., Mary and Wade Roberts of Baker City, Barbara Rose and Jay Williams of Eugene, Ore., Lynda and Leonard Martinez of Fresno, Calif., Keitha Howard of Baker City, Melvin “Chuck” Luster of Las Vegas, Nev., John and Stacie Luster of Cora, Wyo., Teresa M. Luster and her partner Troy Walters of Baker City, and Joseph B. and Heather Luster of Big Piney, Wyo.; 21-grandchildren; and 14-great-grandchildren.
Mel is preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Gertrude Luster and brother William Luster.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Delberta Walker
(May 14, 1917-Oct. 11, 2008)
Delberta May Walker, 91, longtime Pine Valley resident, returned to her heavenly Father on Oct. 11, 2008, in St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City with her family by her side.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, 11, a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery, Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception immediately following the service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Halfway Branch.
Delberta was born May 14, 1917, in Alta, Wyo., where she spent her younger years. On Dec. 2, 1954, she married her loving husband, Earl “Van” Walker in Meridian, Ida. Delberta had three wonderful children, Diana, Jerry and Glen and three wonderful stepchildren, Earl, Kim and Steve.
Delberta and Van resided in Boise from 1954 to 1956 and then moved to Brownlee, where Van was manager of the OK Food Store at the Brownlee Dam site until September 1957. After the dam’s completion, they purchased a ranch in Carson, Ore., and remained in the Halfway area.
Delberta lived her life on this ranch and considered it the closest place to heaven. She enjoyed fishing and took great pride in her gardens. She enjoyed painting and won many awards at the fairs. She loved working with her animals and long morning walks with her husband.
Delberta Walker is survived by her husband, Van; daughter, Diana and Ron Mayo of Halfway; son, Glen and Marlene Smith, Boise; and stepsons, Earl and wife Louise Fisher of Branson, Mo., and Kim and wife Janet Fisher of Rhinelander, Wis. and Steve and wife Annette of Chehalis, Wash.; and 23 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Delbert and Camilla Backus; brothers, “Bud” and Donny; sisters, Margie and Kathleen; and son, Jerry.
Those who would like to make a memorial contribution in memory of Delberta may do so to the Leukemia Foundation or the Humane Society of America through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O.Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
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