Nils Christensen
Ruby Muriel Dorrah
Vicki Hunt
Katie Saul-Poulos
Nils Christensen
(April 28, 1937 - March 17, 2009)
Nils Perry Christensen, 71, of Baker City died March 17, 2009, at his
residence. A celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date.
Nils was born April 28, 1937 in La Grande, Ore., to Alan W. and Mildred S.
(Murray) Christensen. He graduated from La Grande High School and attended Eastern Oregon University for two years. He went on to take some vocational training in boat building.
From 1956 until 1961, Nils was in the Oregon Army National Guard. He was in the HHC 1st BC, 186th Infantry and attained the rank of Master Sgt. In December of 1961, Nils married Joyce M. Hughes and they were divorced in 1983. In 1988 he married Lynn Henderson.
Nils enjoyed gold mining, woodworking, drawing, hiking, geology, playing
guitar and he was a gifted singer. He was a member and co-founder of both
the Sumpter Valley Railroad, the Cracker Creek Museum of Mining and a member of the First Church of Christ Science. He was also a skilled welder,
ironworker and woodworker. Nils was a man of many talents, including heavy equipment operator, worked several years as a logger, miner, rancher and even spent a few years as a deckhand / engineer on a tugboat, towing barge freight up to Alaska in the Bearing Sea. He completed a wooden boat building school at Seattle Community College and had a superb knowledge of geology. At one time he owned Elkhorn Lamp and Ironworks and was a partner in Farm and Industrial Service Co.
Nils will be remembered for his contagious passion for the preservation of
the history of Eastern Oregon, the place he loved so much. He never ceased
to express his love and support to his family and friends, and always spoke
of his sons, Dan and Wes, with great pride. He was a man true to his
Christian faith. Those who knew and loved him will remember him with
affection and joy. Nils is survived by his wife, Lynn Christensen of Baker City, two sons, Dan W. of Pasco, Wash., and Wes A. Christensen and his wife, Cloie of Baker City. A brother, Eric M. Christensen, North Carolina and a brother in law, Jim Henderson of Redlands, Calif., six grandchildren; Colton, Payton, Jenna, Brenna, Chanda and Cheyanne.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Roald S. Christensen. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sumpter Valley Railway Restoration, the Cracker Creek Museum of Mining or to the Charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Ruby Muriel Dorrah
(May 3, 1922—March 25, 2009)
Ruby Muriel Dorrah, 86, of Baker City passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Ruby was born May 3, 1922 in Eatonville, Wash., to Fred and Ruth (Kreger) Johnson. She graduated high school and went on to attend one year of Business College. On Aug. 25, 1941, Ruby married Eddie Dorrah in Lewiston, Idaho. Ruby was a quilter and received numerous awards for her work. She also received many awards for her cooking. Her other favorite activities were clam digging, fishing, reading, bowling, sewing, embroidery, line dancing and golf. She was an avid card player, notably “hand and foot” and cribbage. She loved RVing and camping, and had traversed the United States coast-to-coast numerous times. Ruby was a wonderful mother and grandmother and an inspiration to all who knew her. She always saw the good in everyone. Ruby is survived by her husband of 67 years Eddie Dorrah of Baker City; daughter Judy Christian of Prescott, Ariz.; son Dennis Dorrah of Baker City; seven grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Ronald Dorrah, U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran. At her request, there will be no services.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Health Services in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Vicki Hunt
(Dec. 2, 1967—March 30, 2009)
Vicki Charlene (Kolb) Hunt, 41, of Boise, Idaho, passed away on Monday March 30, 2009, at her home after a long and courageous fight against breast cancer. Vicki displayed tremendous inner strength throughout her battle, and maintained an attitude that was truly inspirational.
Vicki was born on Dec. 2, 1967 in Baker, Ore. to Bill and Ferriel (Flowers)
Kolb. Vicki was raised in Baker and was a 1986 graduate of Baker High
School. Vicki married Timothy Dean Hunt of Baker, and on Dec. 8, 1987 they had a son, Tyler Earl Hunt. Although they later divorced, Tim and Vicki remained good friends. Vicki relocated to Boise, Idaho with Tom Rasmussen, and for 10 years worked at Custom Masonry in Eagle. Vicki then went to work for Manpower Professional Services, where she established some of her closest friendships. On July 11, 2003, Tom and Vicki gave birth to a son, Shawn Alexander Rasmussen.
Vicki enjoyed numerous outdoor activities, as well as the closeness of
family and friends. Family was very important to her, and the cornerstone
of her foundation. Vicki had a great sense of humor, a wonderful smile, and a positive outlook on life. She valued her friends, and placed a high
priority on maintaining those relationships. She was generous, kind, and
always made herself available to lend a helping hand. Vicki touched all who knew her, and will hold a special place in the hearts of many.
She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Timothy Hunt, her uncle Dewey Flowers, her uncle Louis Kolb, her grandmother Ardes Flowers, and her grandparents Juanita and George Kolb. Survivors include her father Bill Kolb and Glenda Vellastrigo of Ontario, Ore., mother Ferriel Gregory and husband Paul of Silverton, Ore., her sons Tyler Hunt and Shawn Rasmussen of Boise, her long-time partner Tom Rasmussen
of Boise, her sister Terri Kaltenecker and husband Mike of Boise, her
brother Vinton Gregory of Eugene, Ore., her nieces Allison Schomburg and
Jill Kaltenecker, and nephew Scott Kaltenecker, in addition to many aunts,
uncles and cousins. The family would like to thank the medical staff at St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute for taking such wonderful care of Vicki through her illness. We would also like to extend a very special thank you to Jim and Debbie Treutle, Hattie Hyatt, and Glenda Vellastrigo for their loving care of Vicki over the last few months. Their ongoing support provided much comfort to the family through this time.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2 p.m. at the Nazarene Church, 1250 Hughes Lane, Baker City, Ore. The Reverend Jon Privett will officiate. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the Sunridge Banquet room in Baker City. Vicki is mourned by her loving friends and family and will be greatly missed. God bless you, Vicki. Arrangements are in the care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel.
Katie Saul-Poulos
(March 16, 1910—March 26, 2009)
Katie M. Saul-Poulos 99, of Baker City, Ore. died March 26, 2009, at St.
Elizabeth Health Care Center. Funeral services for Mrs. Poulos will be held Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Coles Funeral Home. Assoc. Pastor Matt Willson of the Baker City Church of The Nazarene will officiate. Private interment will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Katie was born on March 16, 1910 in Erickson, Minn., to Ben and Cassie
Gerdes Sweep. After 3 years she moved with her parents, 2 brothers and 1
sister to Idaho. After several years, the family returned to Minnesota;
later returning to Idaho where Ben and Cassie homesteaded in Marsing, Idaho and where Katie graduated in 1927. Katie married William (Bill) R. Saul in 1927. They had eight children, Katie Ellen (died at birth), Ruth, Leo, Gene, Roy, Mabel, Dorothy, and Flora. During the Depression and hard times, she was a wonderful mother and did a good job of keeping the kids fed and their clothes clean, ironed and patched. She loved to garden and canned fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Katie could rustle up a meal out of hardly anything. Her riffle soup was her specialty. Everyone loved it! They moved often from town to town for seasonal work on ranches and sawmills. Katie was a fine cook and cooked for hay crews and cow camps. Katie and Bill lived in Huntington, Oregon at the time of Bill‚s death on Sept. 22, 1973. Katie stayed in Huntington and met and married Fred Poulos in 1981. She enjoyed the company of her many friends and family, enjoyed many crafts such as her bead work, quilting, crocheting, and baking. But her most favorite past-time was fishing.
Fred died on Dec. 2, 1981. After his death she took care of the elderly in
their homes. She stayed off and on with her children but in recent years
she settled in Settler’s Park in Baker City, Ore. She is survived by her sister, Polly Ward and brother-in-law Eldon (Red) Ward of Idaho, daughters Mabel Dreher of Texas, Ruth Ward of Idaho and Flora Perrin of Oregon; son Roy Saul and daughter-in-law Alice Saul of Baker City,
Ore., numerous grandchildren, great grand children, great great
grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Katie was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, brothers Henry, Robert and infant brother Ben Sweep Jr; sisters Ella Sweep, Anna Ivey and Grace Mulinix; sons Leo and Gene Saul and daughters Katie Ellen Sweep and Dorothy Spence. Brother Robert (Bob) Sweep was killed in WWII and son Leo Saul was reported Missing in Action in the Korean War. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Memory of Mrs. Poulos my direct them to the American Heart Association, this maybe done through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, Ore. 97814.
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