Obituary Listing

Mar 8, 2026

Turen Alfred Dunten was born to Turen "TJ" and Wilma (Miller) Dunten on April 17, 1934, in Drewsey, at the home of Emma Clark, a local RN who often served as midwife to area mothers.

Alfred grew up on his parents' ranch with his sister Helen, brother Ray, and sister Karen. When he wasn't romping the hills...

Mar 8, 2026

Our beloved dad passed from complications related to liver cancer. He gave it a good fight and did not want to go. He will be so greatly missed by all who loved him.

Jim was born January 7, 1960 to Ray and Dodie Withee in Burns, where he joined his two older sisters and two older brothers,...

Mar 7, 2026

Merle Edward Reid, 61, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, surrounded by family.

Merle was born in Eugene, Oregon, on April 15, 1964, to Olin and Susanne Reid, joining two brothers and a sister as the baby of the family. He grew up in Eugene, where he graduated from high school and began his career with...

Mar 7, 2026

Aeola Valentine (Dunn) Tiller was born on February 14, 1942 in Hines Oregon to Elmer E. Dunn and Reatha Florence (Hartell) Dunn. She was the third of four children - Frank, Glenn, Aeola, and Arvetta. Aeola 'Lola' met the love of her life, Ron, in high school and at the age of 20 they moved into their forever home...

Mar 6, 2026

Laberta Ardell Hamilton was born on April 30, 1929, in Lewiston, Idaho, to Rosetta and Jamie Hamilton. At the time of her birth, her parents were living in Gifford, Idaho, where her mother remained close to her own parents. She was the second of five children and very close with older sister Rosemary and younger sister Elizabeth (Betty). Two...

Mar 4, 2026

Gary Gene Gates, 80, of Burns, Oregon, passed away on March 4, 2026.

Gary was born on June 22, 1945, in Portland, Oregon, to Wilker and Jean Gates. He spent much of his life in Oregon, where he built a life centered around hard work, independence, and family.

Gary proudly served his country as a...

Jan 27, 2026

On Tuesday, January 27th, 2026, Mary Honor Jane (Opie) Maupin passed away peacefully at Vista Manor, Wilbur WA.  Mary was the last surviving sibling of twelve. At the age of 7, Mary's mother, Gertrude (Thompson) Opie passed away (her father Thomas Henry Opie, had passed in 1943, 2 years prior). Mary and her sister Dorothy were then passed from...

Jan 20, 2026

John Fredrick Witzel was born on February 15, 1937, in Hines, Oregon, to Fred and Pearl Witzel. He passed away on January 20, 2026.

Fred grew up on the family ranch near Frenchglen. He had three older half-sisters – Marion, Betty and Daisy. He went to grade school in Frenchglen, and graduated from Crane High School in...

Jan 1, 2026

Raymond James Lawson, 80 years old, passed away on January 1, 2026; quietly at his home with family by his side. He was born on August 11, 1945 in Merced, California; to Arlin and Ruth Lawson. At home at the time were two older sisters, Imogene and Leveda. A few years later, his youngest sister Carol joined the family....

Dec 26, 2025

Thelma Geraldine "Geri" Oster passed away while traveling in Washington state on December 26, 2025, joining her husband and two daughters. She was born at home on October 20, 1932, to Thelma and Wiley Gordon in La Grande, Oregon, and was raised in Elgin.

At age twenty-three, while attending Eastern Oregon Normal School, she met the love...

Dec 20, 2025

Joel Zacarias, age 49, passed away at the University of Washington Medical Center surrounded by his children and loving family to comfort him to rest in peace.

Joel was born on July 24, 1976, in Ontario, to Mike and Dorene Zacarias. Joel was the youngest of eleven siblings.

He lived the majority of his growing...

Dec 10, 2025

Mildred E Fine was born August 9, 1931 to Roe & Eleaner Davis, at the old hospital in Burns, Oregon. Mildred passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, at the age of 94.

Born and raised in Burns, Mildred spent most of her life in Harney County. While attending Burns High School and before getting her driver's...

Nov 29, 2025

Susan Mae Haines was born April 10, 1941, to Marcus and Edna (Dougall) Haines. She joined her older sister Nancy at the rock house at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, where her father was working. In the 1940s, Marcus purchased land from the Refuge and built the ranch on the banks of the Blitzen River, where Nancy and Susan...

Nov 15, 2025

Susan Leslie Shields entered eternal rest at the age of 78 on November 15, 2025 in Harney County Oregon.

Born on June 27, 1947, in San Rafael, California to David and Fredna Shields.

Susan was raised with her two sisters Sandy and Sharon in San Rafael until 1960 when the family relocated to San Lorenzo,...

Nov 13, 2025

Ralph L. Dickenson passed away on Nov. 13, 2025. He was 89 years old.

Ralph was born in Burns on March 31, 1936. He went to the first grade in Seneca and the rest of his schooling was in the Burns school system.

He was involved in the community through the years, serving on the...

Nov 12, 2025

Dorothy Blackburn passed away peacefully in Hines, Oregon on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. She was born Dorothy Ann Chouinard on July 25, 1932 in Portland, Oregon to Telesphore and Teresa Chouinard. She grew up in Prescott, Oregon and later St. Helen's, where she graduated from St. Helen's High School in 1951.

In her early years, Dorothy was...

Nov 8, 2025

Joshua D. Petersen was born on December 29, 1976, to Jon and Suzie Laurance-Petersen. With the exception of a brief time during his freshman year of high school, Josh spent his entire life in Harney County—a place that shaped him and that he, in turn, gave so much back to.

Josh was a true ranch kid through...

Oct 29, 2025

Richard G. Watkins passed away at home on October 29th, 2025. He was 94 years old. Born in 1931 in Blaine County Montana near the town of Chinook. He was delivered at home by his grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Watkins Sr. In 1932 the family gave up their holdings in Montana and moved to Sherwood, OR where they resided until...

Oct 28, 2025

Rita Lynn Otley, 65 of Diamond, Oregon died at her home October 28, 2025.

Rita was born on Valentines Day in 1960 to Buck and Betty Davis of Burns. Her brother Don followed on February 6, 1962. Rita was a protective big sister, she was the only one in her mind allowed to pick on Don. She...

Oct 27, 2025

Ruth Louise Williams, 89 of Burns, Oregon was born October 26, 1936. She passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025 at her home in Burns, Oregon surrounded by loving family. She was born to William E. Hale and Lois White Hale in Boise, Idaho.

She was the oldest of 15 children, a loving wife, mother of 5,...