Obituary Listing

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,...

Oct 19, 2025

Donald Charles Morse , 91, passed away on October 19, 2025, in Hines, Oregon.

Born on March 10, 1934, in Chicago Illinois, Donald was the only child of Charles and Vivian Morse. As a teenager, he moved to Los Angeles, where he attended University High School in the Los Angelos City High School District.

From...

Oct 11, 2025

Pauline "Polly" Chandler Grindstaff, 85, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, in Burns, Oregon. A proud Lakeview native, Polly was born on November 8, 1939, to Doyle and Emma Chandler. Her warmth, witty, and boundless energy left an enduring mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Polly's life was rooted in family tradition. Her family will carry...

Oct 11, 2025

Robert Ray McDonald 86 of Burns, Oregon died in Vale, Oregon on October 11, 2025.

Bob was born in Burns, Oregon on October 30, 1938, to David McDonald Jr and Viola May Chambers. Bob went to high school in Burns, Oregon and graduated in 1957, he played football, basketball and was a member of a boxing club....

Oct 1, 2025

Larraine Lambert Tiller passed away on October 1st, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on December 27th, 1934, in Harney County, Oregon, to Homer (Pat) and Eunice Lambert. She was the second of four children — Homer, Larraine, Gail, and Arlene. Larraine grew up on a homestead in Silvies Valley, 38 miles outside of Burns, where the family...

Sep 24, 2025

Joy Lee Whisenant Langenfeld, 83, of Burns, Oregon passed away September 24, 2025.  She slipped away from us peacefully after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's.

Joy was born near Hot Springs, Arkansas to Mr. and Mrs. Auston Glen and Opal Sutton Kea on September 3, 1942. She had an older sister Virginia. Her parents divorced...

Sep 18, 2025

James Anthony Zennie, Jr. (Jim) passed on Sept. 18, 2025, at 94 years old. Jim was born on March 31, 1931, in Superior, Wis., to parents James Zennie (Zawistowski) and Blanche McCavic. Jim was the 3rd of four children, joining Theodore (Ted), Dolores (Dodie), and Jackie. Jim grew up on the ore docks of Superior, and in the woods of...

Sep 1, 2025

Bob Stearns, 91, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025.  A service will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Burns Elks Lodge at 1pm.

Bob was born on a family ranch in Fruitvale, Idaho on October 11, 1933, to Winfield Stearns and Frances (Abshire) Stearns.  At the age of 4, Bob lost his mom,...

Aug 26, 2025

Ralph Maxwell Steinke was born Sept. 20, 1937, in Spokane, Wash., to Emma and Walter Steinke.

He grew up on a Dairy farm in Granite Falls, Wash., and then joined the Navy and served on both the Red Fish and Besugo submarines.

He married Ruth Ann Rice in 1961 and they had two children.