All Obituaries

Janet Gail Hughes, 88, formerly of Heppner, died Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at her home in Walla Walla. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery in Heppner, Oregon. A reception will follow at the Gilliam and Bisbee Building in Heppner. She was born December 14, 1934, at San Luis Obispo, California, the daughter of Edwin H. Coe and Bernice W. (Arnold) Coe. Gail was raised and attended school at Milton-Freewater, Oregon where she was...

Robert Jeffery John (Butch) Laughlin, 82 years, left us unexpectedly on April 22, 2023 at Kadlec Hospital in Tri-Cities, WA. Butch was born October 18, 1940 at Miss Clarey’s Hospital, Heppner, OR to Robert Ogden Laughlin and Ilene Katherine Kilkenny. Butch’s father passed away when Butch was just 6 months old. He and his mother Ilene moved to the Kilkenny Ranch and lived there 5 years until they later moved into Heppner and built a house on Chase Street. Being the oldest...

Gary Lee Nolan of Lexington, Oregon, passed away peacefully in his garden swing at his home on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. He was 73. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2260 NE 4th Street, Hermiston, Oregon on April 22, 2023. He was born in Grand Coulee, Washington to William and Donna Belle Nolan on December 24, 1949. Gary grew up on a farm in Hermiston, Oregon and graduated from Hermiston High School in 1968. On April 1, 1972, Gary...

Vilas Daniel Ropp, 65, of Lexington, died Sunday, March 26, 2023 at his home outside of Lexington. He was born August 23, 1957 in Albany, Oregon, to Daniel and Irva (Roth) Ropp, the third of six children. His father worked as a grass seed cleaner whose job took the family to Klamath Falls, Oregon when Vilas was in the 5th or 6th grade. His dad’s poor health took the family to live on the Oregon Coast when Vilas was in high school. He attended Taft High School in Lincoln City. While in...

William (Bill) Allen Wolfsen 81, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Guardian Angel Memory Care Home in Hermiston. Bill was born September 18, 1941 at Sedro-Woolley, WA to Fred and Elva Wolfsen. He grew up in Garibaldi, OR and graduated high school from Laurelwood Academy in 1959. He had an epic love with Sandra Lee (Sandy) (the best wife, Mom and Grandma in the world). They married in 1963 and settled in Portland.  After having their two daughters, Diane and Yvonne, the young family...

Linda Ellen (Smith) Wilhelm, 65 of Lexington Oregon passed away surrounded by her family at her daughters home in Irrigon on Thursday April 6th, 2023 from cancer. She was born February 22nd, 1958, in Burns Oregon to parents Howard and Ernestine Smith. Linda grew up on a ranch along Willow Creek and graduated from Arlington High School. She married her high school sweetheart Ronald “Ron” Wilhelm on July 30th, 1977, in Pendleton Oregon. They bought a home in Lexington Oregon...

Janice Sue Blouse 65, of Canby, Oregon passed away April 2, 2023, at Condon (Mayville), at her parents’ home, after a brief illness. She was born June 3, 1957, in Heppner, Oregon to Sally Dyer of Condon and James Green, Canby, Oregon. Janice grew up and attended school in Arlington, Oregon. She studied graphic arts at the University of Portland and was employed for many years at Oregon Health Sciences University Genetics and Research department, also for a NICU Doctor eventually...

Ronald (Ron) Currin, 86, longtime Heppner resident died, Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Hermiston. Ron was born in Pendleton, Oregon, to parents George and Helen Knotts Currin on May 26, 1936. He attended Pine City school on Butter Creek and later transferred to Heppner. Ron was active in school, playing football and participating in FFA. Ron's senior year in 1954 was notable; he served as Student Body President, graduated as the salutatorian, and was awarded the FFA State Farmer degree....

Linda Rae Bristow, 73 of Ione, died Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Ione Community Church with a luncheon to follow. A private inurnment will be held at High View Cemetery in Ione. She was born on October 7, 1949, at Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Harold and Eleanor Seward Hamblet. Linda graduated from Union High School in Union, Oregon. On June 12, 1993, Linda married...

Daniel Kirby Brosnan, 79, of Heppner, died Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at Salem, Oregon.  He was born August 17, 1943 at Pendleton, Oregon the son of Jerry and Marian (Good) Brosnan, and the youngest of their four children. He was raised on the family ranch on Little Butter Creek and attended school in Heppner, graduating in 1961. He immediately entered the US Air Force and worked as a cartographer for four years. In 1966 Dan wed his high-school sweetheart, Doris, and then began work as...