Obituaries for February 23, 2009

Margaret Jensen, Wanda Burgess

Margaret Jensen

Margaret LaVerna Jensen, 79, died Feb. 18, 2009 at her home. 

A memorial service was held Monday at 1 p.m. at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the Baker City Church of the Nazarene Church officiated.

Margaret was born on Aug. 26, 1929, at the home ranch in Bowen Valley to Albert and Bessie Sipp.  She attended school at the Stewart School in Bowen Valley and Baker High School, graduating in 1947.  While in school, she received many awards for penmanship.

She married Clyde Spivey and was a homemaker. After a divorce, she married Ivan Jensen in 1957 and later worked in retail for several years.

Margaret was involved in 4-H as a girl and was later active as a 4-H leader. She enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting and sewing. She did alterations to clothing for many people in the community, made quilts for many family members and was a member of the quilting club. She also truly enjoyed family get-togethers.

Margaret was preceded in death by her father and mother, Albert and Bessie Sipp.

Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Ivan Jensen; sisters, Alberta Gaub of Baker City and Mable Gilbert of San Diego, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law Shirley and Dave Baird of Pendleton; son and daughter-in-law Keith and Janet Jensen of Baker City; daughter, Denice Wilson of Pilot Rock; son and daughter-in-law Bob and Tabitha Jensen of Greely, Colo.; daughter and son-in-law Pam and Pat Williamson of Rochester, Minn., daughter and son-in-law Rhonda and Pat McNeilus of Dodge Center, Minn.; 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR  97814

Wanda Burgess

Wanda R. Burgess, 83, a former resident of Baker City and Haines, died Feb. 18, 2009, after a short battle with cancer.

At her request there will be no funeral. A memorial will be held at Wood Village Baptist Church in Wood Village on Feb. 27.

After graduating from Haines High School, Wanda went into nurse’s training at the St. Elizabeth Hospital for two years. She worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland as a unit secretary for many years. After retiring, she volunteered at Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Amos and Ethel Creger, brother Lyle W. Creger, infant granddaughter Catherine Podeyn and son-in-law Clark Podeyn.

She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Bunnand and her husband, Jerry, of Beaverton, Dianne Gustafson and her husband, John, of Myrtle Creek, and Sally Meng and her husband, Mike, of Manteca, Calif.; her son, Bruce Burgess and his wife, Molly, of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters, Irene Meng and her husband, Robert, of Baker City, and Avis Knopes and her husband, Jack, of Clarkston, Wash.; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.