Obituaries for June 5, 2009

‘Patsy’ Patterson

Patricia Ann “Patsy” Patterson, 83, of Oliver, British Columbia, a former North Powder resident, died peacefully at her home on May 3, 2009, surrounded by her family.

Her memorial service was May 7 at Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Chapel at Oliver, British Columbia. John Nunes officiated. An urn interment and committal was May 8 at the Oliver Municipal Cemetery.

Patsy, the eldest of four children, was was born on April 17, 1926, at Hot Lake to Gerald Lester and Lula Adeline Davis Petersen.

She attended elementary school in North Powder and graduated from North Powder High School on May 19, 1943. She was active in athletics, Girls League, dramatics, and Glee Club all four years of high school. She was a student body officer, editor of the Broadcaster, Girls League president, librarian and class officer.

Patsy worked at the North Powder School District as deputy clerk and at Petersen Grocery and Meat Market in North Powder, which was owned and operated by her father.

She married Ronald Patterson on April 19, 1947, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Baker City. Patsy and her family moved to Williams Lake, British Columbia, where they ran a cattle ranch. Patsy loved to garden, but her life and love was her family and friends.

She a great-granddaughter of John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis, who homesteaded the family ranch at North Powder in 1872; and Chris and Rosella Petersen, who were Baker County pioneers.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Ronald Patterson; daughters, Jeannie, and her husband, Randy Durante, and Paula and her husband, Stephen Almond; six grandchildren, Morrie Patrick and his wife, Rosena Gunn, Sean William Gunn, Brandy-Lee Durante, Jeremy and his wife, Holly Stangoe, Janine Patricia Stangoe and Shanna Christine Stangoe Stangoe; great-grandchildren Kyle Colby, Tatianna MacKenzie, Joshua Ward, Joey, Kennedy, Chase and Dauson; sisters, Dorothy Christine, and her husband, Lewis O’Mohundro, and Linda Lee and her husband, Bruce Clausen; sister-in-law, Janet Petersen; six nephews, Lee Ray O’Mohundro, Richard Lewis O’Mohundro, Michael Chris Petersen, Thomas Gregg Petersen, Jeffrey Philip Petersen, and Stephen John Petersen; and four nieces, Susan Kay Bailey, Amy Roth Basey, Tara Ashoff and Tracy Buckholz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald Petersen and Lula and Bill Cantrell; a brother, Johnny Chris Petersen; and a niece, Leslee Ann O’Mohundro.

Madeleine Riggle

Madeleine Louise Riggle, 99, a former Baker County resident, died June 3, 2009, at Bend surrounded by her family.

Her family and friends will gather in her honor from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 2836 Red Oak Drive in Bend. 

Mrs. Riggle was born on Sept. 17, 1909, at Haden, Wash., to Horace and Lina Hunkler Brown. She was raised at Coos Bay and later earned her master’s degree in education from Southern Oregon College of Education (now Southern Oregon University) at Ashland.

She began her teaching career in Wallowa County where she met her future husband, Donald Riggle. They were married on Dec. 31, 1933. They had two children, John and Ronee.

The couple moved to Pondosa where she was named Teacher of the Year.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Ronee and Gene of Bend; grandchildren, Kim and Dan Blackwell and Gena Whipkey of Bend, John, Jim and Tammy Riggle of Portland and Gene Jr. and Sue of Albany; 11 great- and six great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her son.

Memorial contributions may be made to Partners in Care – Hospice, 2075 N.E. Wyatt Court, Bend, OR 97701.