Obituaries - Jan. 4

A funeral service was to be held Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center in Hood River, Ore. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Butte Cemetery in Hood River.

Dessie Irene Clark was born on Oct. 16, 1908, the first of seven children born to John Lawson Clark and Minnie Matilda Story.

They lived in the small village of Amy, Mo., which consisted of a post office, a church and the general store owned by her grandfather John C. Clark.

Her mother died when Irene was 13, leaving a heavy responsibility on her young shoulders for caring for her younger brothers and sisters.

Irene married Floyd Wilson DeBoard on Aug. 29, 1929. The couple moved from Springfield back to the Mountain View area, where Floyd taught through the years in many of the rural schools of the region, and Irene raised their growing family.

In June of 1951 Floyd and Irene, with a family of seven children (ages 4 to 20), made the move to Oregon. They settled in Hood River, where most of their younger children graduated from high school.

In 1957, Floyd died quite suddenly. Irene and her youngest son, Bill DeBoard, moved to Salem, Ore., where she worked and Bill finished school.

She continued to make her life in Salem for the next 40 years. She attended the First Baptist Church in Salem until she moved to assisted living at Marion Estates in Sublimity, in 1997.

Irene was fashionable as a young woman in the clothing of the 1920’s, and she maintained those high standards for personal grooming and attire throughout her long life; hair, nails, makeup, and jewelry were important to her. She loved to shop, and particularly enjoyed Christmas shopping for her children and grandchildren each year.

She loved watching Cardinal baseball on television, but her greatest hobby was cutting and piecing quilts; many of her quilts were sent from Oregon back to Missouri to be quilted by Mary DeBoard at the Ladies Aid of the Forest Dell community near Mountain View.

Irene particularly enjoyed family gatherings, and looked forward to her annual birthday party; the family gathered in Sublimity to celebrate her 97th birthday this past October.

Her powers of observation and perception continued to amaze her family and friends to the very end of her life.

Irene is survived by her seven children: Lu Walker of Beaverton Ore.; Cora Leah Henshaw of John Day, Ore.; Donald DeBoard of Salem; Edwin DeBoard of Hood River; Jaunita Cross of Prineville, Ore.; Snoden DeBoard of Prineville, Ore.; and Bill DeBoard of Sherwood, Ore.

She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

Rememberances to First Baptist Church of Salem, Liberty St., Salem, Ore.

Arrangements by Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations) 1401 Belmont Hood River, OR 97031.

Rosalie Thomsen

Rosalie “Rose” Thomsen, 78, a longtime resident of Hood River, Ore.,died at her home peacefully with her family around her on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005.

She was born on Oct. 7, 1927, in Portland, Ore., the only child to Bjarne Christian and Mabel Alma (Donaldson) Selnes.

She was raised in Dee Mill and graduated from Hood River High School, then went to college for two years at Portland State University. After college she spent her adult life in Hood River.

She married Clifton Robert Thomsen on July 1, 1949, in Washington state.

She worked for Duckwall Pooley Fruit Company for 21 years and has lived in Hood River for 78 years.

She enjoyed traveling with family, gardening, and loved animals, was devoted to her grand-daughter, Kera, loved special friends and was a loving caring mom.

She is survived by two daughters, Karen Thomsen, Robin Thomsen; her son, Jon Thomsen all of Hood River; her three grandchildren, Kera Thomsen of Hood River, Eric Shoop of Oregon City, and Gwyn Austin of Vancouver, Wash; and her great-grandchildren, Tala and Stephen Asbury.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Robert Thomsen.

Private cremation was held at Win-Quatt Crematory of The Dalles with Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Private family committal will be held at Idlewild Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Gorge, 751 Myrtle Street, The Dalles, OR 97058, in memory of Rose Thomsen.

Richard Bailey

Richard John Bailey, 87, a long-time resident of The Dalles, died on Dec. 27, 2005.

Dick was born on Aug. 7, 1918, in Buffalo, N.Y. He and his parents drove across the U.S. to Oregon in a Model T Ford when he was four years old and after living in Portland for a short time they moved to The Dalles.

During his school years, Dick was a member of the Boy Scouts, the Oregon National Guard and the high school football team. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 1938 and attended Oregon State College prior to World War II.

After serving in the army during the war he returned to Oregon State and graduated in 1949.

In 1941 he married Adelaide Zweifel of LaGrande. In 1950 Dick and his family returned to The Dalles where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement.

For many years he ran the cherry orchard which he and his father owned and later he had a peach orchard in Mosier.

Dick married Jeane Coombs of The Dalles in 1972 and together they enjoyed many years growing peaches and flowers, “camping” at Lost Lake and the Oregon Coast, and attending Beaver football games.

He was active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Dalles Elks (64 years), the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, the Wasco County Pioneers, Mosier Lions, OSU alumni groups, the senior centers in The Dalles and Mosier, and the Scotch Guard. He took two memorable trips to Europe in 1998 and in 2001.

He was predeceased by his parents Harry L. and Pauline M. Bailey and his wife, Jeane, who died in 1997.

He is survived by his daughters, Regan Olson of Bend, Ore., Carolyn (Doug) Morrison of Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, Ellen (Paul) Harshbarger of Hood River; two granddaughters, including Aryana Olson of Nashville, Tenn.

Also surviving are his cousin Leonard “Dude” (Dora) Bailey of The Dalles; and many cousins in Oregon and the eastern United States.

He is also survived by Jeane’s children: Frank Coombs, Jehm Roemer, Dudley Coombs, Barbara Jenkins and Beverly Bower.

Dick’s family wishes to thank the staff at Columbia Basin Care Facility and his many friends in The Dalles for their care, support and friendship.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 1805 Minnesota St. in The Dalles.

No flowers please, but memorials to Columbia Basin Care Facility, Home at Last Animal Friends or Seniority (c/o Mid Columbia Medical Center) would be appreciated.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Warren ‘Rudy’ Clements

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs lost a valued member of tribal government with the passing of Warren Rudy Clements on Dec. 28 due to complications of diabetes. He died at St. Charles Hospital in Bend.

Rudy was born on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation on June 10, 1936. He was the oldest son of Bart and Helen McCorkle Clements.

Rudy’s Indian name was Sta-xo-thali. Sta-xo-thali was a treaty signer and Chief of the Lower Deschutes Band, who was killed in 1864 by Paulina’s band near the crossing of the Crooked River, about 12 miles Northeast of Camp Maury. Rudy was a direct descendant of Sta-xo-thali.

Clements was one of the Tribe’s earliest college graduates, getting his Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Eastern Oregon College in La Grande in 1962.

While attending college he served on the student body council, lettered in baseball four years, and lettered two years in basketball. He was also a cheerleader in high school and college. He was an outstanding high school athlete at Madras high school. As a youth he excelled as a boxer, jockey, and bowler. He later bowled in a semi-pro league and traveled around the Northwest competing.

His first job after graduating from college was teaching at David Douglas High School in Portland. Rudy also coached baseball and basketball.

Most of his career was spent with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. His understanding of the political and governmental workings of Indian Country made him a valuable asset to the Confederated Tribes. His knowledge of ancient Indian customs, traditions, dances and Indian lore, along with his entertaining speaking style, made him a much in demand speaker for a wide array of audiences.

Over the years Rudy has worked with various dance groups to raise funds for the Lincoln’s Day Pow Wow held in Simnasho every February. Over the years Rudy’s groups had performed for a multitude of foreign dignitaries, VIPs, corporations, and governmental agencies.

In 1964, Rudy became the first director of the new Warm Springs Community Center. Clements coached baseball and boxing at that time. In 1968, he accepted the newly created position of Education Coordinator. He also served as Community Action Program Director, responsible for Head Start, VISTA and Neighborhood Youth Corps services.

In 1969, the Northwest Lab in Portland hired Clements. Northwest Lab, under the Department of Labor, conceptualized an innovative new program. Rudy was selected over 100 other applicants. He directed the pilot program called “Northwest Area Manpower Institute for Development of Staff.”

Next Rudy was asked to start up a new branch that would dispense information to the tribal public as well as the off-reservation public. The Tribal Relations branch was comprised of KWSO radio, the Spilyay Tymoo, the Print Shop and Public Relations.

He served on numerous boards, commissions, service groups and various committees. Six Oregon Governors called on him, appointing him to state boards. Rudy was particularly proud of his role in assisting the State Legislature in creating the Commission of Indian Services. Working at the grass roots level with then Senator Vic Atiyeh, Rudy was instrumental in helping lay the foundation for a body that has become a strong voice in the Oregon Legislature for Native Americans.

His passion for the last 10 years was his involvement in gaming issues for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. He was on the ground floor when the Tribe entered the gaming business. He served as Chairman of the Indian Head Casino Board of Directors since its inception. Later when the Indian Head Casino merged with Kah-Nee-Ta, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino. He has been working tirelessly to help the Tribe expand its gaming operation to the Columbia River Gorge. Shortly before his death, Rudy remarked that when the doors to the new casino at Cascade Locks were open, he would retire.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 47 years, Anna Queahpama Clements. Also surviving is a granddaughter, Shayla Frank, and a great-grandson, Jake Frank. Brothers George Clements, Mike Clements and Grant Clements also survive him. Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews. Rudy’s parents and daughter, Trudee Ann Clements, preceded him in death.

Rudy practiced the Washat Indian religion as he learned it from the Queahpama family. The three sisters, Nettie, Matilda, and Sylvia were instrumental in his teaching. Rudy worshiped at the Simnasho Longhouse for many years.

A prayer service was held at the Rudy and Anna Clements residence on Dec. 29. The dressing was at the Simnasho Longhouse on Dec. 30, followed by overnight Washat services. Interdenominational services followed the Washat service, with burial at the Agency Cemetery.

Delmer Wabschall

Delmer Harry Wabschall, an Odell, Ore., resident, died Dec. 29, 2005, at his residence. He was 76 years of age.

Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 1 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center.

Delmer Wabschall was born Oct. 15, 1929, in Williston, N.D. to Archie and Florence (Brown) Wabschall.

He was raised and educated in Williston, coming to Hood River in 1950. He served in the Armed Forces during the Korean Conflict where he was stationed in Alaska.

Delmer worked for many years at the Tip Top Tavern and Elks Club, then Champion Plywood Mill as a hyster operator until his retirement.

He moved to Centralia, Wash. in the mid 1980’s where he owned and operated Myron’s Tavern for about five years.

He returned to Hood River in 1991. Delmer had been a member of the Elks Lodge since 1958 and was also a member of the Eagles Lodge, the American Legion and the V.F.W. He enjoyed playing cards and cribbage, fishing, mushroom hunting and visiting his family and many friends.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Wabschall of Hood River; son Steve Wabschall and his wife, Suzanne,of Scappoose, Ore.; daughters Loree Reinhardt and her husband John of Newberg, Ore. and Kelly Wabschall of Hood River; sisters Sybil Larson and her husband Donnie, Shirley Edmonds and Laura Oyen.

Also surviving are five grandchildren: Aaron and Jamie Wabschall and Travis, Jerad and Zachary Reinhardt. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Archie and sister Vada.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PROD (Promoting Responsible Ownership of Dogs), or the Oregon Veteran’s Home, c/o Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031.