Obituaries

The granddaughter of pioneer families Peter and Catherine Conboy (Glenwood) and William and Viola Wright (Trout Lake) and the daughter to Orie L. and Mabel Conboy (Glenwood), Mrs. Talbert was born in Portland, Ore., Aug. 23, 1928.

Along with her sister and brothers, she was raised in the rural lifestyles of ranching, logging and community kinship in Glenwood. She graduated from Glenwood High School in 1946. On May 3, 1947, she married Earl (Rocky) Talbert of White Salmon, and together bore five children.

Family ranching and farming, interspersed with periods of working in the woods and sawmill, moved the family to Olex, Ore., then to Boardman, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater.

In 1962, the family moved to Gresham, Ore. Mrs. Talbert worked in the local school lunch program as a cook until 1967 when she and family moved to Missoula, Mont.

In November of 1969 she lost her husband, Rocky, in a tragic accident. In June that year she had graduated from the Missoula Vo-Tech as a licensed practical nurse and had begun, what was to become, a 26-year nursing career with the Missoula Community Hospital. She retired in 1993, but continued to work part-time at the hospital for another five years, prior to moving to Bozeman, Mont. in 2003.

An active and involved participant with her family and community, she spent much time outdoors. A hunter, fisher(man), bowler, square dancer, senior golfer, and sometimes cross-country skier, backpacker and far ranging traveler, kept her active, healthy and happy. Gardening her small plots and fruit trees in Missoula and Bozeman, along with her outdoor activities, kept her in touch with the land. Her passion for an active and healthy lifestyle served her to the very end.

Mrs. Talbert also served through her dedication to nursing, recreational interests and local union participation. In 1976, she successfully served as the Missoula Women's Slow Pitch Softball league commissioner (and she didn't even play softball). While in Missoula, she was an active member of the Solo Stars Square Dancing Club and Lolo Squares, two bowling leagues, and the University Women's Golf League.

A dedicated, caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all those who knew her, Mrs. Talbert gave of herself in ways few are aware of or could understand. Her reward was simply in knowing the needs of others were served. A "true Christian heart;" compassionate...forgiving...fair.

She is survived by her daughter Gail, Turah, Mont.; and sons Dennis, Kamiah, Idaho, Rich, Eagle, Idaho, and Dan, Bozeman, Mont.; brother Les Conboy, Hermiston, Ore.; great-children A.J. Swanson and Alyssa Raunig and grandchildren Nicole and Garrick Swanson; Wendy and Scott Talbert; Sarah, Julia, Emily, Carly and Tessa Talbert; Shaun Raunig and Dustin and Alex Talbert. She was preceded in death by her husband Rocky, infant daughter Susan, her parents, sister June and brothers Bill and Dick.

A memorial service was held Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula. Her cremated remains will be interned with Rocky at a graveside memorial Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the White Salmon IOOF Cemetery.

LAURA SMITH

Former White Salmon resident Laura E. Smith, 76, died Nov. 13, 2008, in Ilwaco. The daughter of Edgar and Elsie Mae (Collins) Boyer, she was born May 19, 1932, at home in Goldendale. She was a 1949 graduate of Columbia High School in White Salmon.

She married Donn B. Smith on Sept. 9, 1956. She became a devoted wife and mother, and was one of the first certified nursing assistants in Oregon. Twelve years ago she moved to Ocean Park.

Mrs. Smith was a charter member of Grace Baptist Church in White Salmon, and was currently an active member of Peninsula Baptist Church of Ocean Park.

Besides being a homemaker extraordinaire, she enjoyed spinning, weaving, sewing, baking, writing, music, but most of all, her family.

Besides her husband Donn, with whom she recently celebrated 52 years of marriage, Mrs. Smith is survived by children Brian Smith, Garden Valley, Idaho, Kathy Friesen, Vernon, B.C., Canada, Jeff Smith, Corvallis, Ore., Andy Smith, Milwaukie, Ore., and Jeanne Bellinger, Ocean Park; brothers Edgar James Boyer Jr., Kennewick, and Marvin Boyer, Stateville, N.C.; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by a sister, daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.

A memorial service was held Nov. 18, 2008, at Peninsula Baptist Church in Ocean Park.

The guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.