United States High School Yearbooks by County
Mylo Whalen
7/14/2001
T. Mylo Whalen grew up and attended schools in Toledo, Ohio, where he graduated from DeVilbiss High School.
A small business entrepreneur, he owned a bar and restaurant in Toledo during the 1940s.
He married his wife, Alice, in Toledo in 1934. She died in November 2000.
In 1952, Mr. Whalen moved his family to Southern California.
During the 1950s and ’60s, he owned and managed a bowling alley in Chula Vista.
Before his retirement he was also a real estate agent. He and his wife moved to Paradise in 1972.
Mr. Whalen enjoyed golf and fishing.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Chula Vista.
He was also a member of the Senior Citizens’ Center in Paradise, where he enjoyed playing pool and poker.
Mr. Whalen died Monday at Cypress Acres Convalescent Hospital. He was 88.
His survivors include his son, Thomas of Danville; two granddaughters; and three great-granddaughters.
No services are planned. Neptune Society of Northern California, Chico branch, is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Paradise Hospice.
Susan Wilhite
7/17/2001
As a wildlife artist, Susan Wilhite made a living photographing and painting the birds and animals she loved and studied. She traveled to arts and crafts shows across the country selling her work.
An avid outdoorswoman, she had a passion for hiking and kayaking.
She was born to Frederick and Alta Boyd in Fresno, where she was raised and educated. She lived in various places before settling in Paradise in 1975. She later moved to Magalia.
Ms. Wilhite died July 9 in an automobile accident while vacationing in Canada. She was 58.
Her survivors include a son, Rob of Magalia; a sister, Joanie James, of Mendocino; and two grandchildren.
A casual gathering to honor Ms. Wilhite will be held 5 p.m. Thursday at the Oroville Wildlife Facility, Larkin Access Launching.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a kayak, blanket or chair, memories and memorabilia to share.
Take Highway 99 south, turn left on Highway 162 east, go 7 miles, turn on Larkin Road and go 3 miles to the facility.
Memorial donations may be made to the Susan Wilhite Memorial Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Funeral Service of Magalia. For information, call 873-7602.
Amy Wonacott
7/17/2001
Amy Wonacott, who lived to be 102, liked to crochet, knit, sew, garden, cook and make assorted crafts.
A resident of Pardise from 1966 to 1992, she was a member of Eastern Star and Rebekahs.
Mrs. Wonacott died July 4 in Yuma, Ariz. She was born to Charlie and Priscilla Scott in Santa Ana.
She attended schools in Willits and was married there to Eley Wonacott June 12, 1921. He died before her, as did a brother, Walter, and two sisters, Ruth and Edna.
Her survivors include a daughter, Edna Green in Yuma, Ariz.; a son, Jeff Wonacott of Corona del Mar; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held at a later date. She will be inurned in Magalia Cemetery.
Levi Thorup
7/17/2001
Levi Berg Thorup served as past bishop, mission president and patriarch within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He was self-employed as an insurance salesman for about 30 years. He enjoyed gardening and reading. He also liked listening to his wife, Florence, play the piano before her death in 1997.
Mr. Thorup died at age 92 Saturday in Feather River Hospital. He was born in Salt Lake City to John and Andrea Thorup. He moved to Paradise from Fontana in 1976.
He is survived by two sons, Burgess of Magalia and Bryce of Paradise; a daughter, Ronda Williams of Ashland, Ore.; 18 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Rose Chapel Mortuary and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow in the Relief Society Room at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first ward (Buschmann Road). The service will be held in the church at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
Mr. Thorup will be interred at Larkin Sunset Lawn, Salt Lake City.
Charlotte Chastain
7/17/2001
Charlotte Chastain, a Paradise resident since 1984, died Friday at Riverside Convales-cent Hos-pital. She was 62.
Ms. Chastain loved to go shopping. She was born in Oklahoma.
Two brothers, William Chastain of Pacifica and Edward Chastain of Paradise, survive her.
A graveside service in Paradise Cemetery will be held 1 p.m. tomorrow. Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Claudine Berg
7/17/2001
After graduating from high school in Marshall, Okla., Claudine “Jo” M. Berg worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., for a short time. In the early 1940s, she moved to California.
She lived in Brentwood for 32 years. Then she and her husband of 37 years, Bengt Berg, retired to Magalia.
Mrs. Berg loved crafts, painting, gardening, all wildlife and spending time with her family.
She was a member of the Brentwood Soroptomists for many years and the first woman president of the Brentwood Lyon’s Club.
Mrs. Berg, 76, died at home Friday. She was born in Wichita, Kan., and raised in Oklahoma.
Besides her husband, Bengt, she is survived by two daughters, Mary Jo Hart of Hayward and Melanie Gerkin of Magalia; two sons, Steven Gerkin of Scotts Mills, Ore., and John Berg of La Pine, Ore.; two stepchildren, Jennie Berg and Stefan Berg of Sweden; a sister, Aline Heydman of Oklahoma City; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
At her request, no formal services will be held. A private memorial picnic will be held to celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, contribution in her memory may be made to Butte Home Health Hospice, 10 Constitution Drive, Chico, 95973.
Helen Jessen
7/17/2001
Helen Iren Jessen worked 44 years as a telephone operator for Pacific Telephone. She lived in Paradise from 1945 to 1997 before moving to Los Angeles.
Mrs. Jessen died Friday at age 90.
She was born to Frank and Jessie Bryan in Vacaville.
She is survived by nephews and nieces in Los Angeles. Her husband died Oct. 31, 1973 in Paradise.
No services are planned. Paradise Chapel of the Pines is handling the arrangements. Mrs. Jessen will be privately buried
in Los Angeles.
Memorial contributions may be made to any favorite charity in care of Chapel of the Pines.
John Moritz
7/19/2001
When former Paradise fire Capt. John Moritz was in high school, he rose early to make sure his bedridden mother had water and food for the day before he left the house.
“He took care of me when I was flat on my back,” said Dorothy Moritz, who was pregnant and bedridden at the time.
“He made sure my pitcher was full and that I could reach it.”
Mr. Moritz, who died Monday at Enloe Medical Center, served as a Paradise firefighter from February 1968 to August 1997. Before that, he was a volunteer firefighter.
Fire Chief Jim Broshears described his former co-worker, as “one of those guys who would do anything for anybody anytime.
“If it was a roof that needed to go on, he was there, pounding nails,” Broshears said.
As a young firefighter, Broshears purchased a small house with a large pool. Moritz, an accomplished welder, built a wrought iron railing with a gate to keep the children away from the pool.
“There’s no way I could have afforded it at the time,” he said. “I was really proud of that railing.”
When he was off work, Mr. Moritz ran a welding business.
“There’s wrought iron work of his all over town,” Broshears said.
Mr. Moritz also had a claim on Last Chance Creek and enjoyed mining for gold. He also collected mining and firefighting artifacts.
He looked forward to annual hunting trips with his friends, which became more and more involved as the years went on.
“You know guys,” Broshears said. “We think we’re camping but we drag a whole motel room along.”
Mr. Moritz was a member of the Paradise Rod and Gun Club, the Butte County Arson Task Force and the Christian Missionary Alliance Church.
He was born in Wyoming and later moved to Nebraska before settling in Paradise 36 years ago.
He served in the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; two sons, John of Chico and Christopher of Paradise; two daughters, Teresa Poe of Sacramento and Katrina LaBonte of Paradise; his mother, Dorothy of Paradise; a brother, Ralph of Pleasanton; a sister, Lois Dowell of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and two grandsons.
A service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church’s mission fund.
Mr. Moritz will be privately inurned. Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Evelyn Hamlow
7/21/2001
Evelyn Hamlow retired as an aircraft stockroom worker for North American Airlines before moving to Paradise from Hawthorne in 1978.
She was a very active member of the Magalia Communi-ty Church. She enjoyed collecting miniatures of all sorts. She also liked to bowl.
Mrs. Hamlow, 86, died Tuesday in Paradise. She was born in Fairmont, Minn., to Charles and Edith Wakey.
Her husband, John Hamlow, died in 1989.
Her survivors include a son, Jerry of Whittier; a daughter, Patt Briston of San Jose; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Magalia Community Church. Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements. Mrs. Hamlow will be interred in Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico.
Carol Fast
7/21/2001
Carol Fast was born to Robert and Dorothy Craft in Kansas City, Mo. She graduated from Anaheim High School and from Butte College.
She had owned a beauty salon back east and also worked with the disabled.
On May 30, 1998, she married Richard Fast in Reno, Nev. She loved to camp and travel, and she and her husband spent a lot of time on the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Mrs. Fast died July 14 of natural causes in a local hospital. She was 54.
Besides her husband, Richard, she is survived by two daughters, Julia Herndon of Paradise and Jeanette Gardner of Santa Barbara; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. July 29 at the Four Square Gospel Church on Bille Road.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Diabetes Association in care of the Brusie Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements.
Nada Rassman
7/21/2001
Nada J. “Penny” Rassman traveled a lot and especially loved to gamble, especially in her favorite spot, Laughlin, Nev.
She worked as a waitress at numerous establishments for 40 years. She also worked at the Wal-Mart distribution center in Reno, Nev. And she owned and operated a board and care home in Oroville.
Ms. Rassman died July 13 in Oroville after a long illness. She was 76. She was born in Kellogg, Idaho.
She is survived by three sons, Gino Martini of Castro Valley, Mike Martini of Oroville and Steven Ramsey of Sletz, Ore.; two sisters, Carolyn Kraus and Merrilyn Degischer of Paradise; a brother, David Miller of Kellogg, Idaho; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Friday at the Oroville Cemetery. Neptune Society of Northern California, Chico branch, is handling the arrangements.
Donations may be made to the American Lung Association.
Gilbert Christensen
7/24/2001
Gilbert P. Christensen liked digging around in his garden, especially growing Easter lily bulbs, which he sold to make a living for a time.
A building contractor by profession, Mr. Christensen also was a volunteer for Church Builders of America.
He attended Oak Park Academy in Nevada, Iowa, and Union College in Lincoln, Neb.
Mr. Christensen, a resident of Paradise for 29 years, died Wednesday at Cypress Acres. He was 96.
In Audobon, Iowa, he was born to Jacob and Stena Christensen.
He married LaMerne in Cherokee, Iowa, in 1933. She died in 1995.
He is survived by two daughters, Marjorie Ostenberg of Junction City, Ore., and Carole Paul of Paradise; two brothers, Joseph of Lincoln, Neb., and Donald of New York; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A service was held yesterday at the Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church. Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
He will be inurned in Paradise Cemetery.
Maxine French
7/26/2001
Maxine Louise French, a one-time 20-year resident of Paradise, sold mobile homes in Northern California. She loved to fish and cook.
Mrs. French died Saturday in her hometown, Junction City, Ore. She was 82.
She was born to Nellie and Lloyd Barger in Iowa. On Dec. 18, 1938, she married William Lamar French in Long Beach.
Surviving her are a son, William C. French Sr.; a sister, Irene Meader; a brother, Sonny Barger; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Predeceasing her are her husband, William, a son, Earl French; two sisters, Hazel Santos and Rosemary Bartley; and a brother, Marvin Barger.
The family will hold a gravesite ceremony Sunday in Paradise Cemetery.
Toivo Nyy
7/26/2001
Toivo E. Nyy served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1944 and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He worked for Alcoa Aluminum for 30 years. He enjoyed the desert and was an amateur radio buff.
Mr. Nyy died at Sierra Sunrise in Chico. He was 81. He was a resident of Paradise for a year.
In Duluth, Minn., he was born to Olga and John Nyy.
One niece and two great-nieces survive him.
No services are planned. Neptune Society of Northern California, Chico branch, is handling the arrangements.
Sophie Pollard
7/28/2001
Sophie Pollard was an avid collector, accumulating antique postcards, fans, spoons, bells and buttons. Friends and family would save pearly buttons for her, which she gathered over the years until she sewed them onto a black dress, which she wore with pride.
The dress had 2,800 buttons.
Mrs. Pollard was born to Paula and Louis Hojnacki in Detroit. In infancy she contracted polio, but she overcame the disability.
She worked as an assembler for the National Greeting Card Company in Detroit.
On Nov. 16, 1940, she married Daniel Pollard. The family moved to California in 1962. She and her husband moved from Simi Valley to Paradise 26 years ago.
Mrs. Pollard died Wednesday at her son’s Paradise home. She had celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and caregivers.
Her survivors include a son, Michael Pollard of Paradise; two grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nephews.
Her husband, Daniel, died in 1980. Also predeceasing her were a sister, Esther Orcutt, and a brother, Felix Hojnack.
Visitation and a vigil will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Rose Chapel.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More. Rev. James O’Brian will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Paradise Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Valley Ridge Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Daniel Minton
7/28/2001
Daniel Minton loved working on old cars as well as collecting them - especially a 1955 Chevy he restored.
He also enjoyed fishing, camping and playing horseshoes.
His prized companion was his Chinese pug named Boomer.
He worked more than 26 years as an auto mechanic for the city of Concord. He moved to Magalia eight years ago.
Mr. Minton died Wednesday in his home at age 63. He was born in Rapid City, S.D. On Dec. 23, 1959, he married Zell in Concord.
She survives him, as do four sons, Darrell of Dallas, Daniel Jr. of Bay Point, Dennis of Antioch and Douglas Sr. of Antioch; a daughter, Darlene Freeman of Concord; a brother, Ken of Fulton; three sisters, Betty Wiley of Benicia, Judy Moore of North Jackson, Ohio, and Eldora Cramer of Benicia; and 14 grandchildren.
Two brothers and a grandchild died before him.
A service will be held 10 a.m. today in Vallejo. He will be interred in Skyview Memorial Lawn in Vallejo.
Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Larry Estes
7/31/2001
Lt. Larry Estes dedicated most of his life to serving the citizens of Butte County. He joined the Butte County Sheriff’s Department in 1970 as a reserve deputy while working full time as an automotive manager in Chico.
Lt. Estes loved serving so much, he resigned his management position and joined as a regular sheriff’s deputy in 1973.
He attended the first class of the Butte College Law Enforcement Academy in 1973, obtaining a peace officer standards and training basic certificate. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the Paradise and Upper Ridge until his transfer to the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force in 1985.
Lt. Estes handled narcotic-related crimes until 1989. For this work, he was awarded the 1985 Peace Officer of the Year award from the Chico Elks Lodge. He was known in BINTF as the man who brought laughter and fun to the unit. Therefore, upon his transfer from BINTF, the unit honored him with a Certificate of Appreciation for meritorious performance in the arts of “hoodwinking, chip pitching, singing, tap dancing and choir performance.”
“He liked to joke and play around with people,” Sgt. Butch Ellis said.
Lt. Estes returned to patrol duties on the Ridge for two years until he was promoted to sergeant in 1991, when he became patrol sergeant and administrative sergeant. In this capacity, he earned a POST Supervisory and an Intermediate Certificate.
Noted for his excellence as a supervisor, Lt. Estes was given the Paradise Veterans of Foreign Wars 1993 Peace Office of the Year award. It cited his innate ability to obtain resources with minimal cost.
He was responsible for the Biggs Law Enforcement Contact, the Designated Area Deputy Program and Drug Resistance Education program. He was the liaison between the BINTF and Butte Anti-drug Special Supervision units, the reserve coordinator, honor guard coordinator and field training officer coordinator.
“Larry was the most upbeat, persevering officer I knew,” Sgt. Tony Burdine said. “Larry was always giving it his all.”
In 1994, Lt. Estes transferred to the investigation unit, becoming chief criminal investigator. Once again, he made the unit a fun but professional place to work. A year later, he was promoted to lieutenant and became chief deputy coroner.
He earned an Advanced POST Certificate and Management POST Certifi-cate. He was also the coordinator for search and rescue.
“If you needed someone behind you, it would be Larry,” Sgt. Perry Reniff said. “Regardless of what rank he was, he would be out there helping his deputies.”
In 1998, he was promoted to assistant sheriff in charge of the administration division. He renovated the division, acquiring a new communications center.
During the reorganization of the sheriff’s administration in 1999, he became lieutenant in charge of backgrounds, training, internal affairs, civil and court security.
Lt. Estes died in the line of duty Thursday in Inskip. The Paradise resident was 61. He was born in San Diego.
The most important event in his life was when he married Carolyn Reese in Carson City, Nev., July 18, 1966. While on vacation in Mendocino, celebrating their 35th anniversary, he surprised his wife with a beautiful anniversary ring.
Lt. Estes enjoyed exploring the outdoors, camping, and riding a jeep or motorcycle. He also loved restoring his 1955 Cameo.
Spending time with family and friends was especially important to him.
He took great joy in helping anyone he could - at the drop of a hat, his wife said.
His humor and optimism brought joy to many. He seemed to know when and where he was needed; he never waited to be called.
Besides his wife, Carolyn, survivors include two sons, Brian of Placerville and Darren of Paradise; a daughter, Jennifer of Discovery Bay; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service for Lt. Estes and Deputy Bill Hunter, who died with him, will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Neighborhood Church in Chico.
Visitation will be held noon to 5 p.m. today at Rose Chapel and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Larry Estes Memorial Fund, established to assist the Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, in care of Butte Community Bank, Paradise branch.
Bill Hunter
7/31/2001
He graduated from Butte College and returned to join the 100th class of the Butte College Law Enforcement Academy.
He joined the Butte County Sheriff’s Department in August 1998.
Two years later, on August 18, he married Holly Spurlock of Elk Creek. They lived on a ranch in Durham. He enjoyed owning livestock. An outdoor enthusiast, he fished, hunted and hiked.
He was a NASCAR fan and a member of Grace Community Church, Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Deputy Hunter died in the line of duty Thursday in Inskip. He was 26.
A closed-casket public visitation will be held tomorrow 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Grace Community Church in Chico.
A memorial service for Deputy Hunter and Lt. Larry Estes, who died with him, will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Neighborhood Church in Chico.
A private Burial will take place at Glen Oaks Memorial Park. Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bull Hunter Memorial Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell.
Janet Ziel
7/31/2001
Janet Ziel was working as a flight attendant in the Bay Area when she met the love of her life, Dave Ziel, at a Safeway in the winter of 1958.
It was love at first sight. They married on Oct. 11, 1959. The Ziels moved to Paradise in the summer of 1971.
The joy she had raising her four sons spilled over into her work as a teacher’s aide. Paradise Elementary School hired her in 1983. The children adored her, and co-workers respected her.
Mrs. Ziel also loved walking with her husband, visiting with friends and neighbors and solving crossword puzzles.
Mrs. Ziel, 66, died from complications with cancer Saturday in her Paradise home. She was born to Jack and Clara Ranch in Buckley, Wash. She came from a family of seven sisters and four brothers.
Besides her husband, Dave, Mrs. Ziel’s survivors include four sons, Steve of Magalia, Brad of Hayden, Idaho, doug of Post Falls, Idaho, and Greg of Magalia.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Paradise Alliance Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Paradise Alliance Church, or homegrown flowers may be sent to family.
Richard Bracklow
7/31/2001
Richard Gerard Bracklow was born to Paul and Geri Bracklow in Alabama. He lived in Simi Valley and Los Angeles. He moved to Inskip from Anaheim 14-1/2 years ago.
He completed high school and two years of college.
Mr. Bracklow’s mother, Geri, said he was a caring, loving man with a gentle nature. He loved his dog, Yodle, a wolf-malamut mix.
Mr. Bracklow died Thursday at home. He was 46.
Surviving him are his parents, Paul and Geri Bracklow of Paradise; four brothers, John of Fieldbrook, David of Chandler, Ariz., Edward of Louisiana and Peter of Southern California; and a sister, Linda Wise of Maryland.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. tomorrow at Paradise Assembly of God Church.
Cremation will be at Paradise Chapel of the Pines. Private inurnment will follow.
