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Ella Ruth Voth Connelly
Aug. 31, 1912 - Feb. 9, 2008
Ella Connelly, 95, of Salem died Feb. 9.
She was born in Oklahoma to John H. and Katherine Sperling Voth. She grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska.
She married Ray Connelly in 1944 and they enjoyed 55 years together. He preceded her in death.
She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Salem.
She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Ed Parker, and two great-grandsons.
Survivors include her daughters, Patricia (Robert) Wolf, Margaret Parker, Judy (Roman) Baszniak, and Dorothy (Mike) Haynes, all of the Salem area; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Service was Feb. 15 at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service, Salem, and internment was in Dallas Cemetery.
Contributions are suggested to Union Gospel Mission or the First Baptist Church of Salem Mission Fund.
Leroy Leon Lalack
Sept. 10, 1935 - Feb. 10, 2008
Leroy Leon Lalack, 72, of Salem died Feb. 10.
He was born in Salem to Andrew Lalack Sr. and Elizabeth Josephine Albright Lalack.
Leroy collected horses, loved to go on outings and to restaurants, and enjoyed putting together many jigsaw puzzles which were displayed throughout his group home.
Leroy was preceded in death by his brothers, Andrew Lalack Jr., Joseph Eugene Lalack, Donald Lalack, and William Charles Lalack Sr.; his sister, Rose Anna Lalack Culwell, and an infant sister.
Survivors include his twin brother, Leland Lawrence Lalack of North Bend; brother, David Lee Lalack of Dallas; and sister, Mary Louise Lalack Barton of Dallas.
Graveside service was Feb. 14 at Smith Cemetery in Monmouth.
Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.
Maynard "Fred" Williams Jr.
March 8, 1955 - Feb. 3, 2008
Maynard "Fred" Williams Jr., 52, of Independence died Feb. 3.
He was born to Maynard and Lenora Williams in Goldendale, Wash.
He met and married his best friend and soulmate, Julie, and together they raised six children.
Fred's family was his life and they did everything together, from gardening to camping. He enjoyed school sports. He was a kind, gentle and humorous man.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lenora, and a nephew, Brian Brady.
Survivors include his wife, Julie of Independence; children, Maynard Williams III of Goldendale, Robbie Williams of Salem, Brandon Williams, Shannon Castro, Shanelle (Daniel) Cooper, all of Independence, and Melissa (Jose) Nava of Monmouth; father, Maynard Williams Sr., of Goldendale; sisters, Karen Schrader, Diana Schelhorn, Sherri White, and Pam White, all of Goldendale, Sandra Roberts of California and Patsy Burris of Wishram, Wash.; special friend and brother-in-law, Andy; and seven grandchildren.
Celebration of Fred's life will be March 8 in Independence.
Alternative Burial and Cremation, Tualatin, handled arrangements.
Anna J. Runkle
Oct. 14, 1925 - Feb. 8, 2008
Anna J. Runkle, 82, of Dallas died Feb. 8 in Dallas.
She was born to James and Mattie Wiersma in Fillmore County, Minn.
She and Donald "Pete" Runkle were married July 26, 1943, and enjoyed 40 years together.
She was happiest working in her flower beds and spending time with her family. She had a green thumb for African Violets and turned the most pitiful into a thing of beauty. She was always sending care packages of homemade jams, breads, jerky and salsa to family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete, in 1983 and a grandson, Jacob Wilkerson, who died of cancer in 2004.
Survivors include her children, Les (Phyllis) of Culver, Duane (Deb) of Coquille, Jim (Holly) of Prineville, Larry (Judy) of Lebanon, Carol (John) Metully of Gleneden Beach, and Colleen (John) Reed of North Pole, Alaska; 17 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Col. Vance Owen Smith
March 3, 1919 - Feb. 14, 2008
Vance Owen Smith, 88, of Corvallis, formerly of Independence, died Feb. 14.
He was born in Airlie to Tom and Mabel Smith.
He grew up in Independence where he worked in his father's I.G.A. Grocery Store alongside his brother, Dean.
He attended the University of Oregon, majoring in business administration. Vance then moved on in 1941 to become the youngest Oregon State Police officer at that time.
During World War II he was an officer in command of a transportation company in the Philippines. After the war he stayed in the Army, making it his career for 33 years. He retired as a colonel.
His speciality in the military was logistics, the coordination and movement of supplies. Vance was a veteran of three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He received the Legion of Merit (multiple awards), Bronze Star and the Joint Forces Commendation Medal.
In 1943 he married Mildred, and they had a son, Duane.
Following his retirement he and his wife, Mildred, settled in Corvallis, working in Amway. Vance served as treasurer of the local Rotary Club.
He was preceded in death by his wife. Survivors include his son, Duane.
Service was Feb. 20 at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis.
Letha Mae Andrews
Oct. 31, 1937 - March 18, 2008
Letha Mae Andrews, 70, of Monmouth died March 18 in Monmouth.
Letha was born in San Francisco to Fred and Inez Steinhaus Hobbs.
Letha loved the ocean, gardening, quilting, her family and her cats Dolly and Keri.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Monmouth.
Survivors include her son, David Andrews of Oakland, Calif.; daughter, Janet Duarte of San Lorenzo, Calif.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was March 21 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Monmouth.
Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.
Robert "Bob" Thompson
Aug. 15, 1948 - March 12, 2008
Robert "Bob" Thompson, 59, of Salem, formerly of Dallas, died March 12 following a short battle with cancer.
He was born to Ralph and Della Thompson.
He spent his childhood growing up in Valsetz. He graduated from Dallas High School in 1966, then moved to Princeton, Idaho.
Bob returned to Dallas and married Betty Lamprecht on Feb. 24, 1968. Together they made their home in the Dallas area until moving to Newport in 1993. They moved to Salem in 2006 to be closer to family.
Bob loved fishing, hunting and ATV riding with his family and best friend Bill Dodson. Bob was always happiest when spending time with his grandchildren, Morgan, Cassandra and Justyn.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; son, Ralph; daughter, Connie; father, Ralph; sister, Kathy; and three grandchildren.
Service was held March 22 at the Masonic Lodge in Dallas.
