Leonard Wilson
HUNTINGTON – Leonard “Von” Wilson, age 76, went to his eternal home on Oct. 31, 2006.
Von was born July 28, 1930 in Huntington, to Leonard Wilson and Lela Grange Wilson. Von was the second child in a family of 10 children.
After completion of his school years, Von joined the United States Marine Corps where he faithfully served his country for four years. Von married his sweetheart, Etheleen Airhart on July 24, 1953 in Los Angeles, Calif., and moved to Huntington to make their home. Von was sealed to his beloved Ethel in the Manti LDS Temple.
Von was an honest man and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. When the coal mines were temporarily shut down, he immediately served as a manager of a truck stop in Flagstaff, Ariz. When the mines started up again, he returned to Utah where he worked until he retired.
Von was a natural born cowboy and enjoyed riding horses and working with cattle. He was a valuable asset to the Huntington Cattle Association whereby he assisted in the fall cattle roundups.
Von is survived by wife of 53 years, Etheleen Airhart Wilson; daughters, Linda (Duane) Alphin, Diane Sers; sons, Kenneth (Tina) Wilson, Steven (Kelly) Wilson; brothers, Grant (Nelda) Wilson, Reed (Mavis) Wilson, Bevin (Floann) Wilson, and Ernest Wilson; sister, Donna (Ronald) Kenner; 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents, Leonard and Lela Wilson; brothers, Dick (Doris) Wilson, Bruce Wilson, Dale Wilson; and sister, Lela Ann VanBuren.
In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be sent to the American Lung Association.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. at the Huntington 1st LDS Chapel, 115 S. 400 East. Viewing will be Friday, Nov. 3, 6 to 8 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary located in Castle Dale, 720 N. Center Street. Burial, Huntington cemetery.
Olga Majnik
STANDARDVILLE/SOUTH OGDEN – Olga Smodey Majnik, 87, passed away Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006 in South Ogden from causes incident to age.
Olga was born June 25, 1919 in Standardville, to Yakob (Jacob) P. Smodey and Antonija (Antonia) Urenjak. She married Paul Majnik Nov. 2, 1945 in Butte, Mont. celebrating 50 years of marriage in the year prior to Paul’s death on Nov. 9, 1996.
She spent most of her life in Carbon County, prior to moving to Ogden in 1994. Olga was a member of the Catholic Church and also of the Western Slavonic Association.
She is survived by son, Paul (Juanita), Ogden; two grandsons, Paul (Sara) and Chris Majnik, Salt Lake City; three nieces and a nephew. Preceding her in death were her husband, Paul; parents; two infant daughters; sister, Mary; and three brothers, John, Jack and Andy Smodey.
Graveside services will be Friday, Nov. 3, 11:30 a.m at the Price city cemetery under the direction of Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., Ogden. Email condolences to the family at lom@lindquistmortuary.com
Dorse Oman
PRICE – Dorse Miles Oman was born March 26, 1913 on a farm near Price, the 12th child of Andrew Peter Oman from Mt. Pleasant and Celestia Draper Oman from Moroni.
Dorse grew up farming and ranching and continued ranching up Gordon Creek with two of his brothers when he was a young man. Stories from these years entranced his children and grandchildren. Pop was in the first graduating class from Carbon College (now College of Eastern Utah) where he developed his talent for drama and singing.
For many years he sang the tenor solos in the Messiah in Price; Hermiston, Ore.; and Moses Lake, Wash. Dorse sang in the Grand Coulee Stake quartet (sometimes known as the Hungry Four because they often sang for their supper as informal payment for their performance) in Moses Lake for more than 45 years. Demar Duval, Marv Vernon and Sheldon Law have remained lifelong friends of the Oman family.
Dorse (Pop) was still doing musical performances in church programs well into his 93rd year. After graduating from Carbon College, Pop attended American University on a scholarship.
He was accepted to Julliard School of Music but World War II broke out and precluded that option. For his service during the war he was the head linesman for the survey crew of the Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. The survey they accomplished later became the Trans-Alaska Railroad (Alaska Railroad).
For several years he had his own program on KOAL radio in Price, where he sang. For several years he played clarinet and saxophone in a dance band that performed all over central Utah. He was also a passionate reader. His personal library numbered more than 10,000 volumes.
Dorse was a lifelong pillar of the LDS Church. He served a mission to the Central States Mission where he was the district president for the state of Arkansas. He was also in a traveling missionary vocal quartet. He served in a branch presidency in Hermiston, Ore., taught and was principal of the LDS early morning seminary, senior president of the 101st LDS Quorum of the Seventy, high priest group leader, Sunday school and priesthood teacher, scout leader, high council and the stake leadership of the Grand Coulee (Moses Lake), Washington LDS Stake. He was a student of the Gospel and had a large library of classics in Mormon history and theology.
After leaving the world of a full time farmer and rancher, Pop became a State Farm Insurance agent in Moses Lake, Wash., for more than 25 years. But he continued his passion for growing things. He and his sons cleared land for a farm. He loved to garden and plant fruit and nut trees. In 1951 he married Margaret Della Call Oman. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. In their senior years they moved back to Utah and settled in Sandy so they could be closed to their family. They also had a home in Midway where Dorse and Margaret could be closer to their beloved mountains.
They had five children, including Samuel Ray Oman, Provo; Richard George Oman, Salt Lake City; David Miles Oman, Sandy; Paul Bryan Oman Oman, Fairfax, Va.; and Diane Celeste Oman (deceased). Diane was born with Down syndrome. Dorse and Margaret dedicated their lives and energy to reaching out to the handicapped and the dispossessed. Together they spearheaded educational services for the mentally handicapped in the state of Washington. Pop also leaves 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents; siblings, Earl Oman, Inez Oman Critchlow, George Oman, Ann Oman, Clara Oman Milner, Rae Oman Cady, Clyde Oman, Addie Oman Abrams Simons, Milton Oman, Odell Oman and Elma Oman Klitgaard.
His warm personality and gentle humor will be missed. His total integrity and faith will continue to inspire all who knew him. He passed away peacefully while sitting in his reclining easy chair listening to an opera on KBYU. Dorse has now joined his family and many friends who preceded him.
Funeral services were Oct. 21, in the Sandy Crescent 16th Ward LDS Chapel. Dorse’s (Pop’s) interment was in the Crescent Cemetery between his beloved wife, Margaret, and his precious granddaughter, Melea, Sandy, under the direction of Broomhead Funeral Home.
Walter Bennett
DRAGERTON – Walter Monroe Bennett of Eureka, Calif., went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006.
He was born Oct. 12, 1924 in Kemmerer, Wyo., to Walter and Martha Hawkins Bennett. He was raised in Pennsylvania until the age of 16.
His family moved to Utah where he served in the Civil Conservation Corps until he joined the United States Marine Corps. During World War II, he served with the Fifth Marine Division in the South Pacific. He was one of only 17 men who hit the beach on the first landing at Iwo Jima and completed the entire 39-day battle and lived to walk off the island. He was called back to serve with the First Marine Division in Korea. He was awarded a Purple Heart in the Battle of Iwo Jima and then again in the Korean War.
After the war, Walt returned home to Dragerton, and married Jacquetta McDonald on Nov. 25, 1947.
He worked in the coal mines for the next 21 years. In 1962, he moved his family to Klamath, Calif., where he worked as a millwright. After the flood of 1964, they relocated to Eureka, Calif., bought a home, and raised their four daughters.
Walter loved making things from wood.. As a carpenter, he remodeled his home and created many beautiful things. Some of his other hobbies were hunting deer, fishing for salmon, socializing with friends, shopping at Pierson’s, attending church, and writing and reciting poetry.
He is survived by wife, Jacquetta Bennett; three daughters and sons-in-law, Michael and Veronda Williamson, Dennis and Merlynda Pruitt, and Steve and Tina Strombeck; 11 grandchildren, Christine Negaard, Barbara Thayer, Michael Williamson Jr., Cyndee Poleski, Joel Pruitt, Matthew Pruitt, Jonathan Pruitt, Erik Strombeck, Adam Strombeck, Tia Strombeck, and Amy Strombeck; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Hazel Cook. He was preceded in death by daughter, LaVanda McKenzie; four sisters, Doris, Florence, Eva and Merle; and brother, Howard.
A viewing will be on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Pierce Mortuary Chapel, 707 H St., Eureka, Calif., from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The memorial service will be at Faith Center Church, 1032 Bay Street, Eureka, Calif., at 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2.
Walt’s pastor, Rev. David Hanson of Coastline Church will officiate the service. A graveside dedication will be at Ocean View Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. by Rev. Dennis J. Pruitt.
The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Irvine and his staff for the excellent care they have provided to us throughout the years.
Art Passarella
SPRING GLEN – Our loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather Arthur Joseph Passarella, age 82, passed away suddenly Oct. 31, 2006.
Art was born under a wandering star in Clear Creek on Oct. 13, 1924 to Tony and Mary Ferraro Passarella. He married the love of his life, June Toigo on Sept. 21, 1946 and together the shared 60 years of true love.
Member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Helper. Art was a long time resident of Carbon County where he worked in various coal mines until his retirement in 1984. He was a retired member of the UMWA Castle Gate Local 1681. Art enjoyed farming and reminiscing with his family and friends. Art shared his love of life with his many friends and he will be dearly missed by all.
Survived by loving wife, June; sons, Brent and Fred Passarella, all of Spring Glen; two beautiful sisters, Christine Hanson and Tess Milovich, both of Price; four grandchildren, Jeff (Misty) Passarella, Jennifer Passarella, Nicole Passarella and her fiance, Marty Bias, and Tanner Passarella; three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Trenity and T’Ann Passarella; and a very special friend, Anna Allen. Preceded in death by parents; son, Rick Passarella; brothers, Ralph, Ernie, Frank and Fred; sisters, Elva Pinarelli and Emma Marasco.
Funeral Mass will be Monday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m., St. Anthony Catholic Church. Vigil service, Sunday evening, 7 p.m. at the church in Helper. Family will be at the church Sunday and Monday one hour prior to services. Committal service, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper, under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home.
Joel Erickson
ORANGEVILLE – Joel Hyrum Erickson , age 78, passed away Oct. 28, 2006 in Price.
He was born Aug. 4, 1928 in Gunnison, to Frederick and Addeline Erickson. In March 1960, Joel married his sweetheart, LaRae Leetham in Nevada.
Joel served his country with pride in the U.S. Marine Corps during Aug. 1946 to Aug. 1948. For his bravery, he was honored with a World War II victory medal. When Joel wasn’t serving his country, he loved to go hunting and fishing.
Joel is survived by wife, LaRae of Orangeville; children, Joel (Judy), Ray (Debbie), Fred (Helen, deceased), Becky, Karen (Seth), Brent (Debbie), Terry (Linda), Jeff (Connie), Jed (Heidi) Kenneth, Joy (James); several nieces and nephews, 42 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents, Frederick and Addeline; brothers, Fred, Frank and Lloyd; sisters, Emeral, Hilma and Joy; and son, Jess.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary located in Castle Dale. Burial, Castle Dale cemetery.
The family would like to send a special thanks to Rocky Mountain Hospice and Castle Country Care Center for all they have done for our loving husband and father. A special thanks is also given to his daughter, Karen, for all the loving care when he was so ill. The family has asked, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rocky Mountain Hospice or Castle Country Care Center.