Death Notice: Pastor Donald “Don” Alban Gibbs, 97, Hood River

Pastor Donald “Don” Alban Gibbs passed away on September 3rd, 2026, in Vancouver, Washington.   Don was born on May 5th, 1929, and was 97 at the time of his passing.   Services at the Parkdale Community Church, where Don had pastored, are pending and will be announced soon. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com

Death Notice: Bryson Jay Jim, 18, Warm Springs

Bryson Jay Jim, age 18, a resident of Warm Springs, OR, passed away on August 6, 2026.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Stephen James Pratt, 32, Madras

Stephen James Pratt, age 32, a resident of Madras, OR, passed away on August 10, 2026.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Death Notice: Gary Wayne Kelly, 68, The Dalles

Gary Wayne Kelly, age 68, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 29, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Randall Mark Green, 71, of The Dalles

Randall Mark Green, age 71, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away at Adventist Health Columbia Gorge on August 23, 2026.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Larry Wayne Schwartz, 79, Hood River

Larry Wayne Schwartz passed away on August 30, 2026, at home in Hood River, Oregon.   Larry was born on November 20, 1946, and was 79 at the time of his passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com

Obituary: Richard Lewis Biggerstaff, 86, Hood River

Richard Lewis Biggerstaff, born in Nebraska on January 13, 1940, peacefully left this world on August 1, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Hood River, Oregon, at age 86, following a series of strokes after several years of declining health. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Leitha Biggerstaff, and his siblings, Joanne Biggerstaff Keough and Rodney Biggerstaff.  

Richard, who was known for most of his life as Dick but more recently as Rich, moved with his parents and siblings at an early age to Richland, Washington. He attended Lewis and Clark Elementary, Carmichael Junior High, and graduated in 1958 from Richland’s Columbia High School. He attended CBC, then finished his degree in geology at the University of Washington. He pursued his master’s degree in geological engineering at the University of Idaho.

Rich married his neighborhood girlfriend, Sally Hatcher, June 13, 1964 at Richland Lutheran Church. They had three sons together, Thad in 1969, Chet in 1971, and Matt in 1972.  

His work took the family all over the country, including to Oregon, California, Delaware, Texas, Missouri, and Washington. In 1993, they returned to Richland, where Rich worked for several different contractors at Hanford. In 2003, he and Sally purchased 21 acres outside of Goldendale, Washington. They commuted from Richland on weekends to work on establishing a hobby farm and home in the country. A few years later, when Sally retired from teaching and Rich retired as a geological engineer, they relocated there permanently. Rich then obtained his real estate license, and for several years helped many other people find their homes away from city life. 

Rich was excellent at using his hands. He was a wonderful woodworker, producing everything from small carved items to coffee tables to hunting bows to kayaks. He also was a Mr. Fix It, who was disgruntled if he had to hire someone to do any job he could not do himself.

He is survived by Sally, his wife of 62 years, at their home in Goldendale; son Thad of Yakima; son Chet (and companion, Anne) of Goldendale; son Matt (who has been Rich and Sally‘s helper and caregiver since 2019) at their home in Goldendale. Other survivors include granddaughter Kylee Biggerstaff and a great-granddaughter Khalia Biggerstaff in Federal Way, sisters-in-law Darlene Hatcher Tverberg in Pennsylvania, and Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka in Richland, three nieces, five nephews, and 12 great-nieces and nephews. 

Rich loved nature and hiking. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Ave., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104, or online at www.wta.org

Messages of condolence may be sent to 2257 Glenwood Hwy, Goldendale, WA 98620 or smbigger3@gmail.com .

Per his wishes, there will be no services.

Death Notice: Merl Eugene Sanders, 70, Goldendale

Merl Eugene Sanders, age 70, a resident of Goldendale, WA, passed away at Columbia Basin Care Facility on August 5, 2026.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Service Announcement: Frederick “Fred” Alden Mooney, 88, Hood River

Frederick “Fred” Alden Mooney passed away August 10, 2026, at home in Hood River, Oregon.   Frederick was born on July 5, 1938, and was 88 at the time of passing.

Memorial Services are planned for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 29th, 2026 at Tucker Road Baptist Church (1455 Tucker Road, Hood River, Oregon).  Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com

Death Notice: Alan Blair, 80, Hood River

Alan Blair passed away on July 26, 2026, at Trustwell Living at Parkhurst in Hood River, Oregon.   Alan was born on February 12, 1946, and was 80 at the time of passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com. 

Death Notice: Patsy LaRayne Thompson, 86, The Dalles

Patsy LaRayne Thompson passed away on July 18, 2026, in The Dalles, Oregon. She was born on May 27, 1940, and was 86 years old at the time of her passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.

Death Notice: Norma Wilkerson, 83, Hood River

Norma Wilkerson passed away on July 6, 2026, at Flagstone Assisted Living in The Dalles, Oregon.   Norma was born on March 10, 1943, and was 83 at the time of passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com

Death Notice: William Spencer Young, 88, Rufus

William Spencer Young, age 88, a resident of Rufus, OR, passed away at home on July 10, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Leslie Ann Durst, 72, Hood River

Leslie Ann Durst passed away on June 29th, 2026, at home in Hood River, Oregon.   Leslie was born on August 23rd, 1953, and was 72 at the time of passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com

Death Notice: Carol Suzanne Johnson, 69, The Dalles

Carol Suzanne Johnson, a lifelong resident of The Dalles, Oregon, passed away on June 7th, 2026, in The Dalles, Oregon.   Carol was born on July 18th, 1956, in The Dalles, Oregon, to Jerrold and Elnora (Mason) Runyon.  She graduated from The Dalles High School in 1974 and was 69 at the time of her passing. 

A Service of Remembrance is planned for 4:00 p.m., Thursday, July 30th, 2026, at Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel, 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Phyllis M. Shinn, 85, Husum

Phyllis M. Shinn passed away on June 19, 2026, in Husum, Washington. She was born on August 2, 1940, and was 85 years old at the time of her passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.

Obituary: Steven Joel “Steve” Zorza, 77, Hood River

Steven Joel “Steve” Zorza passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Steve was born on January 7, 1949, in Marquette, Michigan. He was the second of six children born to Ken and Angie Zorza. The family moved from Michigan to Hood River, Oregon when Steve was seven. He grew up among his siblings: older brother Ron and younger siblings Larry, Dubber, Pamela, and Scott.

Steve graduated from Hood River High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March of 1968. He served in the Vietnam War and concluded his service at NSD Yokosuka, Japan, where he met Kazuko, whom he later married. After his honorable discharge in August of 1972, Steve and Kazuko returned to Hood River and made it their home. They raised two children, Jeff and Michelle.

Steve had a deep love for the outdoors and spent many days hunting and fishing with family and friends.

Steve is survived by his children, Jeff Zorza and Michelle (Joe) Cleary; his grandchildren, Owen Cleary, Jadyn Howard-Zorza, Wyatt Cleary, Finn Cleary, and Violet Cleary; and his brothers, Larry Zorza and Dubber Zorza. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Angie Zorza, and his siblings Ron Zorza, Scott Zorza, and Pamela Zorza.

Military Honors for Steve are planned for 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 3rd, 2026 at Mt. View Memorial Cemetery (1235 Tucker Road, Hood River, Oregon 97031).

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Reece Andrew Miller, 26, The Dalles

Reece Andrew Miller, age 26, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away at home on June 13, 2026.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Hayden Alexis Crowell, 22, Hood River

Hayden Alexis Crowell passed away on May 31, 2026, in Hood River, Oregon. She was born on February 14, 2004, and was 22 years old at the time of her passing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.

Death Notice: Brenda Sue Gaither, 71, The Dalles

Brenda Sue Gaither, age 71, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away at Columbia Basin Care Facility on June 1, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 27, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bargeway Pub, 1535 Bargeway Rd., The Dalles, OR 97058.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.