Death Notice: Edwin King, 95, Hood River

Edwin King passed away on May 13th, 2025, at home in Hood River, Oregon. Edwin was born on January 2nd, 1930, and was 95 years of age at the time of passing.  

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.

Obituary: Mildred Lee Deg, 85, The Dalles

Mildred Lee Deg, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, May 9, 2025. She was born Mildred Lee Rodriguez on November 30, 1939, in Oakdale, Louisiana, to Branch Earl Rodriguez and Vera Inez Johnson. Raised in a close-knit Christian family with strong values, Mildred shared her childhood with her siblings: Raymond, Fred, Arita, Leamon, Janice, Barbara, and Darrell.

Mildred met the love of her life, Leo Allen Deg, while he was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Their paths crossed at church, where they were brought together by their shared faith in God. The couple married on November 8, 1957, in Oakdale, Louisiana. Following Leo’s honorable service in the U.S. Army, the couple settled in Yakima, Washington, before planting roots in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1961. It was in The Dalles, where Mildred and Leo built their dream home, brick by brick, in 1962.

A strong Christian woman, Mildred was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She cherished time spent with her family, enjoyed gardening, and had a love for shopping. Her cooking became a family treasure, and her unwavering kindness made her a pillar in her community.

Mildred dedicated 20 years to working for the local school district before retiring. More than anything, she found joy in being of service to her family and church. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, pouring love and care into every moment she spent with them.

She is survived by her children: Patti Timmer, Penni Hardin (husband Steve), and son Leo Deg Jr. Mildred’s legacy continues through her grandchildren: Heather Ornelas, John Timmer (wife Brooke), Brandon Deg, Natasha Deg, Tyler York (wife Sara), Jonathan Hardin, Jillian Blanco; and her great-grandchildren: Natalie, Eric, and Alyssa Ornelas, Jaxon and Elliette Timmer, Clayton Miller, Henry and Alexander York. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Leo, and her son-in-law, Tim Timmer.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mildred’s life at Spencer, Libby, & Powell Funeral Home on Thursday, May 15, with a viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m.. A luncheon will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church at 1:00 p.m.

Mildred will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her loving spirit, and her endless devotion to her family and church. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.

Death Notice: Norma Lee Garcia, 88, The Dalles

Norma Lee Garcia, age 88, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away at home on May 11, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held later this year, in the Fall.

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

Death Notice: Nancy Lorraine Block, 75, The Dalles

Nancy Lorraine Block, age 75, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away at home on May 13, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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

Obituary: Betty (Lipp) Plotkin, 95, Hood River

Betty (Lipp) Plotkin

October 25, 1929 – May 11, 2025

With sparkling blue eyes, a ready smile, and a deep love for people, Betty Plotkin (née Lipp) brought warmth and vitality wherever she went. Born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Betty was shaped by the challenges of the Great Depression—experiences that instilled

in her a lifelong sense of frugality, resilience, courage, and quiet strength.

She trained as a nurse and began her career caring for newborns—an early expression of her nurturing spirit and her lifelong love for babies and caregiving.

In 1956, she married Arieh Plotkin, a foreign graduate student at Princeton University, whom she met at a dance. They spent time living in Israel, where their first daughter was born, before settling in Belle Harbor, on the Rockaway peninsula in New York City, in the late 1950s. There, they raised their four children who all attended public school in Rockaway.

Betty had a gift for connection. She never hesitated to strike up a conversation—whether with a neighbor or a stranger at the supermarket. Her warmth and curiosity left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

She lived with a love of movement and nature. Betty was drawn to the ocean, rode her bicycle through the neighborhood, and continued running well into her 70s. For many years, she tended a community garden plot at Fort Tilden in Rockaway.  

After Arieh’s passing in 1993, Betty embraced the next chapter with grace. She found love again with her partner of 17 years, Roy

Ferguson—whom she also met, coincidentally, at a dance.

In 2018, Betty moved to Hood River, Oregon, to be closer to her daughter Sarah. She remained active and engaged in the senior community.

Betty passed away peacefully on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025, one week after suffering a stroke. She was surrounded by loved ones in her final moments.

She will be deeply missed by her children and their families: Judy and her husband Alan, and their daughters Loren and Ellie; Sarah and her husband David; David and his daughters Annie and Cara; and Michael and his wife Carrie.

Betty will be remembered for her strength, her boundless energy, her love for life—and for delivering her signature verdict on many a conversation or debate with a firm, loving: “Enough already.”

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: Doris Irene Hammer, 96, The Dalles

Doris Irene Hammer, age 96, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 12, 2024.

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

Death Notice: Curtis Lyle Watson, 67, The Dalles

Curtis Lyle Watson, age 67, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 10, 2024.

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

Death Notice: John Aaron Warkentin, 70, Maupin

John Aaron Warkentin, age 70, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away May 12, 2024.

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