Death Notice: John William Shearer, 98, The Dalles

John William Shearer, age 98, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on November 9, 2024.

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

Death Notice: Carol Estelle Williams, 93, Stevenson

Carol Estelle Williams of Stevenson, Washington passed away on November 9th, 2024 in Vancouver, Washington.

Carol was born February 22nd, 1931 and was 93 years of age at the time of passing.   Services are pending with arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  

Carol will be laid to rest with her husband Jack at the Lanark Cemetery (Lanark, Illinois).  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Obituary: Renée Anne Clarke, 42, Parkdale

In Loving Memory

Renée Anne Clarke “Lou” “NiNi”

1981 - 2024

Our sweet angel, Renée Anne Clarke, left us on October 10th, 2024, at 10 a.m. at her home in Parkdale, Oregon.

Renée entered our lives on December 5th, 1981 on a beautiful rainy day, a wonderful daughter born to Kenneth and Alice Clarke (Campbell), then left us far too soon on October 10th, 2024. Though her life on earth was too short, Renée accomplished more than many people do in a full lifetime. She was a loving friend to many, an accomplished three-sport athlete in high school and champion softball player in college, and a scholar who earned her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.

Renée grew up in Parkdale within a great neighborhood of friends and family: Chad, Jeremy, Kenny, Trevor, Carey, Melissa, Jackie, Jared, her brother Nate, the Mabens, Aunt Widman, the Nelsons and the Merzs. She started her athletic activities at age 3 with Rainbow Gymnastics. She soon became a soccer star, and one of Coach Ron's favorite players. In high school, she was named player of the year by her teammates. Renée also excelled in basketball, and the Hood River Valley High crowds came to watch her and her teammates play: her cousin Calli, Darci, Britney, Camile, Alli, Carrie, and many more. Renée’s favorite sport was softball, though she was named First Team All-League in all three sports.

Renée graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 2000, and went on to do her undergraduate studies at Pacific Lutheran, where she met her Best Friends, Sara and Risa, with whom she played softball. What a time they had and in 2002 won the Division Ill League Softball championship and came in 4th in the nation.

During her summers at home, Renée worked for the US Forest Service at Multnomah Falls as a grounds keeper, and learned to love hiking. On one of her Christmas Holidays, she was able to go to Germany on a psychology tour. Renée graduated from Pacific Lutheran with honors, with a degree in Psychology, and worked as a social worker for six months. She returned home for another six months, and then in 2005 was accepted for a graduate program at Carlos Albizu University in Miami, Florida.

Hello, World!

So off to Florida we went, in support of her new life there. Two days after we arrived, Hurricane Katrina hit. During the five years Renée was in Florida, that was one of the many adventures we had, along with the Miami Zoo, South Beach, the Butterfly Sanctuary, and our wonderful trip to the Keys, in the yellow convertible. While in graduate school, Renée did an Internship at the Miami Federal Correctional Institution for two years. In 2011, she received a Certification of Appreciation from their Psychology Services Department for all of her hard work and dedication. In August of 2012, Renée completed her dissertation on "Gender Stereotypes and How They Affect Sentencing of Women Who Kill," (Thank You Vicky) and graduated with a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Distinction with Honors.

Renée was next off to Larned, Kansas in 2013 to start her post-doctorate work, in a State Mental Institution. Her beloved dog, Scobbie, moved with her. Upon completion of that work, she came home for a year while looking for a position, and was able to spend time with her new nephew Will and niece Hailey. Renée then accepted a position working in a State Mental Intuition in San Antionio, Texas in August 2014. There, she loved her work and new location.

Sadly, Renée was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in March of 2015, and her health began to deteriorate. So Renée and Scobbie came home in November 2015. Our promise to Renée was she would be able to live at home with her family, and thanks to all of Christie and Nate's help, we were able to keep this promise. Back home, Renée enjoyed going to all of her nephew Will's activities (while always cheering him on), fishing (with her Father and Kelsey), seeing the horses, and spending time with her family and friends. But Renée’s health continued to deteriorate over the time from 2015 to 2024. Thankfully, we were able to have her for nine wonderful years with so much love from her kind, happy spirit.

Renée is survived by her parents Ken and Alice Clarke, brother Nate Clarke, sister-in-law Christie Clarke, nephew Will Clarke, and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

As Renée’s family, we would like to give a special thank you to the Caregivers who gave Renée such wonderful care: our dear Kelsey, who was with Renée the last year of her life, Morgan, Angie, Tracey, and my wonderful sister Shirley. We would  also like to thank Wendy Best for spending two hours every Saturday, for two years, reading and playing her violin for Renée. Finally, our greatest appreciation to all the many people who took time to see Renée and make her smile.

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: Robert Peleshok “Rob”, 61, Hood River

Robert Peleshok “Rob” passed away on October 24, 2024, in Hood River, Oregon. Rob was born August 24, 1963, and was 61 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.

Death Notice: George Donald Van De Vanter, 95, Lyle

George Donald Van De Vanter, age 95, a resident of Lyle, WA, passed away on November 2, 2024.

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

Death Notice: Jimmy Dale Drennan, Sr., 82, The Dalles

Jimmy Dale Drennan, Sr. passed away October 29th, 2024 at Columbia Basin in The Dalles, Oregon. Jimmy Drennan Sr. was born October 20th, 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was 82 years of age at the time of passing.  

Services are planned for 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 9, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1825 May Street, Hood River, OR 97031). Jimmy will be laid to rest at Idlewilde Cemetery (980 Tucker Road, Hood River, OR 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: Robin Lee Faulkner, 74, Condon

Robin Lee Faulkner N7GSU, age 74, a resident of Condon, OR, passed away on October 24, 2024.

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

N7GSU is Robin’s call sign as he was an active amateur radio emergency communications member

Death Notice: Michael Schorr, 76, Goldendale

Michael Schorr passed away on October 28th, 2024 at home in Goldendale, Washington.  Michael was born on February 7th, 1948, and was 76 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel • 300 W. Broadway Street (Post Office Box 134), Goldendale, Washington 98620 • (509) 772-2636

Death Notice: Jeffrey Earl Smith, 62, Wasco

Jeffrey Earl Smith, age 62, a resident of Wasco, OR, passed away on October 25, 2024. A viewing will be held November 22, 2024, 10-11:30 am at the Wasco Community Church with a Graveside Service to follow at 1:00 pm at Wasco Sun Rise Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be November 23, 2024, 12-3 pm at The Dalles Middle School.

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

Obituary: Sandra Arlene (Foss) Bredeson, 78, Nehalem

Sandra Arlene (Foss) Bredeson

January 22, 1946 – October 24, 2024

In no particular order: She was fragile in body and strong in spirit. She raised her children with determination. While being a single mother she provided for her children no matter the sacrifice, while never giving up on love. She provided a home and family life which fostered a determination for success and settled for no less.

She appreciated the beauty in the little things, just like her mother and grandmother did. Like her garden roses, she was beautiful yet delicate and protected herself as well as those she loved with the metaphoric thorns she wore. When her illnesses stole so much of what she lived for, she fought to soldier on to the bitter end. It’s time to rest, mama, you won this one!

Sandi, as she was known, was born in Sherman County, OR to Hazel Marie and John Austin Foss, who preceded her. She is also preceded by her grandparents Rose Marie and Everett Harrison Watkins; Janet Katherine and John Fredrick Foss.

Sandi is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years Rodney Dean Bredeson; brother Michael Rae Foss (wife Colleen); cousin Shirley Blaylock; daughter Michelle Rae Jackson (husband Jeremy); sons Timothy Allen Hoover (wife Mikki) and Terry Arthur Hoover (husband Bradford Davis); grandchildren Jared Vincent Hoover, Brooklynn Marie Palmer, Jace Austin Jackson and Emma Jordan LaBrado.

A Sherman County High class of 1964 graduate, Sandi also completed Portland State University’s dental hygienist program in 1966 and was a Beta Sigma Phi sorority member. She ventured away from her hometown of Wasco, having lived in The Dalles, OR, Watsonville, CA, Boise, ID, Sunnyside, WA, Selah, WA, and Pasco, WA. Ultimately Sandi realized a dream of living on the Oregon Coast in Nehalem for the past 28 years. In the early morning of Thursday, October 24, 2024, she passed peacefully at home in her sleep in the loving care of her devoted husband.

Service is set to be held at Spencer Libby & Power on Friday, November 1st at 1:00 p.m. followed by a graveside internment.

Death Notice: Nancy Irene Lauterbach, 91, The Dalles

Nancy Irene Lauterbach, age 91, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 24, 2024. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024, 11 AM at St. Peter Catholic Church. A reception will be held immediately following the services at St. Peter’s Parish Hall.

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

Obituary: Wesley Quinten Stuck, 71, The Dalles

Wesley Quinten Stuck of The Dalles, Oregon passed away peacefully on Oct. 25, 2024, at his home with his wife by his side.

Wes was born on Sept. 28, 1953, to Ron and Carla Stuck in Hillsboro, Oregon. He spent his younger years in Gales Creek before moving to the Klamath Falls area. He graduated from Lost River High School in 1971.

After high school, he joined the military serving 6 years in the Air Force Reserves. He moved and settled in The Dalles in 1989. Wes spent his working years as a mechanic and specializing as a Diesel Mechanic. He owned and operated Wes’s Automotive which he loved. Wes worked for CH Urness for 23 years until retirement.

Wes loved his wife, kids and grandkids more than anything else. Sitting on his back deck with friends.

He loved listening to music and being outdoors, fishing, hunting and shooting guns.

Wes is survived by his wife Janie, sons Chris (Charlotte), Steve (Jessie), Wesley (Lisa), Jeremiah (Rachel), stepdaughters Shannon, Kassie, and Loren (Josh), 17 grandchildren, brother Mike Stuck and two nieces. Wes was preceded in death by his parents Ron Stuck and Carla Bartell, brother Steven Stuck, and stepson Joshua Parke.

A memorial service will be held Nov, 2 at 1 p.m. at Spencer, Libby and Powell in The Dalles, Oregon.

Death Notice: Betty Jean West, 71, Tygh Valley

Betty Jean West, age 71, a resident of Tygh Valley, OR, passed away on October 12, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 2, 2024, at 2 PM, at 80736 Shadybrook Rd, Tygh Valley, OR 97063. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Constance E. Blasie, 80, Hood River

Constance E. Blasie passed away on October 16, 2024, in Hood River, Oregon. Constance was born on April 14, 1944, and was 80 years of age at the time of his 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.

Death Notice: Donald Francis Wimme, 80, Maupin

Donald Francis Wimmer, age 80, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away on October 17, 2024.

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

Death Notice: Kathleen, Grace Wickman, 69, Klickitat

Kathleen Grace Wickman, age 69, a resident of Klickitat, WA, passed away on October 18, 2024.

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

Death Notice: Jonathan Rose, 99, Hood River

Jonathan Rose passed away on October 16th, 2024 in Hood River, Oregon. Jonathan was born on August 15th, 1925, and was 99 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: Norman Andrew "Doggie" Nelson, 39, Mooresville, NC

Norman Andrew Nelson, known as “Andy” or “Doggie”, 39, passed away peacefully at his home in Mooresville, NC on October 13th, 2024.

Andy was born to Norman and Laurie Nelson on April 12, 1985 in Portland, OR at Emmanuel Hospital.  Andy was born very prematurely and required multiple open-heart surgeries as a baby.  He was not expected to reach adulthood. Andy lived his life to fullest and proved the doctors wrong.

As a kid, Andy was a natural on the racetrack.  He began his racing career at the tender age of 6, behind the wheel of a quarter midget as part of the Portland Quarter Midget Racing Association.  He went on to race a junior dragster, go-carts, cage carts, sprint cars, dwarf cars, and a few different drag cars… all before the age of 18.  He won multiple championships and traveled up and down the west coast, including Canada.  Andy grew up and graduated from high school in The Dalles, OR.

Andy’s dream was to be a lifelong racer, a dream that he fulfilled after relocating to North Carolina in 2009.   He arrived in Mooresville with basically the clothes on his back ready to start his new life. He stocked shelves at Walmart, sold meat door-to-door, took a job at Napa… all while trying to break on to the scene.  David Stremme generously welcomed him into his shop to start getting his hands dirty. 

Doggie went on to have a long career with several incredible NASCAR organizations and drivers.  He worked as an interior mechanic and tire specialist and traveled several years with the ARCA Series. He won championships with Brandon Jones, Justin Haley, Ty Gibbs, Sammy Smith, and most recently with a talented young man named William Sawalich. He loved every minute of his work, his team members became his family, and every moment of his career kept a smile on his face.

Andy was the life of every party, and the glue to every friendship and group he was a part of.   You could find him at a variety of local watering holes throughout the week in Mooresville, or really any hole around the United States on the weekend when he traveled with his race team.  He included everyone, cared about everyone, and never met a stranger.  Andy regularly visited his family in Oregon to tackle projects around the house and reconnect with his childhood circle. For some reason, he was always asking what time it was… He would say “getting a call from sissy so you know what time that is?” Kayla would proceed to connect on Facetime and she would have her Jaeger and he would have Jameson along with any friend that he was with to “stay safe.” He loved his sister and especially his niece, Charlotte. He dolled up a Ride-On car for her this past Christmas and the joy of both is still going!

Andy was preceded in death by his father, Norman D Nelson, Aunt Carrie Nelson, and Uncle Mark Nelson;  Grandparents Norm Nelson and Mary Kathryn Chavis.

Andy is survived by his mother Laurie Nelson (The Dalles, OR), sister Kayla Zeigler (husband Dylan, The Dalles, OR), nephew Jaxson Zeigler, and niece Charlotte Zeigler, and grandparents Walt and Beth Smith (The Dalles, OR); Cousins Melissa Gaither (wife Jeri, Portland, OR), Beige Nelson-Cokely (husband Matt, Hood River, OR), and Heather Nelson (Portland, OR).  Aunts Debbie Jones (Portland, OR), Kathy Smith (Portland, OR), Connie Krummrich (The Dalles, OR) and uncle Gary Smith (The Dalles, OR);  Long time roommate Jeff Neuendorf (Mooresville, NC), chosen brother Andrew Holloway, and close friend Cynthia Cantor (Los Angeles, CA).  Andy had a very large chosen family in North Carolina, with simply too many names to list. 

A final safety meeting will be held in Andy’s honor in Mooresville, NC on November 16th, 2024.  Details will follow.

In lieu of flowers, Andy’s family requests memorials to two organizations: the Cajun Army to help victims of the recent hurricanes or Randall Children’s Hospital at Emmanuel, which gifted us 39 years with Andy.  

It was just time for a scenery change, Doggie.  We’ll talk later!

Death Notice: Gerald Walter Burgener, 83, Wamic

Gerald Walter Burgener, age 83, a resident of Wamic, OR, passed away October 14, 2024.

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

Obituary: Diane Rosalie (Monagan) Bungum, 79, The Dalles

Diane Rosalie (Monagan) Bungum was born August 25, 1945, in rural central New York, near the city of Cortland. Her parents were Clifford and Elinor Monagan, both lifetime employees of the Smith-Corona Typewriter factory in nearby Groton, N.Y. Diane and her older sister and younger brother grew up on a pre-Civil War 56-acre farm where over the years they kept a few horses, cows, pigs, ducks and chickens, as well as the usual dogs and cats. It was a rural life in dairy country, a life she dearly loved, and missed when she left it for college.

She attended the State University of New York in Albany for a couple of years, then joined VISTA and moved to western Oregon in 1965, where she worked with migrant worker families. After that she had various
short-term jobs in the Portland area, including several as a waitress.
She met and married Richard Humphrey there and they had a son, Aiden, before they were divorced. She completed her B.A. degree in English from the University of Oregon in 1973.

That year she met Steve Bungum, a former high school English teacher; they married in Eugene in 1974 and moved to The Dalles the next day, where her husband worked for the next 28 years as Library Media
Specialist at The Dalles High School. Their son Peter was added to the family in 1977. Before the office closed, she worked for several years at Oregon Legal Services (legal aid). That was followed by several
years at the local Community Action Program and at the Center for Living, where she was employed until her retirement in 2002.

Diane was a kind-hearted, hard-working person who could empathize with others, especially those whose life was difficult. She was beloved of many of the developmentally disabled adults she assisted over the years, and enjoyed attending parties and dances with these folks, put on by the ARC of Oregon. She was an avid life-long reader, regularly coming home with a large pile of books from the public library, a
habit she continued long after being diagnosed with dementia around 2020. Diane also loved to travel, and made trips back to see her folks in the home she grew up in, in central N.Y., sometimes with her husband, sometimes alone. Together they visited many relatives, most of whom in the Midwest and East. She also often indulged her husband's love of camping and photographing around Oregon and the West, and also enjoyed travel offering more comfy sleeping arrangements, like hotels, motels, and B & B's!

Diane always liked to be busy doing something, like walking, hiking gardening, cooking and reading. She really liked to watch a good movie in the evening, especially with popcorn! She was very proud of Aiden
and Peter, both of whom have advanced degrees, and loved them dearly, and her eight wonderful grandchildren, who loved their Grandma Diane, and several of whom stepped up to help her as her disease progressed. She was moved to a care facility in Eugene in early July, where, after suffering many difficult times, she passed away on September 29th.

Basically, Diane was a sweet, loving, understanding (usually!) and kind human being, doing her best to be a life-enhancer for others. She will be dearly missed.

Diane is survived by her husband Steve, sons Aiden and Peter, and grandchildren Isaac, Johnpaul, Joseph, Lillian, Evan, Jeremy, Runa and Haakon. No funeral is planned. Remembrances can be made to the ARC of
Oregon, Hospice of the Gorge, and Wasco County Humane Society.

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