Category Obituaries & Tributes

Frances Marie Coontz of Springfield passed away Aug. 8, 2021, at age 75. She was born Oct. 2, 1945, in Eugene, Ore., to Floyd L. and Minnie Mae (Stevens) Kull.  Frances married Harold Ray Coontz on Jan. 13, 1962, in Reno, Nev. She enjoyed camping…

Randy Val Whidden, 74, born in Fremont, Neb., passed away on August 2 in Springfield, Ore. Randy was a beloved son, husband, brother, nephew, uncle and friend. Those who knew Randy remember him by his good-natured personality, adventurous spirit, and spontaneous laugh. At the age…

Marvin Vincent Zettle, 84, of Dexter, Ore., was born Oct. 6, 1936 in Sheridan, Wyo. He was the father of three children, Kenneth Zettle, Elgin, Ore., Mona Thomson, Roseburg, Ore., and Colleen Mataggart, Fruitdale, S.D.  He graduated from Hardin (HS) in Montana in 1955. He…

Phyllis Jean Surratt, 93, peacefully passed away on July 16, 2021. Phyllis was born in Lead, S.D., on Feb. 10, 1928 and was one of 13 children.  Her family moved to Pleasant Hill in the 1940s and when they moved back to South Dakota, she…

Molly Grace Howell, 44, of Cottage Grove passed away Aug. 2, 2021. Molly was born March 17, 1977 in Palmer, Ala. to parents Thomas and Linda Howell. She graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1995.  Molly was a lover of Elvis Presley. She loved…

Merle Lee Kloster was born July 17, 1927, in Barlow, Ore., to Madge and Nelson Kloster. When he was 7 years old, the family moved to Zion, Ore., where the family briefly lived with his grandfather near Kloster Mountain. There his family began attending the…

Wendy Louise Carlson Jennings died peacefully in her sleep July 26, 2021. She was born Nov. 21, 1958 in Kelso, Wash. to her proud parents, Joe and Louise Carlson. She graduated from Thurston High School (go Colts), attended George Fox University and graduated from business…

Louise Montgomery was born on Dec. 12, 1916 in South Fork, Ark., to Virgil and Rena (Driggers) Jones. She was the first of seven children.  She married Murkle “Monty” Montgomery in Carlsbad, N.M., on Sept. 6 1936. Monty and Louise were married for 52 years.…

James Erwin Levings was born in Tacoma, Wash., on May 19, 1937 and passed away in Eugene on June 24, 2021. He lived in Creswell for many decades prior to his death. Jim started his military career soon after high school by enlisting in the…