Belva Evelyn Bradshaw

Belva Evelyn Bradshaw, age 87, of La Grande, died March 30, 2006 at a local care facility. She will be buried in the Summerville Cemetery beside her late husband. She requested no public funeral services be held. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Evelyn and her twin sister, Lillian, were born to Henry Isodore and Nicalene "Lena" Jacopena Shelsted Omdahl on August 11, 1918 in Marx, Saskatchewan, Canada near the town of Swift Current. Her parents had gone to Canada to farm but returned to Minnesota after the first year because the farm did not prove tillable. Her mother died of the flu soon after, leaving the 3 month old twins and a 5 year old sister, Helen Mildred "Millie". Millie and Lillian were adopted into two different homes. A pastor's wife told Arthur and Violet HIbberd about Evelyn needing a home. They adopted her and gave her the name of Belva Evelyn Hibberd.

When she was about 6 years old, a baby sister, Opal Marie, was born. Her second mother, Violet, died with blood poisoning when she was 9 years old. Arthur remarried to Helen Quimby Hibberd. The family moved to Oregon in the early ‘30's. Belva became the favorite "big sister" to her 4 younger siblings. When she was 18 she went to Minnesota and met her 2 biological sisters, father and other relatives. Her twin sister and nieces and nephews have continued to keep in touch throughout the years.

Belva lived in La Grande, Oregon her entire adult life. She became an optician, grinding lenses by hand for the American Optical Company for 21 years. She and her husband spent many hours fishing, hunting and camping. Don was an exceptional photographer and Belva enjoyed sitting in the car as he waited patiently in a blind for that perfect picture. Their favorite vacationland was Arizona.

Belva was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bradshaw, her parents, older sister, Mildred Omid and her adoptive sister, Opal Stubblefield. She is survived by her twin sister, Lillian Olson of Dawson, Minnesota, her niece, Lynn Christopherson of Hansville, Washington; a nephew, Gary Lee Olson of Minnesota, Dennis Raymond Hussey and many biological nieces and nephews; also by her adoptive siblings, Georgia Adams of Wasilla, Alaska, Ray Hibberd of Parma, Idaho and Rachael Ruth of Fremont, California, many nieces and nephews; a step-son and his wife, Jerry and Terri Bradshaw of La Grande; 6 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Sue and Dennis Stubblefield and family of Union, were very helpful in her later years as they and others lovingly cared for Aunt Belva's needs. This enabled her to live in her own home several years longer.