Billy E. Lanman

Billy E. Lanman, born November 9, 1928 to Ira L. and Hazel F. Lanman at the old Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, died Friday April 4, 2008 at the "new" Grande Ronde Hospital.

A celebration of his life will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 at Daniels~Knopp, Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Committal and interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Family members will host friends at a visitation from 4 until 6 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels~Knopp.

Billy's early life was in Summerville on a ranch then later he grew up on Pumpkin Ridge on a ranch. He started schooling in Pumpkin Ridge then finished school in Imbler. After graduating from Imbler High School in 1946 he joined the Army and was stationed in General MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. After his honorable discharge he returned home and commenced farming with his father.

Billy was married in 1948 and in that marriage there were five children. In 1979 he married Rita A. Nice and he became a step-father to three more. Making a total of eight and he loved them all.

He changed professions in 1965 and became involved in Real Estate. He moved to Eugene and became a broker with a sales staff and in 1973 returned to La Grande and had a Real Estate office and staff. He finally closed the office and returned to farming. After retiring in 1993 he moved to a small acreage on Fruitdale Lane in La Grande.

Billy was and active member and Lay Reader of St. Peters Episcopal Church. He joined the Elgin Masonic Lodge in 1954 as well as the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry that same year. He became a member of the Blue Mtn. Lodge at North Powder and became a Master in 1966. He also served as Master of Elgin Lodge in 1986. Billy was coronated a 33rd degree Mason in 1989. And in 2002 he received, what he considered his highest earthly reward, which is called the Hiram Award. He served as a member of the Grand Lodge Registration Committee and later became Chairman and served for over 20 years. He was appointed a Grand Lodge Officer three different times. He also belonged to the York Rite of Freemasonry, the Royal Order of Scotland, Al Kader Shrine and the Union County Shrine Club. He was also a member of the American Legion.

While ranching in the North Powder area he was chairman of the North Powder Water District for many years and from that term developed the Wolf Creek and Pilcher Creek Reservoirs. He was a member of the Grande Ronde Water District, a director on the Union County Conservation Board, and a director on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest.

Survivors include his wife, Rita, of Island City; sons, Robert and Judi of Pendleton, William "Mark" and Peggy of La Grande, Mike and Vicki of La Grande; daughters, Chris Asla of La Grande, Cindy and Bob Weber of La Grande, step-children, Steve and Susan Nice of PortlandKen Nice of Montana and Linda Belock of Olympia; eight grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a sister, Arla Bingaman of Imbler and numerous nieces and nephews.

Billy loved to hunt, fish and grow things. He always had a large garden and especially loved all his kids and grandkids.

This obituary, written by Billy in his own words, concluded with: "oh hell - that's more than enough - I'm brain dead".

Friends who wish may make contributions in memory of Billy Lanman to the Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood Language Disorders, 1507 SW Morrison St., Portland 97205.