Lenau "Del" Dwain Hartley

Lenau Dwain "Del" Hartley, our loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away at his home on January 16, 2009, after a short struggle with cancer. Vareta, his wife of 62 years, was by his side. A memorial service will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. at the Cove Baptist Church. Private interment will be at the Cove Cemetery. Viewing will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande. Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the GRH Hospice.
Del was born December 21, 1925, in Cove, Oregon, to Edward and Edna (DeBorde) Hartley, the second of two children. He was living with his grandparents, Ben and Bertha Haefer DeBorde of La Grande, when he graduated from La Grande High School in 1943. When he turned 18, he was drafted into the Navy and went to Champaign, Illinois to get his Signalman's training. There he met his sweetheart and future wife, who wrote to him while he was overseas. When he returned home, he lost no time in asking Vareta "Rita" to be his wife, and they were married on July 27, 1946.
They made their home in La Grande and soon welcomed two daughters into their family. Del worked at the Union 76 Station in La Grande for many years. In 1961 he got a job with Northwest Industrial Laundry (now Aramark) and they moved to Walla Walla, Washington. He was a very hard worker and was meticulous about his accounts. Del had an infectious laugh and was a favorite with his customers. He was the manager of one of the divisions for 6 years, until he decided to take over the La Grande route and moved back to La Grande in 1981.
He retired in 1987 and he and Rita traveled many miles in their 5th-wheel camper visiting family members across the United States. They had many dear friends that they spent pleasant hours with golfing, going out to dinner, and playing cards, especially pinochle and bridge. Del played golf for over 30 years, a game he loved and he spent many hours at the La Grande Country Club playing with his buddies. He was a member of the Columbia Blues Golf Association and served as the director for several years. He also belonged to the Elks Club, the Eagles and the American Legion. For the last few years, Del and Rita spent every Friday night playing cards at the La Grande Senior Citizen Center and have many good friends there.

Lenau was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Cassino. He is survived by his wife, Vareta of La Grande; daughters, Linda Hartley of Buckley, Washington and Connie and Carl Pehrson of Lewiston, Utah; grandchildren, Anna and Nathan Sisson, Scott Hartley, Jeanette and Devin Lucas and Michele and Wayne Smith; and 6 great grandchildren, Kelsey, Morgan, Aleah, Olivia, Dylan and Lindsey.
The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Rice and the Hospice staff for their kindness and consideration in making his last days as comfortable as possible and for providing support for the family.

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