Roy Leo Niederer

Roy Leo Niederer died on March 10, 2011 at the age of 93 in La Grande. He was born March 10, 1918 to Leo R. and Lillian B. Niederer in La Grande.

Roy was educated in Oregon and Washington, and served overseas during WWII with a signal battalion attached to the 5th Air Force. He was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea and other islands in the South Pacific. He returned to the states at the end of 1944.
He married Rosalie E. Lefebvre, and went to work for West Coast Telephone and then for General Telephone, where he remained for 37 years. Roy loved to fly, which was his second occupation. He received his pilot license during the 1940's and his commercial license in 1959, which allowed him to work for operators who had a contract to do Forest Service work. He spent the next 16 years out over the timber in the summertime. In his spare time he made many trips flying passengers and freight into Red's Horse Ranch and the Minam River Lodge.

Following retirement in 1983, he and a friend Waldron Parker acquired an airplane they deemed a "basket case" and completely restored it. He tested and flew this plane for several years.
Roy belonged to several organizations, namely Oregon Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and was a charter member-at-large of Oregon Aircraft Museum. He was a lifetime member of BPOE #433 and a member of the local American Legion.

He and Rosalie liked to travel, and they made several trips to Alaska, where his daughter Shari still lives. They particularly enjoyed the trips to Trapper Lake by float plane and the Mt. Mc Kinley sightseeing from the air. In 1994, he and Rosalie celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Oregon coast, with several members of their family in attendance.

Survivors include his wife, Rosalie of La Grande; daughters and sons-in-law, Colette and Richard Tissue of Keizer and Shari and Larry Wagg of Trapper Lake, Alaska; two grandchildren, Wendy Roberts of Keizer and Jeff Schatz of Portland; two great grandchildren, Chelsea and Caleb Roberts; brothers, Vern Niederer of University Place, Washington and Dale Niederer of Pahrump, Nevada and their families, as well as the family of his brother, Bob, who preceded him in death; and other relatives and friends. At his request there will be no services.

Correspondence may be sent to the family in care of Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.

.