Williard "Dale" Vernholm

Willard Dale Vernholm, 73, of Baker City and formerly of Enterprise and Elgin died September 25 at a care center. At his request there will be no services. Mr. Vernholm was born February 11, 1932 to Carl Willard and Lois Louetta Middleton Vernholm in York, Nebraska. He graduated from Corvallis High School and in 1947 the family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. At the age of 16 he lied about his age and went to work for the Payette National Forest manning a lookout tower.

On July 2, 1951 he married Josephine Detmer. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for the Payette County road department and later for the Baker County road department, the Steward & Morrissey Ranch and Simonson's Construction. He worked for the Wallowa-Whitman and the Umatilla national forests and lived in Pendleton, Enterprise and Elgin. He retired in 1991 and moved to Richland then after five years, back to Baker City.

He was a member of the First Lutheran Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, leather crafts, gardening and yard work.

Survivors include his wife of Baker City; children and their spouses, Steven and Kathy Vernholm of Emmett, Idaho, Gary & Peggy Vernholm of Baker City and Michael Vernholm of Pendleton; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; sister, Linda Robbins of Baker City and brother, Ron Vernholm of Dillon, Montana. An infant daughter, Jody, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Pathway Hospice, the First Lutheran Church or Community Connections.