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Union County, OR AGHP Page
Copyright 1999-2001
Janine M. Bork
Former Imbler resident Bessie G. Ruckman died May 3 in Oakland, Calif. She was 81. Mrs. Ruckman was born Nov 4, 1903, in Jackson, Mo., to Thomas and Sophronia Kasinger. She and her family moved to Imbler in 1912.
She married Virgil Audmer Ruckman of Alicel on June 10, 1922. In 1924, the couple moved to Oakland. Mrs. Ruckman was an employee of the Pacific Telephone Co., until she retired in 1957. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Betty Gene Graybeal of Oakland, and Mrs. Audrea C. Carero of Castro Valley, Calif.; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren, a great-great granddaughter; sister Loal Wright of Nevada City, Calif.; nieces and nephews including Mrs. Joanne Wiseman, Mrs. June Kohler, and Bud Glenn of Union County; and other relatives. Private family services were held at the Summerville Cemetery.
La Grande Observer
May 13, 1985
Clark B. Ruckman, 81, of La Grande,died this morning, Jan. 30, 1993, at Grande Ronde Hospital.
A funeral service sill be held at 2 p. m. Tuesday at Payne Family Mortuary with the Rev, Gerry Etchison of the Cove United Methodist Church officiating. A private concluding service with vault interment will follow at the Island City Cemetery. Friends may call for viewing until 7 tonight and until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Mr. Ruckman was born on Oct. 14, 1911 at Alicel to Sam and Lillian [Clark] Ruckman. Both of his natural parents died while he was very young and he was brought up by his aunt, Rose Buesing Clark. On Aug, 22, 1943, he married Mary Ellen Bayne. She died in 1982. He later married Celena S. Gann of La Grande on June 15, 1984.
Following graduation from La Grande High School he attended
Eastern Oregon State College where he received his teaching degree. He
taught for 20-plus years at La Grande Junior High, teaching music and world
geography. he was a bus driver for HELP Inc. for 15 years. He served for
three years in the U. S Army during World War II. Mr. Ruckman loved motorcycling,
flying, music, model trains, photography and
traveling.
In addition to his wife of La Grande, survivors include son Mike of La Grande; daughters Carol Stephens of Cove and Kay Piper of La Mesa, Calif.; sister Lucretia Brookshire of Elgin,a sister in law who he raised as daughter, Hazel Kondor of San Rafael, Calif.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Faith Ruckman, died on Dec. 29, 1959.
Source: La Grande Observer 30 Jan 1993
There are two errors I spotted in this obituary. The most glaring one was that his father, Sam, did not die when Clark was young. As the obituary I just sent on him shows. I remember when Sam Ruckman died. I guess who ever submitted the info was not aware that Sam preceded Clark in death by 39 years. And the aunt alluded to as raising him, was true, except that her husband, Thomas Clark, was Clark's maternal uncle. - Tom
Hermia O. Ruckman, 87, formerly of 1904 H Ave., died Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Salem.
Mrs., Ruckman was born Oct. 14, 1887, near Weiser, Idaho, the daughter of Herman and Malinda Bradshaw. She moved to Alicel in 1912 and in February, 1913, was married to Samuel G. Ruckman at Weiser. He preceded his wife in death on Aug. 2, 1964. Mrs. Ruckman was a member of the La Grande First Christian Church and the Farm Bureau.
Survivors include her son, Walter Phillips, Salem; two stepsons, Audmer Ruckman, Oakland, Calif., and Clark Ruckman, La Grande; stepdaughter, Lucretia Brookshire, Imbler; two granddaughters, Marilyn Bishop, Portland, and Anne Whitehurst, Salem; several step grandchildren; three great grandchildren and many other relatives.
Services will be held Monday, Nov. 11 at 10 a. m. at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jack Hart officiating. Vault interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery.
Those who wish to make contributions in memory of Mrs. Ruckman may make them to the University of Oregon Medical School Advancement Fund, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Ore.. 97201
Source: La Grande Observer 8 Nov 1974, Page 2
RUCKMAN - On the sandridge, Nov. 30, John Ruckman, of typhoid fever.
Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday
December 10, 1891
Lucretia Paroz Brookshire, 90, of Imbler, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at a local care facility.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel with the Rev. Irwin H. Smutz of the Imbler Christian Church officiating. Friends may call at Daniels Chapel if the Valley from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Mrs. Brookshire was born on Jan. 31, 1907, in Alicel to Samuel and Lillian [Clark] Ruckman. She attended schools and graduated from Imbler High School in 1927. She attended one year of business school in Walla Walla, Wash.
On Sept. 8, 1926, she married Andrew Paroz, who died in 1956. On May 5, 1970, she married Dale Brookshire in Vale. She was a secretary at St. Joseph's Hospital for many years before going to work for the school district.
She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle worker. She liked to crochet and made approximately 300 afghans.
Survivors include her husband, Dale Brookshire of Imbler; sons, Leon Paroz of La Grande, David Paroz of Bradenton, Fla., and Duane Paroz of Pendleton; daughters Annette Brokaw of Wilder, Idaho, Joan Parks of Irving, Texas, and Meredith Patterson of Wenatchee, Wash.; stepsons Leonard Brookshire of Baker City, Bob Brookshire of Woodland, Calif., and Wayne Brookshire of Langlois; three grandchildren; one great grandchild; one great-great grandchild; and other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.
Source: La Grande Observer, Thursday, 06 Feb 1997
A few hours after a son had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Ruckman of Alicel last Saturday night, Mrs. Ruckman died of an acute attack of Bright's disease,a malady with which she had been suffering for some time, and which was the cause of her being moved to the local hospital from her Alicel home shortly before death came. The motherless babe is healthy and strong today.
Mrs. Ruckman's remains were laid away at Alicel this morning at 11 o'clock with rev. Hamilton officiating. The sorrowing relatives and intimate friends have the sympathy of the entire community for yet young, popular and well known, Mrs. Ruckman's death is causing deep sorrow and regret. She is survived by her husband, S. G. Ruckman, two sons, a daughter and a babe of two days, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clark of Alicel, and several brothers and sisters. Before her marriage to Mr. Ruckman she was Miss Lillie Clark and her parents are well known pioneers of teh county.
Among near relatives of the deceased are Samuel Cochran, C. E. Cochran, and George T. Cochran of this city, all of whom attended the funeral this morning.
Source: La Grande Evening Observer Monday, October 16, 1911
Services for Samuel G. Ruckman of ALicel, who died at the Grande Ronde Hospital Sunday, will be held at Daniels Funeral Home, Thursday at 2 p.m. Rev. Gordon Milldrum will officiate. Burial will follow at Summerville cemetery.
Born at Alicel, he had lived there all his life. He was a member of the First Christian Church.
Survivovors include his widow, Mrs. Hermia Ruckman, Alicel; two sons, Audmer Ruckman, Oakland, Calif., Clark Ruckman, La Grande, one daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Paroz, Imbler; one stepson, Walter Phillips, Salem; 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Source: La Grande Observer Thursday, 4 Aug 1964, Pg 7
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Final Services Held for Samuel G. Ruckman
Samuel G. Ruckman, retired farmer of Alicel where he was born on Jan. 6, 1880, and where he lived throughout his lifetime, passed away last Sunday, Aug. 2, at a local hospital following an extended illness. He was 84 years of age.
Funeral services are being held today at Daniels Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m., and Rev. Gordon Milldrum will officiate. Mr. Ruckman had been a member of the First Christian Church. Interment will take place at the Summerville Cemetery.
Surviving are Mr. Ruckman's wife, Mrs. Hermia Ruckman of Alicel; two sons, Clark of La Grande, and Audmer of Oakland, Calif., together with a daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Paroz of Imbler; a stepson, Walter Phillips of Salem, eleven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Source: Eastern Oregon Review, Thursday, 6 Aug 1964
Virgil Ruckman, age 74, former resident of Imbler, died Tuesday, Feb 25, at Oakland, Calif.. Ruckman was born on April 27, 1900, at Alicel, the son of Samuel and Lillian Ruckman. On June 10, 1922, he was married to Bessie Kasinger of Imbler. After farming in the Imbler area for a year they moved to Oakland,Calif.
Survivors include his daughters, Mrs. William [Betty Gene] Graybeal and Mrs.. George [Audrea] Seitz, both of Oakland; sister, Mrs. Dale [Lucretia] Brookshire, Imbler, brother, Clark Ruckman, La Grande; stepbrother, Walter Phillips, Salem: two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. Private graveside services will be held at Summerville.
La Grande Observer
February 28, 1975