Betsy (Williams) McClung

Betsy (Williams) McClung, 72, Dec. 14, 1942 – Sept. 10, 2015

Obituary published in The Oregonian, Oct. 11, 2015

McClung, Betsy (Williams) RN, MN, was born in Bend, to Dr. Oscar and Helen (Carlson) Williams.  Most of her early years were spent in Oregon and near Olympia.  After graduating from Albany High School, she attended Lewis and Clark College for two years before completing her undergraduate education at the Univ. of Oregon School of Nursing.  In her early nursing career, she coordinated educational activities for clinic nurses at the Univ. Hospital in Portland.  

            She married Ron Love with whom she had her two children, Holly and Andy.  She later returned to school and received her master’s degree in nursing from the Oregon Health & Science University. 

            In the mid-1980’s, she and Dr. Michael McClung, founded the Oregon Osteoporosis Center in Portland which became widely recognized as a leading clinical, educational and research center.  She and Dr. McClung married in 1993.  Betsy made presentations at many national and international meetings and was widely recognized as a strong advocate of the role of nurses in managing patients with osteoporosis.  She was a teacher and mentor who inspired many by her intelligence, compassion and sensitivity. 

            Betsy served as president of the Endocrine Nurses Society, and served on the boards of the Paget Foundation and the North American Menopause Society.

            Tributes are planned at international meets where her leadership, humanity and spirit were appreciated.

            Betsy reveled in her family.  By sharing her optimistic outlook and her enthusiasm for each new day with us, she made us all be better.  Her wisdom, courage, love and special way of making us happy will be deeply missed.  Betsy lived a full, happy, productive and influential life.  She was a star during life, and we know that her light still shines on us even in her absence. 

            An extended personal history is available at http://www.BetsyMcClung.com. 

            Survivors include her husband, Michael McClung; daughter, Holly Love; son Any Love; and grandson, Oscar Love, all of Portland; stepson, Daniel McClung of Ann Arbor, MI; sisters, Margaret Hitchcock, Exeter, England and Janey Sherman, Amesbury, MA; and brothers, James Williams, Colorado Springs, CO, and Doug Williams, Omaha, NE.

            A private memorial service will be held.  Remembrances may be made in Betsy’s memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Lonnie R. St. Dennis

Oct. 16, 1941 — Sept. 25, 2015

Death Notice: ADH, Sept. 28, 2015

LON St. DENNIS, 74, of Phoenix, Arizona, formerly of Albany, died Friday at Sherman House Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix.  No local service plans have been announced at this time.

Lon was born on Oct. 16, 1941, in North Bend, Oregon to Louis W. and Beatrice (Kingsford) St. Dennis.  He attended Marshfield High School in Coos Bay before coming to Albany Union High School in his senior year (1959-60).  According to the 1959-60 Albany City Directories, Lonnie R. St. Dennis was a student at AUHS who lived at 1430 Hill Street with his parents Louis W. and Beatrice St. Dennis.  His father was a Road Master Clerk for Southern Pacific Railroad.  No other siblings were listed.

Lon was in the military and stationed in Wisconsin where he met his wife.  Lon and Kay Hopefl were married on June 4, 1963 in Milwaukee, WI.  Lon is survived by his son, Dan St. Dennis and daughter Dawn (St. Dennis) Mabrey and four grandchildren. 

Lon owned his own business in Salem for many years called PS Enterprises, which was a promotional company.  He facilitated home shows in Albany, Salem, Bend and other places in Oregon. 

Lon took a big part in the planning of our class reunions.  He was always available with suggestions and contacts, and several times he was our emcee.  He had a restored 1937 Ford coupe which he enjoyed driving on sunny days.  He transported the car to Phoenix where he was active in one of their local car clubs.  He was planning to take the coupe to “Midnight at the Oasis” in Yuma, AZ in the spring of 2016.

After Kay’s death, Lon moved to Phoenix to be near his daughter Dawn, and because he love the very hot climate.  In Phoenix he met a widowed lady of our age, Arlene Casale.  They lived together for four years and enjoyed traveling.  Lon was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013 and spent a lot of time in the hospital.  He made one last trip to Albany in 2014 and was planning on attending our 55^th Reunion in August of 2015.  Arlene was devoted to Lon and was at his bedside every day.

Service information will be announced at a later date.

Jerry G. Hutcheson

From Albany Democrat-Herald:

Jerry G. Hutcheson, 73, of Albany died Sunday, July 26 in Portland. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Albany Eagles Lodge, 127 Broadalbin St. N.W., Albany. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

From Betty:

Jerry Gilbert Hutcheson passed away in July of 2015 in Albany, Linn Co., OR.   According

to his brother-in-law, Dick Hubert, Jerry suffered from a nerve disease inherited from his father.  Dick’s wife, Judie Hutcheson Hubert also suffers from the same illness.  It is a degenerative disease that eventually affects all the motor nerves. 

Jerry grew up in the Riverside area of Albany and attended Riverside Grade school.  He lived on the same property all his life located at Route 3, Box 917 Oakville Road. 

Dick Hubert said Jerry played baseball while attending AUHS and worked for the railroad for a few years.  Health issues prevented him from working any longer.  Jerry was married three times, had one daughter and 3 grandchildren.   

According to the Albany City Directories (1958-1960) his parents were Richard J. and Clara M. Hutcheson.  His father was an Engineer for Southern Pacific  and his mother was a clerk typist at the Bureau of Mines.  Jerry had four siblings.  Judie  (Class of ’59 and married to Richard Hubert); Diane (Class of ’61 – she died in 2013); Dennis R. age 12; and Stephen, age 7.

Joyce L DeRusha

Dec. 22, 1941 — Aug. 12, 2015

Joyce Lee Deleye DeRusha went to be with her Savior on Aug. 12, 2015, following a long battle with cancer.

Joyce was born on Dec. 22, 1941, in Portland to Ira and Mamie Deleye. She grew up in Albany and graduated from Albany Union High School. She was employed by the court systems in Linn County for many years retiring in 1996.

She enjoyed gardening, knitting, crocheting and her pets, Ernest, Diesel, JB and BJ.

At the time of her death she was surrounded by her family: son Allan Ahart of Lebanon, and sisters Shirley Bailey of Albany, Bonna Meyer of Roseburg and Belva Woods of Mesa, Arizona.

At her request, no services will be held.

Donations may be made in her name to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice.

Robert C. Warren

(Our Mr. Warren)

Albany Democrat-Herald February 04, 2015

April 26, 1925 — Jan. 28, 2015

Robert C. Warren, 89, of Albany passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family.

Robert was born in Salem to Charles and Edna Warren. He was a teacher in Albany for many years as well as a baseball umpire, referee for high school football and basketball, and a coach for many years. He served in the U.S. Navy and married Shirley Jean Hall on Nov. 27, 1947. They had a son, Gary, and daughter Cheryl and were together until her death in September of 2012. Robert graduated from Willamette University in 1951 with a teaching certificate, attended the University of Oregon and earned his masters degree from Oregon State University. He was a teacher in the Albany Public Schools from 1953 until his retirement in June of 1983.

Robert is survived by son, Gary Warren and wife Julie; daughter Cheryl Warren; grandchildren Karl, Andrew and Kim; great-grandchildren Robert, Athena and Kendra; and great-great-grandchild Aurora.

An open house will be from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. A private entombment will be held at the Willamette Memorial Park Mausoleum.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).

St. Mary's 1956 Graduation

This is the portion of the "Class of '60" that graduated from the 8th grade at St. Mary's in 1956.

Photo submitted by Michael Derrah

Newspaper Clipping From 1959

'Cats' on TV

The "Wildcats," an instrumental group, played several selections in Eugene on KVAL television, channel 13, from 5:30 to 6:00 last Monday.

The "Wildcats," Clay Caughill, Jonathan Goode, Roger Coakley, and Tom Muller were invited to appear on "Teen Scene." Several couples from Albany also went to Eugene to dance.

(From left to right: Tom Muller, Roger Coakley, Jon Goode, & Clay Caughill)