Our dad Ed was born in Watford City, ND on June 25, 1930. In 1937, the family traveled via train to Oregon, eventually settling in Sweet Home. Ten years later in 1947, Dad’s father took him to enlist in the Army where Dad served before transferring to the Air Force. Dad’s military service included tours of duty during both the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, earning two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for Meritorious Service. In 1973, after 26 years, Dad retired with the rank of Master Sergeant.
After the service, Dad returned to his beloved Oregon and earned a real estate appraiser’s license, working for Polk County for a short time. He then went to work for Stadelman Fruit while also growing cherries. After several crop failures, Dad bought a mini-farm and turned to raising emus for many years before ending his farm life by raising sheep.
In 1952, Dad married our mom at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA, creating a family of three daughters: Renee (1952), Janet (1953), and Barbara (1961), and later taking in his nephew Richard. Dad is survived by his daughters, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
