Frank Richard Marino

Leonard Leland Proctor

Chester “Chet” Streible

Jeffrey Johnson Sr.

Marcella Mathews Searles

Darlene Lillian Wilson

Frank Richard Marino   

Frank Richard Marino passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2010, after a hard fought battle against a sudden illness. His beloved daughter, Francine Marino Tolley, preceded him in death in April, 2009.   

Frank had a smile bigger than he was and a hardworking spirit few could match. At five feet, two inches (and ½ as he insisted), he was determined to not let anything stand in his way. Born in 1934, Frank was a first generation American. His parents emigrated from Spain to Hawaii, and eventually to Hayward, Calif., where he grew up, graduated from Hayward High School and attended San Mateo College.   

He met his wife of 54 years, Frieda, at work in a furniture store in Oakland, Calif. Shortly after their engagement, Frank was inducted into the Army. He served two years as a communications clerk in Augusta, Ga. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he and Frieda, while on a hunting vacation, fell in love with Lassen County. They decided to purchase property with his brother Fred Marino in the spring of 1960. Here they built a home and raised a family that would become their pride and joy.   

Not having a job in Susanville, he answered an ad for Montgomery Ward and became the first male catalog store manager. Montgomery Ward was building the first catalog store with an auto service center in the now Grocery Outlet shopping center. He managed the store for 24 years until the company closed the catalog division nationwide. Not ready to retire, he began remodeling homes, investing in rental properties and became a sought after handyman. His experience in construction and a keen eye for investments kept him busy.   

He was full of life and fast to crack a joke. He never met a stranger and would instantly strike up a conversation with just about anyone, much to Frieda’s dismay. Having survived colon cancer his determination and physical strength belied his age, often joking with a hard handshake to one of his grandkids, offering to “wrestle” them even after they outgrew him.   

His love of hunting and fishing never waned. He loved to cut wood, clear brush and ride his ATV on his property. Often late for holiday gatherings, he could spend hours on the tractor or CAT, plowing snow, cutting roads and getting just one more snag down.   

He was so proud of his four grandchildren; Frank J. Marino, of San Francisco, Calif., senior field trainer studio manager for Lifetouch Portraits; Daniel Owen, of Chico, Calif., recent graduate of Chico State University with a degree in history; Heather Owen, of Janesville, Calif., a certified dental assistant; and Steven Marino, of Sacramento, Calif., Sacramento State University student, majoring in kinesiology.   

He is survived by his wife Freida; son and daughter-in-law Frank and Debbie Marino, of Susanville; brother and family Fred, Kathy, Tracy, Freddy and Ryan Marino, of Janesville; sister and family Joanie, Ron and Amanda Garbe; and Alicia, Andrew and Jack Elbert, of Union City.   

At his insistent request, no services will be held. Donations can be sent to pancan.org in remembrance of Francine Marino Tolley, to further pancreas cancer research.

Leonard Leland Proctor   

Leonard “Len” Leland Proctor passed away in Reno, Nev. on May 5, 2010 at the age of 86 years at Renown Medical Center. Len was born in Susanville, Calif. on April 26, 1924 to Lenore and Leland Proctor. He attended grade school and high school in Susanville where he graduated in 1943.   

After a short stint in the army, he worked in law enforcement in Chico, Calif., drove bus in San Francisco, Calif. for nine years, drove tour bus in Reno which brought him into contact with many celebrities. His return to Susanville led him into a very active life which included bowling, cribbage and rock hounding. Len was an artist in soap stone carvings of wild life.   

Len drove a school bus for many years as well as working at Sierra Army Depot and BLM. He drove the bus for Meals On Wheels for the Senior Services in Susanville.   

Many places around Lake Forest, Eagle Lake and Susanville decry his skills as a carpenter.  

Len had a phenomenal memory and being native to this area, there wasn’t a back road or landmark that he wasn’t aware of and enlightening commentaries ensued.   

Leonard is preceded in death by his mother, father, sister Corrine and his beloved wife Freda of 23 years by whom he was laid to rest.   

Being a great lover of animals and wild life, Len was always taking pictures of deer. He told many interesting hunting and fishing stories. A donation to the Lassen County Animal Shelter in honor of Leonard would be greatly appreciated.   

I feel extremely fortunate to have known Len for a short time and to have shared in the richness of his heritage. He will be sorely missed by his friend and companion Yvonne Sorenson.

Chester “Chet” Streible   

Chester “Chet” Streible was born in 1942 and passed away suddenly in his sleep on May 21, 2010 in Standish, Calif. He leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Holly and his daughter, Valerie (Streible) Ballestrasse and her husband, David, of San Bruno, Calif.; his son Chad Streible, daughter-in-law MaryJon (Murphy) Streible and three grandchildren — Stacy Murphy Streible, 15, Kara Streible, 9 and Cameron Streible, 7, of Susanville, Calif.; sisters Joyce Hillwig and Kathy McGee and mother Virginia Streible, all of Clarksville, Tenn., along with numerous nieces and nephews; plus his favorite aunt and uncle, Beverly and Robert Brown and their daughter Charlene Nielsen, all of Fresno, Calif.   

Chet was born in Elizabethtown, KY. to Virginia and Chester Raymond Streible. He joined the United States Air Force to travel the world at 17, retiring just 20 years later. He spent a year learning to be a jeweler and watch repairman in Holly’s parents San Francisco, Calif. jewelry store and enjoyed two years work for Boise Cascade in Bay Area.    

With a lifetime love of guns, he with his family moved to Susanville, Calif. for Lassen Junior College’s gunsmith program in 1980. He graduated with several degrees and became an outstanding hard metal engraver and gunsmith. By that time he and his family fell in love with Lassen County Area, the American Legion with its auxiliary, local friends and coworkers. So, he stayed to make a permanent home in Standish.    

He served as Lassen County’s Veteran Services Officer for nearly 20 years, then retired to his farm in Standish. He enjoyed his dogs and barn cats and two large Koi fish ponds, was still engraving, restoring a 1960 Ford pickup and two 1965 Ford Mustangs. He was always an avid motorcyclist.   

There will be a memorial service and/or military interment at the Diamond Crest Veterans Cemetery to be scheduled at a later date.   

He was the epitome of “The Good Man” and will be missed.

Jeffrey Johnson Sr.   

Jeffrey Johnson Sr., 34, died on May 23, 2010, at his residence in Susanville, Calif.   

He was born on Nov. 11, 1975, in Susanville.   

Jeffrey is survived by father Earl Johnson and mother Victoria Doherty, of Susanville; son Jeffrey Allen Johnson Jr.; daughter Emilly Anne Johnson; sisters Charmaine Sorrels, of Crescent City, Calif., and Tracy Johnson; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.   

A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9 at the Walton’s Chapel in Susanville.

Marcella Mathews Searles   

Marcella Mathews Searles died on Feb. 8, 2010 in Palo Alto, Calif.   

She was born on July 29, 1927 in Susanville, Calif., and is the daughter of Arthur and Lena Cahlen Mathews.    

Marcella is survived by her two daughters, Melinda Kaewcet, of Atherton, Calif., and Sally Porter, of Lahaina, Hawaii; son Scott Searles, of Oakland, Calif.; sister Ellen Wachhorst; brother Arthur Mathews; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.   

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5 at the Susanville Cemetery.

Darlene Lillian Wilson   

Westwood resident Darlene Lillian Wilson died May 14, 2010 in Reno, Nev.   

She was born in Elko, Nev. on April 10, 1923.   

She is survived by her son Don Clifford, of Cape Canaveral, Fla.; daughter Debra Sheets, of Westwood, Calif.; three grandchildren and one great-grandson.   

She was preceded in death by her husband Darrell and one grandson.   

Following cremation at Fehrman Crematory, inurnment will take place in the Chester District Cemetery.   

An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available Online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family suggests any remembrances in Darlene’s memory be made to Lassen Animal Rescue c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803 Greenville, CA 95947.