Madalena Andreatta

Laura Elizabeth Freeman

Akkin Moses

Roberta Ruth Niemeyer

Robert DeWayne Olson

Madalena Andreatta

Born Sept. 25, 1924 in Westwood, Calif., Lena died peacefully in her daughters’ arms on March 9, 2012 in Reno, Nev.

Lena is the daughter of immigrant parents from Northern Italy, Prudenza Della Piazza and Antonio Bottini. The family moved to Susanville when Lena was 2 years old, and she remained in the family home until her death. After graduation from Lassen High School, she attended cosmetology school in Oakland, Calif., then returned to Susanville to pursue her “beautician” career. After working for several salons, she decided to go into business for herself. She owned/operated her own beauty salon in the Hotel Mt. Lassen.

In 1946, her lifelong friend Dina Fiora introduced Lena to Primo Andreatta. They married on Sept. 22, 1947. This union produced three children, Katherine, Madeline and James.

In 1959, the family moved to Reno to co-own/operate the successful, internationally acclaimed Italian restaurant, Siri’s, on East Fourth Street.Primo was host and bartender, while Erildo Siri and Lena ran the kitchen. Lena was famous for her sautéed chicken livers and Blu cheese dressing.

In 1976, Siri’s closed and Lena and Primo moved back to the family home in Susanville. They opened “Primo Deli.” Lena’s homemade spaghetti meat sauce, all of her salads, deli sandwiches and San Francisco specialty deli items were a “hit.” Soon after selling the deli, they joint ventured with daughter Madeline and her husband Bill Kerns, of Reno, in the Black Rock Tavern (The BRT) and the Western Room in the Hotel Mt. Lassen.

Our cherished family moments were what mattered most to Lena, with the delicious smells of great Italian cooking in the air and hungry Italians anxiously awaiting the feast.

Primo and Lena traveled four times to “The Old Country,” Italy, to see relatives. Lena was a very proud and often a stubborn woman, which was both a blessing and a curse, but of all her attributes, she was faithful to her family and friends.

Surviving are daughters, Katherine Andreatta and Madeline Kerns; son, James Andreatta; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; as well as her brother, Francesco “Frank” Bottini, and sisters-in-law Beula and Margie Bottini, nieces and nephews, and Kim Brown, her devoted Goddaughter. She will be sorely missed.

Visitation at Walton’s Funeral Home in Susanville will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2012 with Rosary following at 7 p.m.Funeral Services to be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012. Reception will follow at Monsignor Moran Hall.

Laura Elizabeth Freeman

Laura Elizabeth Freeman passed away on March 9, 2012 at Country Villa Riverview surrounded by her family. She was born Nov. 21, 1921 in Marysville, Calif. to Harry Hamlin, of Red Bluff, Calif. and Juda Scott, of Marysville, Calif. She married Ralph Freeman on July 13, 1940 in Reno, Nev. and lived in Crescent Mills, Calif. They have three children, Lily, Merry and Robert. They lived in Greenville where she worked at the Indian Valley Hospital for 20 years until she retired.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Ralph, and by two daughters, Merry Britt and Lily Hamby.

She is survived by her son, Robert, and Darlene Freeman, of Cottonwood, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren, and many great-great-grandchildren, several cousins, nephews and nieces.

There will be a Mass held for Laura at 10 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

There will be a graveside service for Laura held at a later date in Greenville Cemetery.

Akkin Moses

Akkin Moses, 78, went to his eternal rest on March 4, 2012. He was a resident of Susanville, Calif. at the time of his passing, surrounded by family at his home.

Surviving him are his wife, Achiko, of Susanville; his son Siwiter, and daughters Taeko, Ann, Lucy, Liper, Jan and Faith.

Services were held March 9, 2012, at Walton’s Colonial Chapel in Susanville. His ashes will be returned to his home island in Micronesia.

Born in 1933 under Japanese occupation, Akkin survived the liberation of the Pacific Islands by the American forces, and went on to become an educator and principal of Fananu Elementary School. Upon retirement from education, Akkin became mayor of the island, a post he held for four years. He and his family relocated to California in 2004.

Roberta Ruth Niemeyer

Roberta Ruth Niemeyer, 85, passed away peacefully after a short bout of cancer March 9, 2012. She was a Susanville, Calif. resident since 1949.

Roberta worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years. She was actively involved in Susanville Camp Fire organization and the Lassen Gem and Mineral Society.

Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Rudolph O. Niemeyer and her parents.

She is survived by daughters, Louise Walker, Linda Hallum, and Leesa Dutra; five grandchildren, Sabrina Walker, Wendy Murdock, Nicole Arzola, Paula Aiken and Joshua Dutra; and six great-grandchildren; three brothers; one sister; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Parma, Idaho, and a Celebration of Life will be held in the Caldwell/Boise, Idaho area on the weekend of May 19 and 20.

Memorial donations can be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Children for Northern California (Sacramento), or a charity of choice.

Robert DeWayne Olson

Robert (Bob) passed away Thursday, March 8, 2012 at his home, fighting a long battle with diabetes related to Agent Orange from Vietnam. Bob was born June 19, 1947 at Wilshire Hospital in Los Angeles to Floyd and Betty Olson.

Bob attended John H. Francis Polytechnic High School, graduating in 1965, and then attended Los Angeles Valley College, where he wrestled on the college team.

Along with his father who served in the Navy and his Uncle Jim who was at the Battle of the Bulge with the Army, and a POW, Bob felt the need to serve his country. Bob enlisted in the Army June 1966, and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with the 101^st Airborne.

Bob’s true love was the forest and his great concern for the environment. Bob’s forest service career has spanned 30 years and includes five national forests and three regions, from Hot Shot to Smokejumper to Incident Commander, Fire Historian and during his retirement years, author; Bob has just about covered it all. Whether people know it or not, foresters now and in the future will benefit from his hard work and insight and so will the lands he managed and loved.

Bob’s achievements and awards include:

•Establishing Defensible Fuel Profile Zones (DFPZs) — concept development, planning and international implementation.

•Congressional hearings expert witness for Wood Waste Utilization, DFPZs and Fire Control.

•Leader of the California Suppression Strategy Team (state fire history).

•Forest Service Liaison for the Wood Energy Program to establish numerous wood fire power plants in Northeastern California.

•1988-1989 Region 5 Civil Rights Employee of the Year.

•National Recreational strategist and National Award recipient, 1989.

•Initiated Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake.

•California Spotted Owl Advisory Team (leader for fire and fuels in the Sierra Nevadas and Southern Cascades.

•Bob received more than 200 awards during his lifetime.

Bob enjoyed fly fishing, and hiking throughout Bridgeport, Calif. He truly loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.

Bob is survived by his wife of 38 years, Arlene; daughters, Tamara and Shannon; son, Kyle, and five grandchildren.

Prior to his passing his last words were, “I am heading over the mountain.” There will be a celebration of his life at a later date. Donations can be made to Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake in his memory.