Obituaries for the week of 10/25/16
Mary Louise Bengard
Mary Louise Bengard joined her husband, Van, in heaven on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. She was 100 years and 2 days old at the time of her death. Family members had celebrated her birthday with her on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Eagle Lake Village, her home for the last 10 years.
Mary was born in Hotchkiss, Colorado and was the second oldest of four children. Her parents moved their family to Santa Cruz when Mary was in her teens. After graduation from high school, she attended Business College. At a dance at the Coconut Grove Ballroom in Santa Cruz, she met a handsome farmer who was attending the same business college.
Van and Mary were married on Aug. 27, 1938. They moved to the Bitter Water Valley in San Benito County where they owned and operated a family farm. Mary was a typical farm wife and mom. She chased after her two sons, Robert and James, cooked meals for hay crews, kept the books for the farm operation and was a 4-H leader.
Van developed Meniere’s Disease, a problem that affects the middle ear, causing extreme vertigo. Because of this, they sold the farm and moved to King City, in Monterey County, where they started a DeSoto-Plymouth car dealership. After about three years, medication was found that controlled Van’s disease.
On a vacation to Lassen County, they decided they liked the area and purchased a farm in Standish in 1952. Mary served as secretary for the Soil Conservation Board, worked at the AAA office in Susanville, and kept the books for the farm operation.
After selling the farm in 1962, Mary and Van bought 32 acres on the north shore of Eagle Lake and developed two subdivisions there. She was the bookkeeper, business manager and sometimes-sales lady for these projects.
In 1970, the Bengards started a mobile home business in Susanville, Sierra West Sales. This business was eventually expanded to include boats, motors and RVs.
During these years, Mary was active in the Soroptimist Club and the Lassen Hospital Auxiliary, serving in various positions in these organizations.
After retiring to their home at Eagle Lake, they joined the snowbirds and traveled extensively in their RV, spending the winters in Arizona. Van and Mary were among the first residents of Eagle Lake Village when the assisted living facility opened in 2006.
They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in August of 2009, shortly before Van passed away.
Mary is survived by her two sons, Robert, of Janesville, and James, of Kelseyville; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy, of Woodburn, Oregon; several nieces; and one great nephew.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
The family asks that any memorial donations be made to the Susanville Soroptimist Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 442, Susanville, CA 96130. Thank you.
Victor Frank Hasek
Victor was born in Santa Rosa, California on Feb. 27, 1950 and passed away in Yuma, Arizona on Oct. 6, 2016. Victor is preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Jo Hasek, and an infant sister.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 26 years, Vivian Hasek; loving siblings, Karla Storrs and Bruce Hasek (Joan); dear uncle of 9; and many other loving family members and friends.
Family and friends attended the funeral services held at 2 p.m. Oct. 17, 2016 in the chapel of the Walton’s Colonial Mortuary, 115 S. Lassen St. Susanville, California 96130 followed by burial and U.S. Navy Honors at the Diamond Crest Cemetery. Tributes may be expressed to Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S. 8th Street Yuma, Arizona 85364 or the Oregon Coast Aquarium 2820 SE Fairy Slip Road Newport, Oregon, 97365.
Lottie Greig Langley
Lottie Greig Langley passed away on Oct. 12, 2016 in the home of her daughter, Betty, and son-in-law, Russ Miller, in Reno, Nevada. She was born in Junction City, California, on April 22, 1915. Lottie’s family moved to the area in the early 1920s living in the Richmond Precinct, at the family home located at the Greig Quarry on Gold Run Road.
Lottie graduated from Lassen High Class of 1932, and was one of the women who worked in the Box Factory to keep the mills running while Lassen County’s men were off fighting the war.
Lottie was a remarkable seamstress and a master of needlework. She enjoyed many years participating in the Lassen College Senior Exercise Fitness programs, making winter caps for the children of Lassen County, and working in her yard.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Lucy Dawson (one of the handful of survivors of the Bridge Gulch Massacre); parents, George and Ruth Greig; her brothers, Ernest Dawson, Greorge Greig Jr., and James Greig; sisters, Emma Aragon, Velma Payne and Nina Buick; and her husband of 72 years, Allen Langley. She is survived by her son, Michael Langley, of Crescent City, California; daughter, Betty (Russ), of Reno; grandson, Mark Spargo (Cindy); and great granddaughter, Megan, of Reno; and many nieces and nephews. Services will be scheduled at a later date.
James Jones
Lifetime resident of Susanville, James Elmer Jones, 50, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016.
He was born in Susanville on Nov. 1, 1965 and graduated from Lassen High School class of 1983. James then went to Lassen College and graduated class of 1986. He worked at Sierra Army Depot.
James loved the Susanville community and so the Jones family is asking that in lieu of flowers, friends and family either send live plants that will be planted with James’ ashes at his beloved Eagle Lake and family cabin where he will join his mother Gloria Jones or donate to the Lassen High School Scholarship Fund for the wrestling club.
James is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria Jean Jones; his maternal grandparents, Elmer and Lorraine Hill; and paternal grandparents, James and Dolley Jones.
James brought his humor to the world and gave us all the gift of laughter and love. He loved fishing, he loved Eagle Lake and he was devoted to his family and friends. James was a great son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law and friend.
He is survived by his father, Owen Jones; sister, Sherry and brother-in-law, Robbie Chappius; nephew, Joey Chappius and girlfriend, Alisha Rehe; niece, Amanda LockeYoungs and her family, Chance, Hunter and Emma; nephew, Joshua Locke and his family, Billie Jean and Zillah; as well as all the family and friends whom he was so close with.
Funeral will be held at 1 p.m. at Walton’s Colonial Mortuary. The Celebration of James’s life will follow at Diamond Mt. Casino board room and patio.