Obituaries for the week of 4/4/17

Betty Barry Deal
Betty Barry Deal 1921 – 2017 Justice of the Court of Appeal, retired
Betty Barry Deal died peacefully at the home of her daughter in Ventura, California. on March 12, 2017. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Hardin and Edith (Elledge) Barry, of Susanville, California; her sisters, Norma Griffin and Virginia Viau; and her beloved husband, John Pierpont Deal.
Left to honor her memory are her two children, Diana Deal and Thomas Deal (Nancy); her grandchildren Elisabeth Hanrieder and Michael Hanrieder, Garret Deal (Lacey), Bradley Deal (Tara), Conor Deal (Lauren) and Cameron Collins (Michael) as well as her eight great-grandchildren, Finn Hanrieder, Caitlin English, Jack Deal, Charlotte Deal, Henry Deal, Josie Deal, Ellie Deal and Frannie Deal; her brother James Barry; sister Lynn Pickart; cousin JoAnn Elledge Uptegrove (Richard); and many nieces and nephews.
Betty Jane Barry was born in Reno, Nevada on April 25, 1921. She grew up in Susanville where her great-grandparents settled in the 1860s. Though she lived in the East Bay for nearly all of her adult life, she was proud of her Susanville roots and values. Her father, Hardin Barry, an attorney in Susanville, instilled in Betty a love of the law and an appreciation of hard work. He managed, in spite of the Depression, to give his family a comfortable life filled with the joys of small town living.
Betty graduated valedictorian from Lassen High School in 1938 and from Lassen Junior College in 1940. She attended Stanford University. She left school to join the Red Cross for two years during WW II, and then graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley in 1944. She met her future husband, John Deal, while attending law school at Boalt Hall when he graciously offered to let her borrow his books. They married in November of 1945 and, after brief stints in Susanville and Salt Lake City, settled down in Berkeley to live and raise their children.
Following John’s sudden death in 1951 at age 33, Betty finished her law degree at Boalt Hall and passed the Bar exam in 1955. Law jobs were difficult to obtain for women in that era, so she began her legal career as an editor of law books for UC’s Continuing Education of the Bar. She held that position until 1963 when she hung her own shingle and, over time, earned an excellent reputation as a family lawyer, practicing from her home office while raising her children. She joined the Oakland law firm of Helzel, Brunn and Leighton as a full partner in 1970.
In 1977, during his first term in office, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the bench in the Alameda County Superior Court where she handled cases in juvenile court and family law court, earning wide praise for her open mind and willingness to work with families to determine what was best for children whose parents were separating.
In 1980, Gov. Brown appointed her to the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco where she remained until her retirement in 1990. She was the first women appointed to this district, giving future aspiring women in the practice of law a wonderful role model.
In retirement, she continued her interest in genealogy, corresponding with distant relatives throughout the country, often touring graveyards with her children and grandchildren, regularly reminding them that they were related to Daniel Boone. She took great pride in her colonial style home and spent hours researching period appropriate paint colors and furnishings for homes from the 18th and 19th century. She had a passion for gardening and hummingbirds.
Despite being a single parent and sole support for her family, she sewed many of her daughter’s dresses as well as Halloween costumes for both of her children. She adored Halloween and kept a box of her homemade costumes in the attic to be enjoyed by future generations. She had boundless energy, and when her children were small, it was not uncommon for her to put them to bed and then paint the walls of a room.
Betty married again in 1958 to Dr. Richard Nies and together they bought a home large enough to accommodate their blended family of four children. Though divorced from Dick in 1960, Betty remained close to his children Albert (dec.) and Andrea both of whom cherished their relationship with her.
Her home in Alameda was always a warm and wonderful place, open at all times to the many relatives and friends who stayed over or stopped by for a visit. Having grown up during the Great Depression, she never ran out of essentials: Fig Newtons in the cookie drawer, gum, tissues, and a pair of scissors to clip out her favorite articles from the newspaper. Many of us will remember that she always saw us off when we departed, waving goodbye from her front porch until we could no longer see her. Her exceptional intellect, phenomenal memory, gracious generosity and great sense of humor made her a welcome presence in many lives. Those of us left behind will miss her, but salute her for a life well lived. She was truly loving and truly loved.
Private services to be held. Contributions to the charity of your choice are greatly appreciated.

Marius Frank Prince
Marius Frank Prince was born Aug. 16, 1932 in Wendell, Idaho to Joe and Zina Prince. He had two older brothers, Wayne Pratt and Lamar Prince.
The family moved to Herlong, when Frank was 8 years old. Eventually they moved into Susanville where Joe and Zina built Wagon Wheel Trailer Park. After high school, he joined the Air Force. While he was stationed in Japan, he fell out of a plane and was hurt badly enough he was medically discharged. He came back to Susanville where he met Imagean Workman. They married May 30, 1958 and were blessed with three children, Cheryl, Curtis and Wayne.
Frank worked at Sierra Army Depot for over 30 years. After his retirement he worked at various places, Lassen Rural Bus, Zurn Nepco helping to build Honey Lake Power Company and then Walmart when it first opened. In between, during, and after work he fished at Eagle Lake and also enjoyed deer hunting.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, wife (Imagean), son (Curtis) and brothers, (Wayne and Lamar). He is survived by his children, Cheryl (and husband, Robin), of Lakeport; Wayne (and wife, Jill); daughter-in-law Karren Prince, of Standish; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law who was more like a brother, Eddie Workman, of Janesville.
A memorial service was held March 31 at Walton’s Colonial Mortuary.

James Henry Johnston
Longtime Lassen County resident James Henry Johnston passed from this life peacefully at his residence in Janesville following a valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease and cancer. His loving family was at his side.
Born March 29, 1943 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania to the late Lester and Alma (Duffy) Johnston, he was raised and educated in Pennsylvania and Ohio, graduating from Columbus High School as a member of their Class of 1961. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country honorably, settling in San Jose, California upon his discharge. Here he began a 35-year career in the Auto Parts business, going to work for Kragen Auto Parts and rising to the position of store manager. In 1977, he moved to Lassen County where he continued his career in the auto parts business.
With a black belt in Karate, Jim will be remembered by many for his 27 years as a Karate Instructor in the area. Specializing in children’s horses, he enjoyed training show horses as well as working with the youth of the community as a 4-H leader. Jim is a former member of the Lassen County Search and Rescue. He will be remembered as a “Jack of all trades” and one who could fix anything. He was a member of the American Legion Post of Susanville.
In his passing, Jim leaves his loving wife, Sheila, of Janesville; sons, James Johnston, of Montana, Darrell Wootten, of Louisiana, and Logan Johnston, of Susanville; daughters, Kelly Johnston and Lana Chamberlain, of Westwood. He is a proud grandparent to 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Jim is also survived by a sister, Sue Fletcher, of Provo, Utah.
Following cremation locally at Fehrman Crematory, private family services will take place. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family asks that any remembrances in Jim’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803 Greenville, CA 95947.
Ralph Joseph Conway
Born on Jan. 4, 1927, San Francisco, California – Passed on March 23, 2017, Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a full life of challenges, adventures and joys, Ralph passed peacefully at his Santa Fe home after succumbing to Parkinson’s disease.
Early life was full of setbacks, tragedy and sadness for Ralph’s family with the loss of his mother Julia at 3, his stepmother Evelyn at 9, and his father Joseph on his 18th birthday. He and his sister Juliette were often placed with Catholic Charities’ foster families while their father worked. After a physical altercation with a brother at St. Vincent’s Orphanage near San Rafael, at 15 he walked out of school for his final time. He soon learned that the boxing skills he had learned at St. Vincent’s were an important survival skill at 16 while working in logging camps near Susanville, California.
This journey to Lassen County to work was a gift of opportunity from his mentor Oak Glasser—it changed his life! The mountain country proved to be to his liking and he stayed, taking jobs with Lassen County as a road surveyor and the city of Susanville as the engineer and public works director. During this period, he met and married Mary Garnier and started a family. In the early 60s, Ralph started the family engineering construction and material production business which supplied road asphalt to the city, county, and state road departments for many years, employing members of his family, relatives and many other residents of the Honey Lake Valley community. One of his first and most interesting contracts was with the Air Force Strategic Air Command, which required a passable road to the radar station on top of Thompson Peak on 24 hours notice during the winter. Often, the road was treacherous with 10-20 foot drifts of snow completely obscuring the abrupt cliff road the last 600 yards to the peak! Another innovative project involved replacing Susanville’s main water supply line that hugged the steep canyon wall to the west of town—it involved hazardous helicopter transport for placement of new pipe into the cavity of the old pipe and daily dodging of rattlesnakes.
During these early years, Ralph was very active with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a building fundraiser for the Monsignor Moran Hall, and a weekly lector at Sunday masses.  He loved inviting the parish priests and visiting summer school nuns for Sunday dinner at the family home or camp at Lake Almanor. Ralph was also active in the Susanville Elks Lodge, Toastmasters, Rotary Club and head of Civil Defense for Lassen County.
In 1973, the family business was sold to Basic Resources of Modesto, California, where Ralph worked for several years, managing all the site work for the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada. In the late 70s, he contracted with B & B Construction of Susanville to develop material production sites in Northern California and Nevada for the railroads. Due to the success of his efforts, the railroads asked B & B if they could provide railroad ballast sites in the southwestern U.S. where rock was scarce. After flying over vast remote areas of Western Texas and New Mexico, reviewing geological maps in county seats, and driving country roads to talk to ranchers, Ralph discovered and developed several rock sources.
He and three partners later purchased and operated railroad ballast plants at two of these locations, becoming the largest suppliers of ballast rock for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads in the United States. In the April 2008 HIGHLINE, a historical documentary of B & B, the authors recounted the company’s praise for him: “Ralph had an uncanny knack for discovering rock sources when all others failed…”
Ralph and his wife Lesley made their home among the Pinyon Pines of the high desert above Santa Fe, New Mexico. When he retired in the early 90s, he became active in the Don Quixote Club. In his later years, he and Lesley made numerous trips to Mexico and Montana to spend time with friends and family.
Family notes: Ralph was a voracious reader and self educated as a civil engineer; an orator who coached Lassen High School speech students in the CA/NV Lions Club speech contest; he loved to deer hunt in the family ‘46 Willys Jeep with his brother-in-laws, nephews, and children near the Garnier home ranch in Doyle, California; the Lake Almanor family camp, furniture, lighting, and stoves still resonate with his creative artistry with wood and metal; he was a pilot who loved flying his Beechcraft Baron in search of rock sources and a captain who enjoyed exploring the Sea of Cortez on the 67′ Heather.
He is survived by his wife, Lesley Conway of Santa Fe, New Mexico; sister, Juliette Attebery of Port Ludlow, Washington; daughter, Jeanne Conway Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; son, Tim Conway, of Sacramento, California; son-in-law, Kurt Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; and, four grandchildren: Laura of Williston, North Dakota; Julia & Megan Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; and Sarah Conway, of Sacramento, California. His son, Matthew Conway, predeceased him in 2012. Ralph is also survived by his former spouse and friend, Mary Garnier Conway, of Susanville, California.

Final thoughts from his older sister Juliette on March 27, 2017, “My brother had to grow up very fast, was self educated and a proud and loving father — he was an all American man.”
Timothy Conway and Jeanne Winje are planning a Celebration of Life to honor their father in Susanville. A mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Luncheon will follow at Monsignor Moran Hall.

Bryan Thomas Reger

Bryan Thomas Reger, 38, was born on Dec. 22, 1978 in Bakersfield, California. He passed away Friday, March 24, 2017 in Minden, Nevada.

Bryan spent all of his childhood between Plumas and Lassen counties. He was a graduate of Westwood High School. He then went on to complete the IBEW Apprenticeship and made his living as an Electrical Journeyman Lineman.

Bryan loved the outdoors. Fishing and hunting were two of his favorite hobbies. Above all, Bryan loved his family and friends. He was a backyard chef. There was nothing Bryan loved more than having a house full of family and friends enjoying themselves.

Bryan was larger than life, little rough around the edges but had a heart of gold. He is loved and is going to be missed by all that knew him.

Bryan leaves behind a close, loving family. His father Frank Reger, of Yerington, Nevada; his loving wife, Tina and four beautiful daughters, Chelsea, Madison, Katelynn and Ashley, of Minden, Nevada. Bryan was preceded in death by his mother, Kristine Reger.

There will be a celebration of Bryan’s life at 1 p.m. April 8 at the Bentley Ranch Park located at 1751 Orbit Road in Minden, Nevada. Any questions please call Frank at (775) 530-5409

Ralph Joseph Conway

Born on Jan. 4, 1927, San Francisco, California – Passed on March 23, 2017, Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a full life of challenges, adventures and joys, Ralph passed peacefully at his Santa Fe home after succumbing to Parkinson’s disease.

Early life was full of setbacks, tragedy and sadness for Ralph’s family with the loss of his mother Julia at three, his stepmother Evelyn at nine, and his father Joseph on his 18th birthday. He and his sister Juliette were often placed with Catholic Charities’ foster families while their father worked. After a physical altercation with a brother at St. Vincent’s Orphanage near San Rafael, at 15 he walked out of school for his final time. He soon learned that the boxing skills he had learned at St. Vincent’s were an important survival skill at 16 while working in logging camps near Susanville, California.

This journey to Lassen County to work was a gift of opportunity from his mentor Oak Glasser—it changed his life! The mountain country proved to be to his liking and he stayed, taking jobs with Lassen County as a road surveyor and the City of Susanville as the engineer and public works director. During this period, he met and married Mary Garnier and started a family. In the early 60s, Ralph started the family engineering construction and material production business which supplied road asphalt to the city, county, and state road departments for many years, employing members of his family, relatives and many other residents of the Honey Lake Valley community. One of his first and most interesting contracts was with the Air Force Strategic Air Command, which required a passable road to the radar station on top of Thompson Peak on 24 hours notice during the winter. Often, the road was treacherous with 10-20 foot drifts of snow completely obscuring the abrupt cliff road the last 600 yards to the peak! Another innovative project involved replacing Susanville’s main water supply line that hugged the steep canyon wall to the west of town—it involved hazardous helicopter transport for placement of new pipe into the cavity of the old pipe and daily dodging of rattle snakes.

During these early years, Ralph was very active with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a building fundraiser for the Monsignor Moran Hall, and a weekly lector at Sunday masses. He loved inviting the parish priests and visiting summer school nuns for Sunday dinner at the family home or camp at Lake Almanor. Ralph was also active in the Susanville Elks Lodge, Toastmasters, Rotary Club, and head of Civil Defense for Lassen County.

In 1973, the family business was sold to Basic Resources of Modesto, California, where Ralph worked for several years, managing all the site work for the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada. In the late 70s, he contracted with B & B Construction of Susanville to develop material production sites in northern California and Nevada for the railroads. Due to the success of his efforts, the railroads asked B & B if they could provide railroad ballast sites in the southwestern US where rock was scarce. After flying over vast remote areas of western Texas and New Mexico, reviewing geological maps in county seats, and driving country roads to talk to ranchers, Ralph discovered and developed several rock sources.

He and three partners later purchased and operated railroad ballast plants at two of these locations, becoming the largest suppliers of ballast rock for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads in the United States. In the April 2008 HIGHLINE, a historical documentary of B & B, the authors recounted the company’s praise for him: “Ralph had an uncanny knack for discovering rock sources when all others failed…”

Ralph and his wife Lesley made their home among the Pinyon Pines of the high desert above Santa Fe, New Mexico. When he retired in the early 90s, he became active in the Don Quixote Club. In his later years, he and Lesley made numerous trips to Mexico and Montana to spend time with friends and family.

Family Notes: Ralph was a voracious reader and self educated as a civil engineer; an orator who coached Lassen High School speech students in the CA/NV Lions Club speech contest; he loved to deer hunt in the family ‘46 Willys Jeep with his brother-in-laws, nephews, and children near the Garnier home ranch in Doyle, California; the Lake Almanor family camp, furniture, lighting, and stoves still resonate with his creative artistry with wood & metal; he was a pilot who loved flying his Beechcraft Baron in search of rock sources and a captain who enjoyed exploring the Sea of Cortez on the 67′ Heather.

He is survived by his wife, Lesley Conway of Santa Fe, New Mexico; sister, Juliette Attebery of Port Ludlow, Washington; daughter, Jeanne Conway Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; son, Tim Conway, of Sacramento, California; son-in-law, Kurt Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; and, four grandchildren: Laura of Williston, North Dakota; Julia & Megan Winje, of Tacoma, Washington; and Sarah Conway, of Sacramento, California. His son, Matthew Conway, predeceased him in 2012. Ralph is also survived by, his former spouse and friend, Mary Garnier Conway, of Susanville, California.

Final thoughts from his older sister Juliette on March 27, 2017, “My brother had to grow up very fast, was self educated and a proud and loving father—he was an all American man.”

Timothy Conway and Jeanne Winje are planning a Celebration of Life to honor their father in Susanville. A mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Luncheon will follow at Monsignor Moran Hall.