Susan Lee (Szekely) Oft
Feb. 8, 1950 ~ Jan. 25, 2019
Teacher, farmer, artist, mentor, librarian, rancher, gardener. Loving wife, sister and Auntie; lover of dogs, cats, calves, basketball, tennis and antiques. Our Susie was all of these and so much more. Although she lost her hard-fought battle with cancer on January 25, it was one she took on with unwavering graciousness. Her spirit remains with us and always will.
Susie was born to Gene and Lena (Schneider) Szekely on February 8, 1950, in Portland, Oregon. She was raised in a loving Catholic home and attended Holy Family Grade School and Marycrest High School. Then it was on to Portland State College and a degree in elementary education. Her first teaching job was at Lynch Terrace Grade School in Portland.
Through her future sister-in-law she met the love of her life, Terry Oft, during a snow storm. After marrying and moving to the Treasure Valley she began her new teaching career at Fruitland Grade School, and was a finalist for the Idaho Teacher of the Year award in 1980. She later moved on to Fruitland High School where she was the librarian, yearbook advisor and class advisor, and received the FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer Award in 2002. For 30 years she kept score for the Fruitland Boys Freshman and Varsity Basketball team – by our calculations, that’s over 1,600 games!
After retiring in 2007, she became Terry’s invaluable partner on their growing Angus ranch. In 2015 they began building the house of their dreams; Susie’s artistic and loving touch can be felt throughout their home. In spite of all these achievements and accolades, Sue remained selfless and soft-spoken; living a life that was thoughtful and positive. She was focused on doing everything she could for her family, friends, students and neighbors. Sue was never happier than when her family came to visit, which provided lasting memories through generations.
It was in the bedroom of her lovely home where she passed on to a much better place, surrounded by her loving but devastated family. Terry was the valiant caregiver who never left her side, making sure she was comfortable at all times.
Survivors include her husband Terry, mother-in-law Betty and brother-in-law Mike (Kay); brothers Kal Szekely (Kathleen) and Gene Szekely (Shelly); sisters Mary Martin (Randy), Judy Morgan (John), Shirley Szekely (Jack) and Stephanie Blanchard (Jeff); nine nieces and nephews, eight great-nieces and nephews, and many cousins, plus scores of beloved students and athletes that she took under her wing. Not to be left out is her passel of pets: Nelson, Daisy Mayhem, Nippy, Frank, Bushka and the mutt dug boys: Angus and Elliot.
Remembrances may be sent in Sue’s name to Treasure Valley Community College. The family and Team SOft sends gratitude and love to Jerrimi Helmick and the entire staff at Mountain States Tumor Institute in Fruitland for their unwavering support and compassion.
An open house to celebrate Sue’s life will be held on May 3 at the Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 S.W. 5th Avenue, Ontario, from 2 to 5 p.m. Appetizers will be served.
Richard A. “Radio Dick” Thompson
Richard A. “Radio Dick” Thompson, age 76, was called to be with Our Lord on Thursday, the 4th of April, 2019, at Ashley Manor Memory Care in Ontario, Oregon.
Dick is survived by his wife, Jackie, two children, Angie and Tom, and eight grandchildren, Tyler and wife Mickayla, Levi, Makenzee, Isabella, Rylie, Eliana, and Thomas Jr., Sister Linda and husband Jim, one niece Stacy, one nephew Dustin, one great-neice and three great-nephews and preceded in death by his best friend, “Uncle Red.”
Dick grew up in Vale, Oregon, son of Glen and Hazel Thompson, and after graduating from Vale High School, he joined the United States Navy. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War where he served honorably with the Navy as a communications technician for four years. He then joined the Bureau of Land Management, working as a communications specialist for more than 40 years, retiring in 2004, having helped with many BLM projects.
Besides being a family man, Dick was a friend and confidante to many in the community. He will be remembered as a loving and kind Christian, whose sense of fairness and strong work ethic left every life he touched a little better for having known him.
Celebration of life will be held Friday May 3, at 3 p.m. at Vale Christian Church, 450 W. Main St., in Vale. Potluck dinner to follow.
Chuck Kuwahara
Jan. 2, 1960 ~ Feb. 21, 2019
Chuck Kuwahara, 59, of Halfway, Oregon, passed away on Feb. 21. 2019, at a hospital in Boise, Idaho. Chuck is the son of Fred and Elaine Kuwahara of Vale, Oregon. A celebration of life will be held on April 27 at 3 p.m. (PST) at Lions Club in Halfway.
DEATHS:
George R. Neiberger, 81, of Ontario, died April 13 at home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Dorothy Carol May Thompson, 90, of Ontario, died April 14 at a local care home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Ronald Lee Fehlman, 84, of Nyssa, died April 15 at home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Melanie Beth Stephens, 35, of Payette, died April 11 at a Boise hospital. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Barbara A. Heinz, 69, of Ontario, died April 12 at a Boise hospital. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, Ontario.
Roberta Chandler, 41, of Ontario, died April 17. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Ron Johnson, 78, of Fruitland, died April 19 at a local assisted living facility. Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.
Austin Brock Robbins Jr., 88, of Weiser, died April 20 at a Payette care facility. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, Payette.
Grace Marie Enterkine, 77, of Payette, died April 20 at a Fruitland care facility. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, Payette.
Judy H. Stubbert, 73, of Nyssa, died April 19 at her home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Nyssa.
Billy Welch, 87, of Nyssa died April 20 at his home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Nyssa
Kenneth “Kenny” Price, 89, of Adrian died April, 20 at his home. Lienkaemper Chapel, Nyssa.
LEARN HOW TO PLACE AN OBITUARY: Contact Autumn Butler, Enterprise office manager, at [email protected] or call 514-473-3377.