Elgin, Union County, Oregon
Died 10 January 1988
Fern S. Guthery, 98, of La Grande, died Sunday at Valley View Care Center. Mrs. Guthery was born September 23, 1890, in Akron, Colorado, to James and Ada (Withrow) Stewart. She married Fred E. Guthery in Wyoming in 1920.
The Gutherys came to Elgin from Wyoming in 1938. Mr. Guthery died in August 1951.
Mrs. Guthery attended Spearfish Normal School in South Dakota. She received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon College and held life teaching certificates in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Missouri. She taught in those three states, and in Oregon and Washington.
She was county administrator of Crook County, Wyoming, in the 1930’s. She also worked as a banker and co-owned and operated the Elgin Recorder. She moved to La Grande in 1965.
Mrs. Guthery joined the Order of Eastern Star in Spearfish 75 years ago. She later became a member of Blue Mountain Chapter No. 52, serving as Worthy Matron. She was a member and past president of the VFW auxiliary in Elgin.
Survivors include a son, Stewart, Stanfield; daughter, Fern Beem, La Grande; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. The funeral will be at 1 p. m. Thursday at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Susan BEEM, rector of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, Ohio, officiating. A ritual ceremony will be conducted by the Blue Mountain Chapter No. 52, Order of Eastern Star.
Private vault interment will be held later at Summerville Cemetery.
Friends may call from 3 p. m. to 9 p. m. Wednesday at Daniels Funeral Chapel. Those who wish can contribute to the charity of one’s choice in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St.
The La Grande Observer
Contributed by: Holly Vonderohe
