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Margaret E. Edler Patton
Retired North Fork Clinic RN
Dec. 21, 1909 - Oct. 4, 2000
PAONIA - Margaret E. (Edler) Patton, age 90, of Paonia, died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000, in the Paonia Care Center at Paonia.
Born on Dec. 21, 1909, in Paonia, Colo., Margaret E. Edler was the daughter of David and Anna Elder.
Margaret worked as a registered nurse at the North Fork Clinic in Paonia for 20 years.
Survivors very grateful to share Margaret's life include her husband, Robert M. "Jack" Patton, of the family home in Paonia; two cousins: Dorothy Chaney and Bess Carter, both of Ventura, Calif.; and two sisters-in-law: Grace Edwards, of Paonia; and Florence Destruf, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
At Margaret's request, cremation has taken place. Memorial Services in loving remembrance and to honor her life will be conducted at a later date.
Please do not send flowers to the family home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: North Fork Historical Society, In Memory of Margaret E. Patton, c/o Judy Livingston, P.O. Box 522, Paonia, CO 81428 or Paonia Care Center, Memorial Gardens, In Memory of Margaret E. Patton, 1625 Meadowbrook Blvd., Paonia, CO 81428.
Arrangements were handled under the direction of Montrose Valley Funeral Home; (970) 249-4400.
Charles Edward Schmidt
Farmer, Gardener
Aug. 23, 1913 - Oct. 3, 2000
MONTROSE - Longtime Montrose County resident, Charles Edward Schmidt, age 87, of Grand Junction, died early Tuesday morning, Oct. 3, 2000, in Family Health West at Fruita.
Charles Edward Schmidt was born in Montrose, Colo., on Aug. 23, 1913, the son of Arthur A. Schmidt and Amanda Joanna (Rhyan) Schmidt. He spent his childhood in Montrose and attended the Wentworth Military Academy before graduating from Montrose County High School in 1932. He continued to pursue his education at Western State College in Gunnison for one year in 1933.
Charles married Dorothy H. Rogers on Oct. 21, 1934, and she preceded him in death on May 7, 1970. On June 23, 1971, Charles married Peggy Shore and they shared 24 years together before Peggy's death on Jan. 23, 1996.
Throughout his lifetime, Charles was a farmer and gardener.
He was an active member of the Montrose Christian Church, belonged to Montrose Masonic Lodge No. 63, Grand Junction Masonic Lodge No. 173, served as Past Worshipful Master of Montrose Masonic Lodge No. 63, A.F. & A.M., was a Past High Priest of Montrose Royal Arch Chapter No. 25, Past Commander of Montrose-Ouray Commandery No. 16 Knights Templar, Past Master of Telluride Council No. 10, and received the Honorary Degree of Knights of the York Cross of Honor and was a member of the Consistary of Grand Junction. He held Scottish Rites 32nd Degree and took part in the 21st Degree. He was also a member of Montrose Elks Lodge No. 1053, and served on the school board for many years.
Charles will be fondly remembered for his love of fishing, traveling, and visiting with people.
Survivors very grateful to share Charles' life include two sons: Robert Schmidt and wife Connie, Dave Schmidt and wife Morgetta; and two daughters: Annie and husband Don Ritthaler, and Carey Shore.
He was the proud and loving grandfather of nine grandchildren: Richard Schmidt and wife Michelle, Lisa and husband Blaine Williams, Jim Ritthaler, Joseph Schmidt, Debbie and husband Dean Pense, Vicki and husband Lewis Weaver, Mike Shore and wife Liz; Teresa Steven, Diana Vaughn, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Other family survivors include one brother, Laurence Schmidt and wife Maxine.
Along with his parents and both of his wives, Charles was also preceded in death by one son, Art Schmidt; and two daughters-in-law.
Visitation for family and friends was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Montrose Valley Funeral Home Chapel, followed by Graveside Services in loving remembrance and to honor Charles' life at 2 p.m. in the Grand View Cemetery
west of Montrose.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Knights Templar Eye Foundation, In Memory of Charles E. Schmidt, c/o Montrose Valley Funeral Home, 505 S. 2nd, Montrose, CO 81401 or Alzheimers' Assn. - Greater Grand Junction, In Memory of Charles E. Schmidt, 743 Horizon Court, Suite 100 A, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Montrose Valley Funeral Home; (970) 249-4400.
Harlan Charles Smith
World War II Veteran
April 6, 1909 - Oct. 1, 2000
MONTROSE - Longtime Montrose resident, Harlan Charles Smith, age 91, a resident of Grand Junction since April, died Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, 2000, in St. Mary's Hospital at Grand Junction.
Harlan Charles Smith, the son of Orrie Guy Smith and Mattie (Miller) Smith, was born on April 6, 1909, in Trenton, Neb.
Harlan was joined in marriage, for a lifetime partnership, to Arlyene Jones on June 10, 1934. They farmed near Trenton, Neb., until the Depression when they moved to California. They owned and operated a mattress factory in Van Nuys, Calif.
During World War II, he proudly served his country as a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy Sea Bees. He was stationed in Mississippi, California, and the Pacific Theatre.
Harlan learned heavy duty diesel mechanics in California and continued that profession until his retirement in 1972. They had moved to Colorado in 1951.
He was a 50-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He also belonged to the Collbran Masonic Lodge.
Harlan loved and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping.
He is survived by his daughter, Charlene and husband Roger Iverson, of Grand Junction; two precious grandchildren: Jenny and Cameron; one sister, Evelyn; as well as nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Harlan was preceded in death by both of his parents; one sister, Ruby; two brothers: Wyatt and Oren; and his wife, Arlyene.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Montrose Valley Funeral Home Chapel.
Graveside Services in loving remembrance and to honor Harlan's life will be officiated on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. in the Colona Cemetery
at Colona.
Memorial contributions in memory of Harlan Smith may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Montrose Valley Funeral Home; (970) 249-4400.
Herman G. Soderquist
Tri-River Extension Agent
May 30, 1934 - Oct. 3, 2000
DELTA - Herman G. Soderquist, age 66, a resident of Delta since 1967, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000, at his home in Delta.
Herman G. Soderquist was born at Cimarron, Colo., on May 30, 1934, the son of George and Maude (Veo) Soderquist. He was raised on the Soderquist Ranch at Cimarron and graduated from Montrose County High School in 1952. He then attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, receiving his Bachelor's degree. He received a Fullbright Scholarship and attended college in New Zealand.
Herman was joined in marriage, for a lifetime partnership, to Jane Bailey on Feb. 18, 1961, at Paonia, Colo. Following their marriage, Herman and Jane worked on the family ranch at Cimarron. Herman then returned to Colorado State University and received his Master's degree in Animal Husbandry. After graduation, he was an extension agent in Fairplay, Colo. Herman and his family moved to Delta in 1967 where he was employed with the Tri-River Extension Office as an extension agent until his retirement.
He was a former member of the Delta Rotary Club and had served as Clerk of Session, Elder, Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent for the Presbyterian Church of Delta.
Survivors very grateful to share Herman's life include his wife of 39 years, Jane Soderquist, of Delta; two sons: Timothy Soderquist anad wife Marilyn, of Marysville, Wash.; Daniel Soderquist, of Gunnison; and one precious granddaughter, Michelle and husband Nate Foreman, of Hebron, Israel.
Other family survivors include two brothers: Albert Soderquist anad wife Aileen; and John Soderquist and wife Maxinne, all of Montrose.
Herman was preceded in death by his parents and one son, George Soderquist.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mesa View Mortuary Chapel in Delta.
Funeral Services in loving remembrance and to honor Herman's life will be officiated on Friday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Delta, with interment following the service in the Delta City Cemetery.
The family suggested memorial contributions may be made to: Delta County 4-H Council, In Memory of Herman G. Soderquist, c/o CSU Tri-River Extension, 295 West 6th St., Delta, CO 81416 or Children's Sunday School Program at the Presbyterian Church of Delta, In Memory of Herman G. Soderquist, P.O. Box 143, Delta, CO 81416.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Mesa View Mortuary-Cemetery of Delta; (970) 874-8633.
Donald W. Squirrell
Gentle, Dignified Man
Sept. 28, 1910 - Oct. 1, 2000
GRAND JUNCTION - Donald W. Squirrell, a longtime Grand Junction resident, died on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, at his home in Grand Junction, three days after celebrating his 90th birthday.
Donald W. Squirrell, the only child of Freemen and Bessie Squirrell, was born on Sept. 28, 1910, in Montrose, Colo. He was raised on the Squirrell farm on Spring Creek Mesa near Montrose, attended Maple Grove Elementary School, Montrose County High School, and graduated from San Diego High School in California. While a teenager, he and his grandfather Freemen built Squirrell's Resort at Alexander Lake on Grand Mesa and Squirrell's Camp in Montrose, one of the first modern motels in Western Colorado.
After his graduation, Don formed a band in which he sang and played the saxophone, accordion and piano. At 20 years of age, he began buying hides and trading in furs all over Western Colorado. By age 25, Don had built the Western Slope Rendering Plant and married Hazel Albright in 1935.
However, at age 29 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and soon became part of a Mayo Clinic experiment using antihistamines to treat MS. He spent four months of each of the next 11 years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for treatments, which sometimes put his MS in remission.
During all of this, Don and Hazel assembled several homesteads along the Blue Creeks in Gunnison County into a working cattle and sheep ranch that became known as Squirrell's Ranch. Through the 1950s he continued to acquire adjacent lands, turning it into one of the largest ranches in Colorado. Part of that ranch has subsequently become part of the Arrowhead Ranch mountain community.
By 1955, Don had started the Golden West Uranium Company, which mined in the Deadhorse Point area of Utah. In 1957, he and Hazel retired to Grand Junction and founded the Squirrell Telephone Answering Service, which they operated for more than 18 years. As the MS progressed, they were no longer able to operate the service and sold it, putting the money into investments. Although Don became completely paralyzed, he continued to earn his living by trading in the stock market and selling off his remaining mining properties.
Always a gentle, dignified man, Don made friends of all he met with his humor, quick wit, and always positive attitude. No one could meet Don and not be inspired.
Survivors very grateful to share Don's life include one son, James Squirrell, of Cimarron; two daughters: Donna Ludwig, of Hawthorne, Nev.; Marie Flesher, of Auburn, Wash.; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services in loving remembrance and to honor Don's life will be officiated by Pastor Chuck Jerome, of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Callahan-Edfast Chapel in Grand Junction.
Interment will follow the service in Orchard Mesa Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Multiple Sclerosis Society, Western Slope Chapter, In Memory of Don Squirrell, 743 Horizon Court, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary of Grand Junction; (970) 243-2450.
Chester Ervin Stotts
World War II Veteran
Nov. 25, 1924 - Oct. 3, 2000
DELTA - Chester Ervin Stotts, age 75, a resident of Delta since 1967, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000, in the Montrose Memorial Hospital at Montrose.
Born on Nov. 25, 1924, in Olathe, Colo., Chester Ervin Stotts was the son of Lewis and Julia (Urban) Stotts. He spent his childhood in the Olathe and Delta areas, attended Columbine Grade School, and graduated from the Delta High School in 1942.
During World War II, Chester proudly served his country in the United States Army at the Battle of the Bulge with the 101st Airborne Division.
He was joined in marriage, for a lifetime partnership, to Rosemarie Hinton on June 15, 1947, in Delta, Colo. They were the parents of three children.
He continued to further his education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.
After college, Chester and his family moved to Chicago where he worked for Swift and Company in poultry research. In 1967, he and his family returned to Delta and Chester worked for Hinton Auto Parts until his retirement in 1982.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Delta, president of the Grand Mesa Good Sams R.V. Club, and past president of the Delta Senior Citizens.
Chester's special interests that brought him happiness and contentment included RVing and delivering Meals on Wheels. He built one of their homes, a fifth-wheel trailer, and drew the plans for their current home.
Survivors very grateful to share Chester's life include his wife of 53 years, Marie Stotts, of Delta; one son, Gary Stotts, of Castle Rock; and two daughters: Kathy Morgan, of Chicago, Ill.; and Cindy Henley, of Mead.
Chester was the proud and loving grandfather of eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Other family survivors include two brothers: Joe Stotts, of Vancover, Wash.; and Jim Stotts, of Ogden, Utah.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Mesa View Mortuary in Delta.
Funeral Services in loving remembrance and to honor Chester's life will be officiated on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Delta.
Interment will follow the service in the Delta City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Presbyterian Church of Delta, In Memory of Chester E. Stotts, P.O. Box 143, Delta, CO 81416 or Delta Senior Citizens, In Memory of Chester E. Stotts, 247 Meeker, Delta, CO 81416.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Mesa View Mortuary-Cemetery of Delta; (970) 874-8633.
Robert Lavern Topliss
Loved Colorado Mountains
June 24, 1934 - Oct. 4, 2000
GRAND JUNCTION - Robert Lavern Topliss, age 66, who had just moved to Grand Junction, died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000, in St. Mary's Hospital at Grand Junction.
Robert Lavern Topliss was born at Cimarron, Colo., on June 24, 1934, the son of Ralph E. Topliss and Eva L. (Hargrove) Topliss. He spent his childhood at Cimarron and Telluride and attended high school in Telluride.
He was proud to service his country in the United States Army.
Robert married Carolyn Parsons in Las Vegas, Nev.
Prior to his retirement, he was employed in the mining industry.
He lived in Cimarron, Telluride, and Nevada and he and Carolyn had just moved from Searchlight, Nev., to Grand Junction where he made his home until the time of his death.
Robert found enjoyment in boating, hunting, and fishing and he especially loved the Colorado mountains.
Survivors grateful to share Robert's life include his wife, Carolyn Topliss, of Grand Junction; two sons: Robert Topliss, also of Grand Junction; Daniel Topliss, of Alamosa; two daughters: Betsy Jo Topliss, of Arizona; Charlotte Topliss, of Nevada; nine precious grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Other family survivors include one brother, Joe Topliss, of Yermo, Calif.; and two sisters: Penny Love, of Montrose; and Dorothy McEowen, of Indianapolis, Ind.
Robert was preceded in death by both of his parents.
Memorial Services in loving remembrance and to honor Robert's life will be conducted by Paul Nystrom on Friday, Oct. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. The service will conclude at the chapel.
At Robert's request, cremation has taken place.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of the Crippin Funeral Home of Montrose; (970) 249-2121.
John Paul August Veit
Ret. Air Force Officer, Doctor
Aug. 29, 1914 - Oct. 1, 2000
DELTA - John Veit, age 86, died on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, following a brief illness.
John was a retired Air Force officer and doctor. He and his wife, Peggy, moved to Crawford, following his retirement in the early 1970s.
He always wanted to have a farm complete with a "garden and barnyard animals." His home in Crawford fulfilled that dream.
John enjoyed playing scrabble and working daily crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and sweetheart of 54 years, Peggy Veit.
John is survived by his three children: Toby Burns, John C. Veit, Andrea Jaeger; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Other family survivors include his sister, Ruby Maddox; and his second wife, Valentine Patch Veit.
Funeral Services to honor John's life will be officiated by Pastors Judi Taylor and Pat Malone on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Crawford United Methodist Church.
Interment will follow the service in the Garden of Memories Cemetery
at Crawford.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Crawford Community United Methodist Church, In Memory of John Veit, P.O. Box 576, Hotchkiss, CO 81419 or Salvation Army, In Memory of John Veit, 175 E. First St., Delta, CO 81416.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Taylor Funeral Service, Inc.; (970) 874-9988.
