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Howard A. Short
Funeral services for Howard A. Short, longtime Cortez rancher, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22 at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Masonic services will be provided by Cortez Lodge 133.
Visitation has been set for today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Howard was born Dec. 12, 1916, to Arley and Eula Short in the Beulah community, northeast of Cortez. He passed away Sunday Aug. 17, 2003, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 86.
Howard grew up and expanded the family ranch in Beulah until retirement in 1992. He celebrated life with daily visits with God in God’s country, content with tending to his Herefords. He was at home waltzing across the dance floor or fly-fishing on the West Fork of the Dolores River.
After his retirement in 1992 he chose to travel the world to the Holy Lands, Ireland, Europe, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii, always returning home to Colorado or Wickenburg, Ariz. during the Colorado winters.
Howard was an avid news reader, actively seeking daily information on local and national affairs maintaining active interest in his community. In later stages of retirement, he decided to spend more time with his daughter’s family in the small ranching community north of San Antonio, in Bulverde, Texas.
Howard entertained many with his early ranching stories of Colorado and the rich history of Mesa Verde and the surrounding area. He was extremely proud of his contributions to the Indian artifacts display at the Mesa Verde visitor’s center.
He doted on his grandsons, Christopher and Claude, along with his new granddaughter-in-law, Azza, who became a very special part of his life. Howard was a devoted member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Elk’s chapters in Cortez and Wickenburg for more than 56 years.
Surviving Howard are his sister, Laura Hill of Lynnwood, Wash.; daughter, Carole Simons of Bulverde; grandsons: Claude T. Griffin Jr. of Dallas, and Christopher Simons of Natalie, Texas; along with nieces: Lavena Saunders of Cortez; Nola Welsh of Boulder, Colo.; and nephew, Jim Hill of Lynnwood. Other surviving relatives include the Harry Rogers family of Cortez.
Preceding Howard in death were his parents; sisters: Ruby Short, Pearl Cook, Jewel Gardner; and brother, George Short; as well as his dearly departed wife, Cleo Miles, whom he married March 24, 1947, in Aztec, N.M.
Howard’s wishes were for any contributions to be sent to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, in care of Cortez Lodge 133, Cortez, 81321.
Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Edward Edwin Osterfeld
Funeral services for lifelong area resident Edward Edwin Osterfeld will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at the Arriola Community Center. Pastor Luther Shields will officiate. Cremation is to follow.
Visitation has been set for Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
"Pete" as family and friends affectionately knew him, was born in Cortez July 13, 1919, the son of Herman Henry and Lillie M. (Garbareno) Osterfeld. He passed away at his home in Dolores Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003. Pete was 84.
On March 17, 1948, in Aztec, N.M., Pete married Velma Marie Pritchett. The couple had shared 55 years of marriage together.
After serving his country in the Army, Pete joined the Dolores Chapter of VFW and the American Legion. He also belonged to the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club and Four Corners Good Sam RV Club, and was a one-time member of the Odd Fellows.
Surviving Pete are his beloved wife, Velma Osterfeld of Dolores; two daughters: Kathy Jacobs and husband, George, of Dolores, and Martha Robinson and husband, Larry, of Dolores; a grandson, David Robinson and wife, Erica, of Dolores; great-grandson, Braden Rust-Robinson; his brother, Glen Osterfeld and wife, Marlene, of Cortez; and numerous cousins.
Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Edward "Pete" Osterfeld with Hospice of Montezuma, 1345 S. Broadway, Cortez, or Lewis Arriola Fire Department, P.O. Box 10, Lewis, 81327.
Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home.
Velma Stella Helvey Siskowski
Velma Siskowski, a long-time resident of the area, passed away Aug. 15, 2003, at her residence after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 86.
A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, Aug. 19, in the Church of Christ in Cortez. Mr. Hunt Zumwalt will officiate. Interment will follow in the Cortez Cemetery.
Velma was born to John Oliver and Gertie May Felkins Hicks on Oct. 5, 1916, in Berwyn, Okla., She attended school in Oklahoma, and later married Lester Ben "Doc" Helvey on Oct. 31, 1936, in Hinton, Okla.. They were blessed with two daughters.
Mr. and Mrs. Helvey farmed in Pleasant View for many years. Mrs. Helvey preceded her in death on Jan. 30, 1978, in California.
Mrs. Siskowski lived in the area for 64 years. On Nov. 26, 1983, she married Freddie B. Siskowski in Cortez. She retired from Mountain Bell Telephone Co. in 1982 after 26 1/2 years. She also worked for J.C. Penny for 11 years.
Mrs. Siskowski was a member of the Church of Christ.
Velma Stella Helvey Siskowski is survived by her husband, Freddie, of Cortez; two daughters: Karel Ruth and husband, Bill Hurt, of Cortez, and Myrna Loy and husband, Doug Keck, of Edmond, Okla.; a brother, Cleo Hicks of Cortez; a sister, Margie Lewis of Bloomfield, N.M.; four grandchildren: Steven Hurt, Terry Hurt, Brent Keck and Blaine Keck; eight great-grandchildren: Megan, Amanda and Rachel Hurt, and Garrett, Davis, Brandon, Linda and Ashley Keck.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and three brothers: Bill, Henry and Odell.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Velma Helvey Siskowski to the Vectra Bank, 350 W. Montezuma Ave., Cortez, 81321, or to Hospice of Montezuma, 1345 S. Broadway, Cortez.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
Constance Walker Helms
Constance Walker Helms passed away Aug. 7, 2003, in Sun City, Ariz. A memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Greenlawn Cemetery
in Farmington.
Constance Elizabeth Arrington was born to John and Winnie Arrington Sept. 28,1907, in Farmington. The family relocated to Gallup, N.M. in 1920. Her father was one of the original settlers of the San Juan region.
In Gallup, she met and married her husband Floyd Walker. Together they established the Puritan Bakery where she worked until the 1970s. To this union, one son, Robert, was born.
While living in Gallup, she was active in Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and the Smokerettes.
Following the loss of her husband, Floyd, Connie married Werner Helms and moved to Cortez. She was a member of Chapter EV, PEO.
Connie enjoyed traveling, sports and dancing. She still listened to professional football and basketball games.
Mrs. Helms is survived by her son Robert Walker and wife, Mary, of Sun City; sister, Lou Vayne McKay of Farmington; granddaughter Teri LeMarr and husband, Scott; great-grandchildren: Tracey Sneed and husband, Mike; Michelle LeMarr and Taber LeMarr; and great-great-grandchildren:Tori Sneed and Dalton Sneed, all of the Phoenix area. She is also survived by stepsons: Robert Helms and wife, Ann, of Cortez, and Dr. Charles Helms and wife, Norma, of Munster, Ind.; step-grandchildren: David Helms of Munster; Dr. Michael Helms and wife, Susan, of Granger, Ind.; Dr. Ann Helms and husband, Dr. Joe Budovec, of Milwaukee, Wis.; Barbara Helms of New York, N.Y.; William Helms of Northglenn, Colo.; and SharonGallegos and husband, Matt, of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.; and two step-great-granddaughters.
Her two husbands, her parents, two brothers and one sister preceded her in death.
All who knew her as a very gentle and loving lady will miss her.
Marjorie Laner
Marjorie Laner, a resident of Towaoc, passed away Aug. 9, 2003, at Southwest Memorial Hospital. She was 48.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow, Aug. 13, in the Red Barn at White Mesa, Utah. Interment will follow in the Blanding Cemetery
in Blanding, Utah.
A visitation will be held today from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel.
Marjorie was born to Phillip and Inez May Posey June 6, 1955, in Cortez.
She enjoyed traveling, baby sitting, listening to soul music, eating Mexican food and roses. Marjorie also spoke Spanish.
Marjorie Laner is survived by a sister, Nora King and husband, Delbert Jr.; nieces: Lorainne Jones, Tracy King and Whisper King; nephews: Delbert Begay Jr., Peter L. Begay, Le Andrew W. Begay, Leon W. Begay and Sean Begay; her fiancé, Tommy May; aunts, uncles and many friends from White Mesa, Towaoc and Ignacio.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Raymond and Gilbert Posey, and her husband, Eugene Laner.
Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel, Hale & Gerken is serving the family.
Kathryne Finley Stinson
Kathryne Finley Stinson passed away at her home in rural Dolores Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at the age of 93. She was born the daughter of William Penn Finley and Muriel (Bryan) Finley July 12, 1910, at Craig, Colo.
Prior to moving to the Dolores area in 1994, Kathryne resided in Craig where she served as a clerk in the Moffat County Assessor's Office. She was a 72-year member of PEO, Chapter AJ. Kathryne had a love of the outdoors and especially enjoyed going to the mountains and traveling.
Surviving Kathryne are her daughters: Louis Stinson of Dolores and Nancy Keleher and husband, Denis of Denver; three grandchildren: Siobhan Keleher and companion, Stuart Compton, of San Diego; Andrea Keleher of Denver, and Matthew Keleher and wife, Jennifer, of Seattle; and her brother, Bill Finley and wife, Eleanor, of Cortez.
Preceding Kathryne in death were her husband, Thatcher M. Stinson; her sister, Marcella Downs; and her parents.
Services will be held at a later date in Castle Rock, Colo.
Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Kathryne Stinson with the Dolores Senior Center or the charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are being made through the Ertel Funeral Home.
Joseph Vegas Jr.
Joseph Vegas Jr., 76, of Oakdale, Calif., died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at his residence. Private services were held at Deegan Funeral Chapel in Escalon, Calif.
Mr. Vegas was a native of Ripon, Calif. He lived in Oakdale for 70 years. He was a truck driver for the dairy industry for 20 years in the San Joaquin Valley. He also was a dairy owner for 20 years in Oakdale.
Mr. Vegas served in the Army in Korea during World War II. He was a member of Teamsters 439 and a member of the VFW.
Joseph Vegas Jr. is survived by his wife of 54 years, Hilda Vegas of Oakdale; his children: Fred Vegas and Jim Vegas, both of Oakdale; Dan Vegas of Mancos; Mari Rossini of Modesto; sister, Eva Olson of Oakdale; and brother, Alfred Vegas of Oakdale; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Jeanette Kennedy in 1998.
Memorial contributions can be made to Sierra Salem Christian Homes, 1545 Marsla Ave., Modesto, CA 95359.
