Thelma W. (Selk) Mergel

Aug. 17, 1913 June 30, 2001

Thelma W. (Selk) Mergel of Bend died Saturday of natural causes. She was 87.

Viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Niswonger, Reynolds and Tabor Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend.

Mrs. Mergel was born Aug. 17, 1913, in Velva, N.D. She married Glenn in 1938, in Towner, N.D.

She taught school at Ochoco and in Prineville and retired in 1976. She moved to Bend in 1978.

Mrs. Mergel was affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church. She was active in retired educators organizations in Prineville and Bend.

She was a member of the Bend Senior Center and enjoyed crocheting, knitting and quilting.

Survivors include two sons, William ”Bill” of Bend and Myron ”Bud” of Prineville; two daughters, Lois Shepard of Prineville and Glenda Olson of Bend; 16 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, parents, one brother, one sister, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions may be made to United Senior Citizens of Bend building fund, 1036 NE 15th St., Bend 97701.

Niswonger, Reynolds and Tabor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jovi Singh Sandhu

April 22, 1966 July 2, 2001

Jovi Singh Sandhu of Big Bear Lake, Calif., died Monday of cancer. He was 35.

A private graveside service will be held for him.

Mr. Sandhu was born April 22, 1966, in Bend. He was raised in Bend.

He graduated from the University of Portland, majoring in science and biology. He was working as a medical researcher in pre-med at the time of his death.

Survivors include his parents, Norbert and Patricia Hesch of Big Bear Lake, Calif.; one grandmother, Grace Harris of Wash.; three brothers, Karm of Las Vegas, Jondi of San Bernardino, Calif., and Darik of Palm Desert, Calif.; and three sisters, Santi Chappell of Gladstone, Rhonda of San Sebastopol, Calif., and Soni Preble of Rochester, N.Y. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Private Ceremony is in charge of arrangements.

Frank Mathew McMillan

Jan. 14, 1914 June 29, 2001

Frank Mathew McMillan of Bend died Friday. He was 87.

Services will not be held.

Mr. McMillan was born on Jan. 14, 1914, in Swanwick, Ill., to William and Rose McMillan. He graduated from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill., in 1934. He continued with graduate studies at Stanford University, played the trombone in the band and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1937.

He married Frances Jean Clay on July 9, 1938.

Mr. McMillan worked his entire career as a research chemist for Shell Development (Shell Oil Company) in Emeryville, Calif. During World War II he worked on developing synthetic rubber and subsequently on plastics and resins. He co-authored a book on the history of polymer chemistry, The Chain Straighteners, it was credited with nine patents in the development of plastics. He also published two volumes of his own poetry.

He enjoyed hiking, reading, nature, cooking, classical music, playing with words and language, woodworking, lapidary, raising camellias and writing poetry.

Survivors include his wife of Omak, Wash.; two daughters, Jean Bennett of Bend and Dr. Carol McMillan of Omak, Wash.; one sister, Doris Larson of Monmouth, Ill.; and two granddaughters.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy, California Regional Office, 201 Mission St., 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Deschutes Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Joyce LaVaughn (Kulpaca) Opitz

Aug. 10, 1923 June 30, 2001

Joyce LaVaughn (Kulpaca) Opitz of Bend died Saturday of natural causes. She was 77.

A private memorial service will be held for the family.

Mrs. Opitz was born on Aug. 10, 1923, in Deadwood, S.D., to Herman and Mamie Kulpaca. She married William R. Opitz in 1945, in Spearfish, S.D.

They moved to Oregon in 1963. They lived in The Dalles, Yamhill, Burns and Reedsport. After her husband passed away, she moved to Albany to be closer to family. She lived in Albany from 1986 to 2000, when she moved to Bend.

Survivors include three daughters, Dyanne of Dufur, Denise Sampson of Scio and Shelly Starbuck of La Pine; one brother, Charles Kulpaca of Rapid City, S.D.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bend-LaPine Hospice.

Autumn Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald ‘Jerry’

Raymond Scott

Dec. 14, 1928 July 2, 2001

Gerald ”Jerry” Raymond Scott of Prineville died Monday of diabetes. He was 72.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Prineville Elks Lodge, 151 N. Main St.

Mr. Scott was born on Dec. 14, 1928, in Yakima, Wash. He married Norma Brenneman on May 5, 1973, in Carson City, Nev.

He served in the Merchant Marines. He worked on building the Hanford Plant, at Disneyland, and Big Thunder Mountain. He worked both in industrial and housing construction. He moved to Prineville in 1991.

Mr. Scott was a member of the National Rifle Association, Optimists, American Legion, Historical Society, Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge, Eagles Lodge and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Jerry of Anaheim, Calif.; one daughter, Debby Scheller of Modesto, Calif.; one brother, Delbert of Bellevue, Wash.; one sister, Evelyn Rose of Pasco, Wash.; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first and second wives and parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Ladies of the Elks or Prineville Memorial Hospital Hospice.

Whispering Pines is in charge of arrangements.

Roy Clinton Sigler

Oct. 9, 1922 June 30, 2001

Roy Clinton Sigler of Crescent died Saturday of natural causes. He was 78.

No service will be held per his request.

Mr. Sigler was born on Oct. 9, 1922, in Princeton, Ky., to Elmer and Russell (Nall) Sigler. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

Mr. Sigler was the owner and operator of Central Auto Body Works in Bakersfield, Calif. He married Patricia Ruwaldt on Aug. 11, 1946, in Las Vegas. They moved to Crescent in 1968 and opened up another body shop. He retired in 1971.

Mr. Sigler enjoyed restoring award winning antique cars, traveling in his motor home, crabbing and deep sea fishing.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Springfield Elks, Springfield Eagles, La Pine Moose and Horseless Carriage Club of America. Also in Bakersfield, he was a longtime member and past president of the Model A Ford Club of America.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Michael of Bend; two daughters, Catherine Sigler and Joy Childers both of Fall River; two brothers, Larry and Sam of Bakersfield, Calif.; and one sister, Sara Neuwirth of Bakersfield, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Virginia Nigh and Bonnie McConnell.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Newberry Hospice.

Autumn Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Vesta Mae (Partin) Moore

Feb. 28, 1910 July 1, 2001

Vesta Mae (Partin) Moore of Bend died Sunday of natural causes. She was 91.

Viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Prineville Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Sunday at Juniper Haven Cemetery.

Mrs. Moore was born on Feb. 28, 1910, in Sink.

She has lived in Bend and Prineville.

Survivors include one son, Richard of Prineville; one daughter, Donna of Redmond; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and three brothers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Central Oregon Opportunity Center in Redmond or Hospice of Bend.

Prineville Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.