Modoc County Record – July 4, 2007 Helen Holden Helen Holden, 65, of Alturas, CA passed away peacefully with family present on July 1, 2007, at 12:30 a.m. at Washoe Medical Center in Reno, NV, after fighting a courageous battle against lung cancer. Her love for people was evident in her work as a teacher's aide and foster mother. Helen will be remembered as a very gracious person with a loving and kind heart, who cared about the welfare of all children. Helen was a foster parent who chose to care for teenagers. She was also loved and respected as a teacher's aide at Alturas Elementary School for over 10 years. Born March 25, 1941, in El Centro, CA, Helen was the second youngest of nine children born to Genaro and Francesca Ruby. She graduated from high school in El Centro. She married, but later divorced. Her three children were born in Ventura. Helen worked as a teacher's aide for the First Missionary Baptist School in San Diego, but when the school closed, she made the decision to relocate her family to California Pines in 1983, where her sister Sylvia was living. Helen was talented at crafts and also worked in the upholstery business upon her arrival in Alturas. Not long after she arrived, she was hired as a teacher's aide with Modoc Joint Unified School District, where children knew how much Helen cared about each of them. In 1995, she suffered a stroke, but worked hard to overcome the challenges. She was of strong faith and a member of the Christian Life Assembly. She loved spending time with friends and family and playing card games. She continued to work on her craft projects, and became active with the Senior Citizens Center and other organizations. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Lisa Aegerter; her brothers Larry Ruby and Jess "Cruz" Ruby and sister Mary Miller. She is survived by her daughter, Diane and husband Mike Iwerks of Bonney Lake, WA; son Jim and wife Sheri Holden of Olympia, WA; grandchildren Shane and Stephanie Iwerks; Mya Aegerter, Jordan Elliott and great-grandchild Haidyn McCollaum; sisters Eppie and husband John Hitt, Huntington Beach, CA; Pat and husband Henry Mendoza of Jackson, MO; brothers Gilbert and wife Tina Ruby of Santa Paula, CA; Paul and wife Eulalia Ruby of Beeville, TX; sister Sylvia and husband John Lawson of Alturas, CA. Services will be Saturday, July 7 at 3 p.m. at Christian Life Assembly Church with graveside service to follow at Alturas Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, July 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas. Helen will be greatly missed by family and friends and all who had the pleasure to meet her. Andrew Joseph Olsen Andrew Joseph Olsen passed away June 26, 2007, at Warnerview Skilled Nursing Facility in Alturas, CA. He was 62. Andy was born September 6, 1944 in Klamath Falls, OR. He grew up in Madeline, CA on the Rex and Veronica Olsen Ranch with three sisters, Mary, Sally, Cele, and one brother Marty. Andy Joe attended the one room school in Madeline until he finished seventh grade. He continued his schooling in Likely, CA. There he made life long friends he could depend upon all his days. Andy Joe attended Modoc Union High School in Alturas, graduating in 1962. He had been very active in the Madeline Plains 4-H Club but began to shine as a Future Farmer of America member. Under the guidance of Chris Starr he became an expert showman. Andy won trophies and ribbons all over California. One of his greatest achievements was attending a show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Andy Joe intended to spend his life as a rancher and farmer on the Madeline Plains but was stricken with an inoperable brain tumor in high school. He worked with his father when he was able, but spent a great deal of time in care facilities throughout northern California. Andy learned to braid rawhide from old timers he met at different residences. He would braid reins, halters and romels, filling many long hours. He loved to create colorful plastic rings, bracelets, and lanyards to give away to his family and friends. He would decorate walking canes for anyone who asked. Many of his friends who lived in Madeline and later Alturas, became used to seeing Andy walking miles every day for exercise. He would stop at the Madeline Service Center or the Beacon for his daily cup of coffee. When Andy became unable to live on his own, he lived his last years at Warnerview. He made many new friends who loved and cared for him. Andy loved western, fifties and sixties music. He spent hours listening to his extensive record collection. Andy went through several record players. When he could no longer operate the record player he listened to his radio and compact discs. Andy had a very difficult life with many ups and downs. He never complained and was always cooperative. His smile could light up a room. His courage was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a friend to everyone. He will be loved and missed. Andrew Joseph Olsen is survived by his mother, Veronica and sisters, Cele of Round Up, Montana; Mary Kamai of Pearl City Hawaii; Sally Olsen of Santa Barbara, CA and a brother Marty Olsen of Alturas. He is also survived by five nieces Melissa, Lucinda, Celeste, Kathy, and Jennifer, five great nephews and four great nieces. Offerings will be donated in Andy's name to the local FFA chapter and the Madeline Plains 4-H club. Services were held June 30 at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Alturas with burial at Likely Cemetery. Kerr Mortuary handled arrangements. Lloyd Otis Boyd Lloyd Otis Boyd passed away June 22, 2007 at Warnerview Skilled Nursing Center in Alturas, CA. He was 84. Lloyd was born on April 27, 1923, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to Julia Carr Boyd and Fred Forrest Boyd. He had five sisters and six brothers. His mother was a stay-at-home mother and his father worked in construction. He spent all of his childhood in Arkansas. Lloyd entered the Navy out of high school and served with the Navy "SeaBees." After four years in the military, he returned to Ft. Smith. He met his wife Fern Cannon Boyd there and they were married on September 26, 1953. They moved to California after they were married. They lived in Red Bluff-Redding area before moving to Modoc County. Lloyd worked as a foreman on the Ernest Ford Ranches in Lookout and Eagleville doing ranch work, moving heavy equipment and building dams before moving to Alturas. For several years, Lloyd ran "Lloyd's Foreign Car Repair," a mechanic business next to the Auction Yard. He made Modoc County his home for approximately 50 years. His wife Fern passed away about 20 years ago. Lloyd enjoyed fixing things. He also enjoyed animals, especially his dogs, hunting, fishing, camping, going on early morning walks and visiting the guys he knew around town. He was well known for his sense of humor, being considerate and compassionate to animals and sometimes being stubborn. Boyd leaves his brother Troy Boyd of Muldrow, OK; sisters Norma Beard and Ruth Burns of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, as well as close friends in Modoc whom he considered family. A graveside service was held June 28 at the Alturas Cemetery. Penelope ‘Penny' Lou Lemke Services for Penelope "Penny" Lou Lemke, 57, of Adin, CA will be held today, July 5 at 11 a.m. at the Adin Cemetery. Pastor Ryan Harper of Adin Community Church will officiate. Mrs. Lemke passed away July 1, 2007, at Mayers Memorial Hospital, Fall River Mills, CA after a long illness. She was born in Long Beach, CA on Feb. 21, 1950 and moved to Lassen County in 1976. She was Administrator for Kinross Gold for 15 years. She is survived by her sons Michael of 29 Palms, CA and Ryan of Adin; mother and stepfather Ruth and William Bull of Huntington Beach, CA; and three grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Jared. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244. Condolences may be posted at www.mem.com. Arrangements are with McDonald's Chapel of Burney. Slosson Celebration of lives Bonnie Slosson and Thom Slosson, the children of the late James and Nancy Slosson, extend an invitation to join them for a Dinner Reception Celebrating the lives of their parents on Saturday, July 7 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Likely Fire Hall, Likely, CA. Please RSVP to Lynn Slosson by July 5 at 530-233-4848 or 805-522-7659. Appetizers and desserts to share are welcomed. Jim and Nancy Slosson departed together in April of 2007. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.