John Franklin Hendricks
‘Frank’
April 21, 1910 - Aug. 24, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:48 AM PDT
Vale
John Franklin “Frank” Hendricks, 99, passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Pioneer Place in Vale, with his daughter, Grace, at his bedside.
He was born April 21, 1910, on the family homestead near Plentywood, Mont., to Charles E. and Zaidee Ann (Peelman) Hendricks.
He met and married LaVerne Marie Hill in Colton, Ore., on June 2, 1940.
Frank and LaVerne moved to Wallowa County, where he worked for various ranchers. Steve and Carolyn were born in Enterprise. In November 1946, the family left Wallowa County and moved to their farm west of Vale.
Lois, Grace, Marlene and John were welcomed into the family in the years following the move to Vale.
In 1950, Frank accepted the Lord’s plan of salvation at Vale Christian Church, where he subsequently served as deacon and elder for many years. Recognizing the value of the program, Frank organized and led the Grove 4-H Livestock Club for several years. He was awarded honorary membership in the Vale FFA Chapter.
There were always horses, of his own and others, he was training. The young mare he brought from Wallowa was among the first quarter horses in the valley. However, he would tell you, his breed of choice was the Morgan horse.
In 1996, Frank and LaVerne moved from the farm to a new home near John’s family in Harper, Ore. With retirement came a new opportunity to travel with family and friends.
At the time of Laverne’s passing in 2002, Frank had moved to the Boise Christian Retirement Village, and he continued to reside there until recently. He enjoyed the Christian atmosphere and many friendships with previous pastors and church workers.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Ivan, Leon and David.
Frank is survived by sisters, MaryEtta Kent and Iola (Willis) Hinkle; sons, Stephen, and his wife, Janet, of Mount Vernon, Wash., and John, and his wife, Angela, of Parma, Idaho; daughters, Carolyn, and her husband, Joe Morton, of Spokane, Wash., Lois, and her husband, Dennis Dumler, of Amity, Ore., Grace, and her husband, Greg Hughey, of Tucson, Ariz., and Marlene, and her husband, Rob Huntsinger, of Bothell, Wash. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was loved by his family and many friends and will be remembered for his “stories,” his dry humor and his love for his family, our country and our Lord.
He wished to return to Vale eventually, and today he has.
A public viewing will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at the Vale Lienkaemper Chapel.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at Vale Christian Church. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery.
Services under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapels.
Memorial gifts are welcomed to Boise Christian Retirement Village, Boise, Idaho, or to Vale Christian Church. They may be made in care of Lienkaemper Chapels, Box 970, Ontario, OR 97914.
