2002 President Thomas Gordon

My interest in geology started as a child. Having been born is Missouri in 1947, and going all over the west growing up, as my father worked as a logger, carpenter, and heavy equipment operator, I saw many different land formations. My parents always made sure we visited the local parks and monuments as we traveled and went on vacation.

2002 - Thomas Gordon

Working as a printer, I also got a degree in English from Portland State University, and took several courses in geology along the way. These courses helped me to research, plan, and lead my President's field trip for the Geological Society to Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and Yosemite.

I continue to be interested in geology, never having found a "leverite" yet-(leave that rock where you found it).

2003 President Sue Ikeda

No bio is available for Sue Ikeda. Her President’s Field Trip for 2003 explored the Umpqua River Basin and the southern Oregon Coast of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties. Heavily featured were the geology of the Tyee and Coaledo Formations.

2003 - SUE IKEDA

Field trip advisors Carol Hasenberg and Bev Vogt did a reconnaissance trip and got great information for the trip from Gerry Black, former geologist for the Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Ron Metzger of SWOCC, and a field trip guide entitled “Field Trip Road Log for the Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Coos Bay and Cape Blanco, Southwestern Oregon,” by geologist John M. Armentrout.

Bev was not able to attend the actual field trip so Carol Hasenberg led the group with additional help from a knowledgeable participant, Guy Di Torrice, then known as Oregon's "Fossil Guy". The itinerary for the trip included stops along the Umpqua River valley, John Dellenbach Dunes trail, Fossil Point in Empire, Oregon, Bastendorff Beach and Sunset Bay near Cape Arago, Shore Acres State Park, Bandon Marsh, Bandon Jetty, Humbug Mountain, Port Orford, and Cape Blanco.

Pictured is Sue Ikeda at the end of the field trip with her trunk full of rocks, and her bumper sticker reads “Have a Gniess Day.” What else?

- Carol Hasenberg, 2015

2004 President Clay Kelleher

This was Clay's second presidency of GSOC.  See 1995 for his bio.

2004 - CLAY KELLEHER

2005 President Charles Carter

Charles Carter - November 2012

I was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1939. As a young boy I remember trips to the beach with my parents and just going off by myself to collect agates and fossils. Later on would come a trip to the Priday Ranch for thunder eggs and to Idaho to visit my maternal grandparents and look for agates and petrified wood in the Weiser area.

2005 - CHARLES CARTER

After three years in the Army, I studied geology at Portland State College and took classes from Professors Hammond and Van Atta (Professor Allen was on leave the first year I was there, and I don't remember why I didn't have a class from him my second and last year there.) After graduation in 1964 I went south to look for work and ended up as a field assistant/lab tech for the Alaskan Branch of the USGS at Menlo Park, California. After a year there, I returned to school at San Jose State and from there went on to Johns Hopkins, where I met and married Sally.

I then took a job with the Ohio Geological Survey, and worked out of Sandusky, Ohio, for 10 years on research largely related to Lake Erie shore erosion. Our two daughters, Katy and Anna, were born there. We then moved to Akron, where I taught for 19 years as a sedimentologist/stratigrapher in the Geology Department at the University of Akron.

We moved to Beaverton in 2001, and Professor Burns at Portland State encouraged me to join GSOC. What a good idea! I enjoyed the field trips and talks and just meeting interesting and energetic people, plus learning some new geology that I had missed in my frantic two years at PSC. After several years with GSOC, my father's banjo and the world of plants and animals beckoned to me, but I still fondly remember my time with GSOC.

2006 President Bonnie Prange

My two years first as VP and then President of GSOC was certainly not something I would have foreseen since I have no formal geology education beyond a few general ed college courses. What I do have is a BS in Biology/Botany from Humboldt State University in northern California and a Masters in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College. I became interested in the revegetation aspects of mine reclamation while preparing for graduate school and decided to focus on rehabilitation of degraded landscapes. This interest led me to post­ graduate contract work with the state of Washington and Thurston County where I assisted in the development, implementation and enforcement of mining regulations. Private sector·employment as a consultant to the mining industry followed.

2006 - Bonnie Prange

My work in the reclamation field has provided me with some practical applied science knowledge of slope stability, stratigraphy, and mineralogy. Fossils too - I've had an interest in paleontology since I first knew what the word meant.

Growing up in western NY State I amassed a carefully labeled collection of fossils from the creek beds and escarpments that provided hours of blissfully unsupervised entertainment for a curious child. With better guidance and more self-knowledge at the college level I probably would have found my niche in the sciences as a plant paleontologist.

As I gradually retire from the consulting business, I find myself happily indulging in many interests that were put on hold over the years: studying lichen and mushroom taxonomy, monitoring migratory dragonflies (with the Xerces Society), maintaining an aviary of canaries and finches, and spending lots of quality time with my beloved horse Mateo and donkey Oliver.

2007 President Richard ‘Bart’ Bartels

At the time of Bart Bartel’s second presidency, Bart and his partner Bev Vogt were at the center of the society. Bart had been leading GSOC geology seminars for a number of years and Bev was the society’s secretary. Not only that, but they were instrumental in finding good speakers for the Friday night lectures and helped plan many other activities in an effort to rebuild the society. Bev and Bart organized a field trip to the Klamath River with guest speakers Jad D’Allura and Bill Elliott from Southern Oregon University for the 2007 President’s Field Trip. The following year they led an excellent field trip that featured Christmas Valley and Summer Lake.

2007 - Richard Bartels

By 2011 Bev and Bart had reached an age where physical problems made it difficult to be so involved with the society. I remember with sadness the rock seminar they held in their back yard for their closest GSOC friends to announce their departure from society leadership. But they did lead one more field trip in 2013 to the recently discovered Crooked River and Wildcat Mountain Calderas near Prineville.

GSOC member Dave Olcott took over Bev and Bart’s role as major field trip planner for a number of years. His first GSOC field trip, the Waste, Wind and Water trip from 2009, was a great success and he subsequently planned several other trips with Steve Reidel and Terry Tolan that focused primarily on Columbia River Basalt and the Ice Age Floods.

One of my fondest memories of Bart was during the Waste, Wind and Water field trip. We got off the bus on top of the landfill at Arlington for a tour of the landfill. Bart immediately bent down and picked up a rock - a hand-sized chunk of beautiful green marble that had come from a countertop. We all laughed that Bart could find an interesting rock even in a garbage dump! I took a picture of Bart and his rock and this is the photo I put in this article, and I still have that rock in my collection.

-2024, Carol Hasenberg

2008 President Janet Rasmussen

Janet Rasmussen was born April 10, 1950, in Pendleton, Oregon. She met her first husband, Dave Logsdon, in Alaska, and married him in 1972. While she took many college courses after high school, she mostly stayed home to raise their fourchildren: Lisa, Reuben, Grace, and Russell. She later obtained her nursing degree while living in Keokuk, Iowa, Dave's hometown. They divorced in 1989 and she returned to Oregon with her children.

2008 - JANET RASMUSSEN

Once the children were grown, Janet quit her full-time nursing job and went back to school for a geology degree, working part-time as a nurse. In 2003 she met her husband, Doug Rasmussen, of McMinnville. They married in 2004 at the site of the cabin they were building in the Elkhorn Mountains of Baker County, Oregon. She received her BS in Geology at Portland State University in 2005, and her MS in Water Resource Science at Oregon State University in2009. Janet and Doug both enjoy attending geology lectures and field trips, spending time at their cabinand working on Doug's farm in McMinnville. They live in Corvallis, Oregon.

Janet has served on the Board of Directors and as webmaster for GSOC. She was President in 2008-2009. Her 2008 President’s Field Trip featured the gold mining country of Baker City, Sumpter, and Granite, Oregon.

1970 President Louis Edward Oberson

Charter Member Louis Edward Oberson was born on a wheat ranch in the famous Palouse Country noted as the "Breadbasket of the nation" at Lancaster, Washington on April 25, 1904. His family later moved closer to Colfax where he and his brother, Henry, started their education. Early in his life, he became interested in the rich loess soil on their farm and took great pride in growing vegetables, flowers, and farm animals. As a 4-H Club member, he entered them in the county fairs at Colfax, Yakima, and Spokane and took many blue ribbon prizes. During the summers he and his brother worked with steam engine threshing crews and earned money to attend college.

1970 - LOUIS EDWARD OBERSON (CHARTER MEMBER)

In the fall of 1924, the boys left for Salem, Oregon, where they enrolled at Willamette University. They worked their way through college doing janitorial work, running the university bookstore, and working at the State Highway laboratory. After earning their B.A. degrees in 1928, the brothers went their separate ways: Henry to the Harvard Medical School and Louis to Stanford University. After receiving his M.A. degree in education and psychology in 1930, Louis began his teaching career at the Milwaukie Union High School. In 1936, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he served as educational advisor at Camp Sherman on the beautiful Metolius River near Sisters, Oregon.

His love of the out-of-doors led him to join the Mazamas, the Trails Club, and the Audubon Society for which he has served as a director for many years. He has also participated in the annual Christmas nation-wide bird census for about thirty years.

Louis first became acquainted with geology when he read an account in the Oregonian that Dr. Edwin T. Hodge was going to teach a course in geology at the Old Lincoln High School. Being a member of the Mazamas and having climbed both Mt, Hood and Mt. St. Helens each twice, he wanted to learn more about these mountains and their landscapes as well as the great Willamette Valley which had seemed such a contrast to him from the Horse Heaven hills of eastern Washington. He attended the class and was so impressed by the friendly learning atmosphere that he decided to become a charter member of the society that was formed to continue the post class studies. There was so much enthusiasm for this new activity that the students elected their popular teacher to become the first president of the organization that they voted to name the Geological Society of the Oregon Country.

While teaching biology at Roosevelt High school, Louis met and fell in love with Viola Lagasse who came to teach English and drama. They were married on December 18, 1938. After they established a home near Grant High School where Viola had been transferred and after Dr. John Cyprian Stevens had employed her to be his assistant in initiating a campaign to build a museum of science and industry for Oregon, their daughter, Mary Louise, was born on February 7, 1946.

Louis has held most of the chairs in the Portland Men's Garden Club from 1947 to the presidency in 1955; he was secretary then president of the Pacific Northwest Region from 1953 to 1960; and finally director of the National Men's Garden Clubs of America from 1961 to 1964. Besides earning two green thumb awards he has received a certificate in 1965 and a plaque in 1968 for outstanding service to the Men t s Garden Clubs of America. In 1948 he was awarded a Conservation scholarship to the University of California at Santa Barbara by the Portland Women’s Federated Garden Clubs, and in 1951 he was appointed by Governor Douglas McKay as Chairman of the State Liberty Garden Committee. In 1958 he received the Silver Trophy award from the Union Carbide Company for the "Oregon Gardener of the Year.“ In 1961 he was the biology and geology counselor for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Youth Tour of Central Oregon. In the spring of that year he was selected to be the biology pilot teacher of his school for the following year and was awarded a scholarship to the American Institute of Biological Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

He was retired from teaching in the Portland Public Schools in June of 1969, and since that time he has been Soil Consultant for the Multnomah Intermediate Education District Outdoor School at the seven week sessions each fall and spring. He continues to serve as test counselor for Boy Scouts who are completing their studies for the Nature Merit Badge.

Recognizing Oregon's talented geologists seemed most important to the life of the Geological Society during Louis' year of presidency. He decided to hold his President’s Campout on Condon' s First Island in the Siskiyou Mountains, in honor Of Oregon's first state geologist. Dr. Paul W. Howell, professor of geology at Portland State University, assisted by Len Ramp, geologist of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries at Grants Pass, were the field trip leaders during the week-long session. Robert Gamer of Salem and Norman Peterson of Grants Pass, both able geologists and locally knowledgeable of the area, also assisted with their fine leadership in explaining the geology both on the field trips and at the Campfire briefings.

All of the speakers at the Friday night membership meetings during the 1970—1971 year have been Oregon men and women experts in their fields of science. The Library Night in-depth discussions and mini lectures have also been drawn from our own membership specialists. He chose Dr. John Eliot Allen, head of the earth science department at Portland State University, for his annual banquet speaker especially to challenge him to accept the mantle of his former teacher, Dr. Edwin Hodge, in the future leadership of the Society.

By using the talent of local earth scientists both amateur and professional, Louis feels he was helping to contribute to the good climate which is conducive to the study of geology in Oregon and to the fulfillment of the aims of the Society.

Please see The Geological Newsletter, Vol. 36, No. 9, Sept. 1970, for Campout story and pictures.

LEO/VLO

1971 President Archie Kelly Strong

Archie Kelly Strong was born in Marcola, Oregon, on February 20, 1910. His parents were both born in Oregon of pioneer families. His mother was born in Riddle, Oregon, and his father in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. When Arch was a small infant, his parents moved from Marcola to the small town called Reuben in the area of Glendale, Oregon. They settled on a homestead where his father was employed in the sawmill and railroad industries. During the World War I years, Reuben, which is now a ghost town, boasted of a post office, a general store, a sawmill, and logging and rail­road activities. There was then a population of some 200 people. Arch attended elementary school at Reuben, but it closed upon the year of his graduation. He attended high school in Glendale, where he was graduated in 1928,  then attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and received his B.A. degree in biology.

1971 - Archie Kelly Strong

The following ten years were divided between graduate studies in forestry and wildlife at Oregon State University, high school science teaching and coaching, and the U.S. Forest Service. He was employed in forestry and wildlife work in the Siskiyou forest in Grants Pass, Oregon, the Fremont forest in Lakeview, Oregon, and in the Superior forest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1939 to 1943, he was Junior Biologist in charge of fish and wildlife management on the Fremont National Forest. During the World War II years, he was granted deferment to engage in engineering work at the Oregon Shipyard in Portland, Oregon. His work consisted in the testing of engine room equipment and performance during trial runs on the Willamette River and subsequent ship delivery to the Navy Department in Astoria.

In 1946, Arch returned to high school as a teacher of science in the Portland area where he taught until 1955. He received his Master of Education degree from the University of Oregon in 1950. From 1955 until his retirement he has been in the employ of the City of Portland and the Multnomah County Public Health Departments in mosquito control work and in other insect control and research activities. In 1945 he married Miss Marion McCarthy who died in 1962. Laura and Arch were married in 1966. Laura has a daughter, Joyce Raines, Of Winterhaven, Florida, and a deceased son who was the father of Laura's two grandchildren.

Arch's major hobbies and interests center largely around nature and the out-of-doors, whether it be the seashore, the mountains, or the high plateau country. He is also interested in many of the organized sports and sporting events. He has held membership in the American Forestry Society, the Society of American Engineers, Oregon State and National Educational Associations, and currently belongs to the American Mosquito Control Association. His publications work has been limited primarily to research study reports in forestry, wildlife, and mosquito projects.

His interest in geology dates back to his boyhood years which were spent in a gold mining locality of Oregon. Curriculum demands did not permit geological study while he was regularly enrolled in college. Evening courses in geology were taken at PSU under Dr. Ruth H. Keen.

In the spring of 1965 and 1964, Arch and Mark Perrault joined the PSU Earth Science field trips to Camp Hancock. Interest developed on these trips and the influence of Mark who had previously joined the Geological Society resulted in Arch's joining the Society in 1964. He became vice president in 1970 and was subsequently elected the 37th president in 1971.

Archie’s memoriam article in the 2001 volume of The Geological Newsletter reads as follows:

ARCHIE STRONG D£C£ASED

His name was Archie Kelly Strong. Born February 20, 1910, in Marcola, Oregon, he died Sept 24, 2001 in West Columbia, South Carolina, having lived most of his life in Oregon. He graduated from Glendale High School, earned a BS from Linfield College, and MS from Oregon State University. He was a biology instructor and coach in Oregon high schools, and also worked for the forest service before retiring in 1975.

Archie pursued many interests. He had a long standing interest in the community garden at Fulton Park. He received many awards for his produce, and in 1999 received best of show for a single gladiolus blossom at the FP annual garden show. He was also very interested in 4 H and always attended their shows at the Oregon State Fair. He was a volunteer for many years at the Nature of the NW info center. He was an active member of GSOC, serving as president in 1971. Archie also served GSOC in the last few years as an after meeting host.

At age 91 Archie was still living alone and maintaining his own house and garden. He survived two marriages; his first wife Marian who died in the 1960's, and his second wife Laura. Survivors include stepdaughter Athena Vaughn, nephews Rock Roop and Kurt Rolfes and niece Ellen Mooshier. Remembrances can be sent to your favorite charity, 4H clubs of Oregon, or GSOC.

Historical note from Carol Hasenberg:

I remember Archie Strong because he and fellow member Gale Rankin prepared the snacks and tea and coffee service after the Friday night meetings as long as Archie was able to do so.

1972 President F. McNeal Fahrion

F. McNeal Fahrion was born November 13, 1915 at Crestline, Ohio.

1972 - F. McNeal Fahrion

Married Ellen Lawrence February 18, 1940. Have three daughters and three grand children.

Was employed as Purchasing Agent by the Commission of Public Docks and the Port of Portland for 36 years and retired in 1981.

Special interest is in Masonic work. Became a member of Unity Lodge 191 in 1943.  Was Master of Research Lodge for two years 1977-78. Organized and directed their Masonic Education Program. Director on board of the Clinic for Childhood Aphasia and Language Disorders, a charity of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Librarian for the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Active also on programs of Al Kader Shrine.

Special interest has been in study and research of Qabalistic and Masonic Philosophy. Conducted a special Research and Study Group in Qabalistic Philosophy for over twenty five years.

Became affiliated with the Geological Society in 1969. Served as Vice President in 1971 and President in 1972. Held president’s camp out of the Society in 1972 on the north side of the Wallowas.

1973 President George Edgar Malin

George Edgar Malin, Sr., was born February 14, 1912 to Joseph E. and Orpha Malin in Three Forks, Montana. His father, a native lowan, and his mother, of Scotch Canadian lineage, were part of the migration caused by the opening of Montana lands to homesteading shortly after the turn of this century.

1973 - George Edgar Malin, Sr.

George, and also his sister Alice, went to grammar school (1917-1920) in Montana, and after a move by the family to Oregon, continued their education at Lincoln High School (1924-1928) in Portland, Oregon. A year at Oregon Institute of Technology (1929) in Portland, completed his childhood formal schooling.

July 1, 1933 he married Lynn Esther Goldson. George Jr., Joan, Jerry, Patricia and David are their children, and their children's children now number fourteen.

He worked, in early career years, for the Southern Glass Company, and after their merger, for the Illinois Pacific Glass Company, in the glass container industry. In 1935 at the time the Illinois Pacific Company merged with the Owens Illinois Company, he switched careers to the retail building materials field, and worked for several years for the W. J. McCready Lumber Yards. In 1939, deciding that nothing ventured, nothing gained, he founded the Park Place Lumber Company which he operated until 1961. The following year was spent, first in building a "radiation fallout shelter", (remember what those were for?), next, in rebuilding a 40 foot commercial salmon troller, and finally, after the fish bug bit, as crew on the troller 'Anna May' for three months. In 1962 he entered the employ of the Clackamas County Assessor as an appraiser. He currently has the position of chief appraiser in that office.

George became interested in the Boy Scouts of America when in high school, and while a member achieved the rank of Star Scout. He served scouting in later years as a committeeman and several years as scoutmaster of Troop 251 in Gladstone, Oregon. He is a long time member of the Gladstone Church of Christ and served many years on that churches' board of deacons.

He is a member, and past officer at both the Clackamas County and state levels, of the Society of Certified Appraisers of Oregon. A member and past vice president of the Association of Federal Appraisers, Oregon Chapter, and a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers. He was the 1973 president of the Clackamas County Employee's Association.

His hobbies include Lynn, and he does help his artist wife with her ceramics, also carpentry, boat-building, fishing, hunting and camping. These outdoor hobbies led to his interest in the natural sciences, in particular structural geology. In pursuing this hobby, he saw advertised and attended a series of lectures at OMSI in 1969, and thereby got acquainted with and joined the GSOC. George and Lynn have been active members and have profited greatly from their association with the society. They have both taken a course in geology at the Clackamas Community College, and George also has studied oceanography and anthropology at the college.

1974 President Francis Clair Stahl

Francis Clair Stahl was born October 25, 1913, to Charles Myron and Evadna Elizabeth Stahl in Philomath, Oregon. His Iowa father and Oregon mother were both teachers in Oregon schools. At 16 Clair changed his name to Clair Francis Stahl.

1974 - Francis Clair Stahl

Graduating from Bellfountain High School in 1932, he was employed in the lumber industry at various places in Oregon. His enlistment in the 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion, U.S. Army in 1938 where he learned topographic mapping and photogrammetry, started him on his career. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, he studied Civil Engineering at Vanport Extension Center and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Clair and Marguerite S. Shatter were married in Vancouver, Washington on August 24, 1946.

Leaving school in 1948, he received a U.S. Civil Service appointment with the Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, as a surveyor. Transferring to the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service in 1955, he continued his career as a topographer and photogrammeterist.

Clair became interested in geology upon trying to explain the topographic features he saw on topographic maps and aerial photographs that he used in his profession. After several night classes in geology at Portland Extension Center, he joined the Geological Society of the Oregon Country in 1965.

Clair retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1973. He is a life long Democrat (Conservative, he says). Photography used to illustrate and explain natural history, especially invertebrate paleontology is one of his special interests. Another is the study of intertidal life. Geology is one of his special studies since it is also part of his profession.

1975 President John Henry Bonebrake

John Henry Bonebrake was born on February 25, 1909 on a farm just south of Philomath, Oregon. His father was a minister and teacher who became president of Philomath College, a small United Brethren College. Before coming to Philomath Dr. Bonebrake had served Campbell College and Lane University (now Westmar College, LeMars, Iowa) in a similar capacity. John always claimed his father could "do anything" and was his admired ideal. His mother, Charlotte Estella Shipley, was a student at the college and married the president. John's grandmother, a Henkle, crossed the plains to Philomath,  Oregon on the Henkle wagon train. Faithful oxen pulled their prairie schooner to the foothills of Mary's Peak where the subsequent families were raised.

1975 - JOHN HENRY BONEBRAKE

John attended grade school at Hood River (West Barrett) where the family of ten moved. The four older boys had their specified chores on their apple orchard as their father traveled extensively at this time as Conference Superintendent for the United Brethren Church. Moving again, this time to Portland, John finished his grade school education at Woodlawn and graduated from Jefferson High School. Early in life he decided to be a metallurgist, but changed his mind in mid-high school to that of Mechanical Engineer.  He is a graduate engineer in that field. His college schooling was at Oregon State University 1929-1934, followed by numerous specialty courses at University of Oregon Extension Center, Oregon Technical Institute and others. Together with his wife, Phyllis, they have, since before marriage consistently studied courses in several schools. Each has accumulated about 30 credits at Clark College, Vancouver, 12 credits each in Geology and Rocks and Minerals.

Phyllis Greer and John were in the same high school but actually met at an Oregon State University function. They were married April 11, 1937 at Piedmont Presbyterian Church in Portland. They raised two daughters, one of whom, Jean Katherine Gatherer died during pregnancy in 1967. The youngest daughter, Beverly Rae is married to Kenneth W. Vernon, chemical engineer and patent attorney whose office is in Seattle, though they live in Auburn where their three children attend school. 

After formal training, John worked in a number of technical fields. One experience that established his interest in geology was employment in the engineering department of the International Smelting Company at Tooele,  Utah, under his brother, a graduate mining engineer. In those days engineering employment was hard to find. He did engineering with Columbia Aircraft Company in Portland, became plant engineer at Timber Structures Company, Portland, and switched to heavy power plant contracting also in Portland.  At the close of World War II he became an associate member of a local consulting engineering firm. In 1952 he opened his own professional office as John H. Bonebrake, Consulting Engineer. His specialties are primarily large air conditioning systems, boiler plants, heating ventilating, piping, duct systems and sewerage design.

Alaska has been one of John's main fields of operation for all of his consulting years. Included are hundreds of projects for the state, institutional, hospital, and governmental projects throughout most of Alaska.  He has been a registered Professional Engineer since 1943, being registered in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

The drilling of many wells in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska by necessity created in him a great interest in geology. A number of wells, many in the Portland area were drilled entirely through the thick Columbia River basalt flow in search of tepidly warm water for heat pump projects. Others were drilled shallower for cold water, for domestic water, and for fire fighting purposes.

His diversified work is his main hobby. He also likes to swing a hammer and saw. A weekly swim in the pool across the street is on his agenda, and an occasional game of golf.  Another hobby, skiing, regrettably takes a back seat, though the whole family skiied for many years on the slopes of Mt. Hood. Hiking takes high priority, even the Chilkoot Trail of Alaska and many hunts in Alaska.

The Bonebrakes are members of the Mock's Crest Evangelical Church and are registered Republicans.

1976 President Opal May Helfrich

GSOC’s first female president!

1976 - Opal May Helfrich

Opal Helfrich, a native Oregonian, was born in Portland on May 20, 1916 to William Everett and Lucy Elizabeth Jones.  As a child she loved the outdoors and spent as much time as possible there, looking for the first wild flowers of spring, savoring the warm days of summer, admiring the colorful maples of autumn, and delighting in the quiet beauty of the new fallen snow of winter.

As a student at Jefferson High School, she was active in Girl Scouts and represented that school on an all-city council.  Upon graduation, she received a scholarship to Linfield College and later one to Oregon State College.  She took courses through the Extension Service of the Department of Higher Education and at Portland State University.  In addition she studied law for two years at Northwest College of Law, now a part of Lewis and Clark College.

In 1947 she was president of Progressive Business Women's Club and is a charter member of that organization.  Other memberships include the Native Plant Society of Oregon, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Oregon Academy of Science.

During World War II she worked for the Pullman Company, where she had charge of the sleeping car assignments on both troop and civilian trains. After this she was employed by the Internal Revenue Service where she ultimately became a tax technician in the Estate and Gift Tax Division, for nine years, she and her husband, Merle C. Helfrich, operated Parkrose Paint & Equipment Co.  In 1972 they purchased Helfrich Equipment Co. in which they are both active.

At the suggestion of her son, Jerry A. Vanderlinde, an Assistant Professor of Art at North Dakota State University at Fargo, Opal enrolled in Ralph Mason's course in geology at Portland State University. At Mr. Mason's invitation, Opal and Merle became members of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country.

They also share a mutual interest in music, and enjoy playing piano duets together.  They are members of the Oregon Symphony Society. Their other interests are gardening, traveling, hiking, and camping with their grandson Bill Vanderlinde.  They also have another grandson, Orion who lives with his parents Jerry and Thuy Vanderlinde.

1977 President Norman A. Hessel

Born - Aberdeen, Washington in 1912.

1977 - NORMAN A. HESSEL

Education - Benson High School, Portland, Oregon, 1933

One year Geology from Portland Community College, 1973. United States Army, 1940-45

Occupation - Machinist, retired.

Married - Geneva Lyons in 1945.

Children - Steven in 1947, Janet in 1949. Grandchildren--three plus.

Hobbies - Hiking, photography, and the natural sciences.

in 1930, while hiking the Skyline Trail for the second time, I wanted to learn more about the mountains, Crater Lake and the beauty of the scenery.

In 1971, we joined the Geological Society of the Oregon Country, In addition to GSOC, I am a member of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Society of Miscellaneous Oregon Scientists, the Oregon Academy of Science, and the native Plant Society of Oregon.

1978 President Robert Waiste

Robert Waiste, Jr., was born in Portland, Oregon, March I5, 1921, the son of the Late Robert A. and Lorna Fisher Waiste.

1978 - ROBERT WAISTE, JR.

Attended Kennedy Elementary School, Jefferson High School, Northwest Business College in Portland,

Organization affiliations at present:

• Geological Society of the Oregon Country

• National Association of Retired federal Employees

• National federation of federal Employees

• Native Plant Society of Oregon

• Society of American Military Engineers

Occupation:  With Corps of Engineers, Portland District, October 194l  to retirement February 26, 1977 from position as Chief, Office of Administrative Services.

Military Service:  U. S, Army, 22 August 1942 to 6 February 1946.

Hobbies:  Hunting and fishing.

Joined GSOC in 1960’s.  Have taken geology courses sponsored by the Society.

Reside with wife, Dorothy, at 133 SE 27th Avenue, Portland, Ore., 97214.

1979 President William MacRitchie Freer

William MacRitchie Freer was born at the foot of Mt. Mayon, (pronounced 'My own'), on the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon in the Philippine Islands on February 26, 1907.  Mt. Mayon is a favorite text book example of a perfect cinder cone, and most of the membership have seen pictures of it in texts they have perused.  It rises 8,000 feet above sea level at Legaspy, and being, I believe, the highest point of land in Luzon, it is a favorite landfall for mariners in that part of the globe.  It is an active volcano.

1979 - William Freer

Reason for my being born at this improbable spot was that my father was one of the first American educators to go to the Islands after the war - the Spanish American War, that is - to organize the American school system there.

Subsequently I Lived in Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, and Michigan, but mostly in Oregon. I went to Lincoln High School here in Portland, and then to the Oregon Agricultural College - now Oregon State university.  But before I could graduate, high adventure lured me to the Oregon woods scene where I lived in logging camps and built the railroads for sundry logging companies.  In the summer of 1926 I helped locate the road around the rim of Crater Lake; in 1928 the Lewis River was my playground when the first aerial topographic map, in the Northwest was made there preliminary to the building of the dams.

Later, I attached myself to the Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for whom I made hydrographic surveys on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, some for navigation and others for studies for dam locations.  These adventures were interrupted by World War II, when I found myself in the 29th Engineer Mapping Battalion, then stationed right here in Portland.  The next four years found me field checking 15 minute quadrangles from Cape Flattery to the Mexican border.  Back with the Portland District after the war I designed and produced the District's navigation and dredging charts, to which I added rectified photography. From 1962 to 1969 I was the President of Local No. 7 of the National Federation of Federal Employees.  Consistent with the syndrome of my retarded childhood, I was married in 1965 to Kathryn Sins, Treasurer of Local No.7, who graciously pretended that I was quite normal.

I joined the Geological Society in I960, impressed by the enthusiasm of Stilly Moltzner and Dwight and Daisy Henderson.  Daisy was an old friend from Oklahoma Days.

I retired from the Corps in 1972, and since then my principal interest has been trying to keep out of trouble — at which I am not very successful.

1980 President Donald Golden Turner

Donald Golden Turner was born in Wasco, Oregon on April 1, 1915

1980 - DONALD GOLDEN TURNER

Father, Harold Norton Turner, was Superintendent of Transportation for the Union Pacific.

Mother, Florence Burnett

Fernwood Grade School, Portland, Benson High School, and two years at Oregon State College.

 Forty years later, earned an Associate degree in Science at Portland Community College.

Life Member of the Masonic Order

Now teaches folk dancing in the PCC adult education department.

Married on October 16, 193& to Elizabeth Ellen Jones.

Retired in 1972 from the Union Pacific Railroad after 34 years as switchman, brakeman and conductor on both passenger and freight. (Disability)

His continuing interest in railroads is satisfied by a model in the basement. (Safer)

An unofficial part of his duties as a passenger brakeman was pointing out scenic and historical features to passengers in the dome car. When Dr. Ruth Hobson (Keen) rode with him one trip, she introduced him to the geological aspects and a new way of seeing. 

Further information sought at PCC led to Geology classes there and information about the Geological Society and membership in 1972.

1981 President Joseph D. (Joe) Beemer

Joseph D. (Joe) Beemer was born July 8, 1928 at Lagrange, Wyoming. Parents, Alpheus H. and. Myrtle Loft is Beemer, were born in Nebraska.  The father was a Midwest farmer. The family moved to Oregon in 1929where he worked as a carpenter, a welder, and a logger. Joseph Beemer has lived in Oregon and Washington since then except for about one year in Nebraska.

1981 - Joseph D. (Joe) Beemer

He attended high schools in Oregon, Washington., and Nebraska; the University of Oregon; took additional courses at Portland State University and Portland Community College.  He received his CPA in 1959.

Organization affiliations include:

•Geological Society of the Oregon Country
•Portland Chamber of Commerce — Past Director
•Portland Toastmasters #31 — Past President
•Oregon Society CPA's
•American Institute of CPA's
•National Association of CPA Firms — National Secretary
•Portland Estate Planning Council

Married Barbara C. (Connie) Jenks in 1946.

Occupation:  Accountant, CPA 1946 - present.

Hobbies:  Reading, Hiking, GSOC, Travel

Became interested in geology about 1970 because of financial interest in a Canadian copper mine.

Taken three terms of Geology at Portland Community College. Became a member about 1972.

1982 President Ruth Hopson Keen

Ruth Hopson Keen was born June 19, 1906 in Sayre, Oklahoma. Parents: Edwin L. Hopson and Willie A. Hopson.

1982 - RUTH HOPSON KEEN

Moved to Oregon before my fifth birthday.  Attended grade school and high school in Marshfield (now Coos Bay), Oregon. Graduated from Marshfield High School in June 1924. Graduated from Oregon Normal School, Monmouth, Oregon, September 3, 1926. B.A. degree from University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, September 28, 1931. M.A. degree from University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, June17, 1935. Ph D. degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, June 23, 1946.

Honoraries: Sigma Xi, Pi Lambda Theta,  Sigma Delta Epsilon. Sorority: Zeta Tau Alpha.

Taught grade school,  junior high and high school in Oregon public schools from 1927 -1939 in Marshfield, Salem, and Eugene. Taught forthe Division of Continuing Education, Oregon State Systemof Higher Educationfrom 1941 - 1971. Subjects were geology, natural history, and conservation.  Directed teachers workshopin conservation for fifteen summers.

Was Ranger Naturalist, Crater Lake National Park, June 1947 and Naturalist for the Crater Lake Field School of Nature Appreciation, University of Oregon the rest of that summer. Was Ranger Naturalist at Lava Beds National Monument the summer of 1953. Taught Natural History of Oregon on Educational T.V. Channel 10, Spring Term 1963. Was Nature Counselor, Camp Chaparral, National Girl Scout Leaders Training Camp, Big Basin, California, summers of 1931,  32,  36, and 39. Retired fromthe position of Professor of General Science, Portland, Center, Division of Continuing Education, Oregon State System of Higher Education,  June, 1971.

Publications: Nature articles in Nature Magazine, Pacific Discovery, American Forests, American Nature Study Society, Mazamas, and others. Collier Glacier report in Mazama 1961, 62, 63,

Awards: 1964 Beaver Award for Conservation Education from the Oregon Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc.

1964 Certificate of Award for Outstandingwork in Soil and Water Conservation. Presented by Oregon Chapter,   Soil Conservation Society of Oregon.

1977 Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies award winner for the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Scholarship Foundation.  This is presented for distinguished achievement in the field of Earth Science.  (First woman selected for this award).  I had the privilege of choosing two students to receive scholarships toward Masters degree, one for $2000 and one for $1000, both from Portland State University, for an Earth Science Department Fellow and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Honorary Member Tualatin Valley Gem Club.

 Activities in Professional and related societies:

• American Nature Study Society:

  • Western Division: Vice-president 1952-53.. President 1953-54. 

  • National :  Vice-president 1952-53. President 1954. President-­elect 1960.   President 1961.  Board member 1955 and 1962.

• Oregon Academy of Science: Represented the Oregon Academy of Science on the council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Cleveland in 1950, Philadelphia, 1951, St. Louis, 1952, and Boston, 1953.

• National Association of Biology Teachers:  Board member 1952-54. Chairman for Oregon 1951-52 for Region IX (Oregon, Washington, California) 1953-54. Committee for preparation of Handbook for Teaching of Conservation and Resource Use, assisted in processing material for this handbook in Boston, December 1953,  book was published 1955.  Title - Conservation Handbook.

• American Geophysical Union:  Sub- committee on Glaciers of Central Cascades 1949-

• Northwest Bird and Mammal Society:  Vice-president for Oregon 1957-58.

• Nature Conservancy:  Chairman of Oregon Chapter 1 967-68. Member Pacific Coast Board 1959-60.       

• Mazamas: Have served on Science, Education, and Conservation committees and led field trips, also articles in their annual.

• Geological Society of the Oregon Country: Board member 1958-59-60 and 1964-65. Vice-president and program chairman1957. Vice-president and program chairman 1981. President 1982.

• Member of the following societies:

  • Geological Society of the Oregon Country

  • Geological Society of America

  • Oregon Academy of Science

  • Oregon Agate and Mineral Society

  • Tualatin Valley Gem Club.

  • Nature Conservancy

  • Audubon Society

  • Native Plant Society

  • Mazamas

  • Obsidians

  • Sierra Club

  • Oregon Old Time Fiddlers

  • Washington Old Time Fiddlers

  • Columbia River Old Time Strings

  • Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers

  • Melody Makers Orchestra

  • American Association of University Professors

Hobbies: photography and fiddling