Leona Albert

Friday, August 15, 2014

Leona Gertrude Strickland Yates Albert passed away at Ochoco Care Center in Prineville, Ore., on July 12, 2014, at the age of 90 years ,with granddaughter Kara and Kara's husband, Pat, at her side.

She was born to William (Bill) P. Strickland and Lena G. Wilson Strickland in Hot Springs, Idaho, on Jan. 23, 1924.

She lived a full and varied life.

The family moved to Oregon in 1963 where she married John E. Albert. John was the foreman of the Lazy Z Ranch, Sisters, when it was a working cattle ranch. Together, they managed the ranch for almost 25 years until the passing of John.

Prior to her marriage to John, she was married to Norman D. (Tom) Yates of Bruneau, Idaho.

Her interests included fishing, bowling, cooking, gardening, sewing, and deer and elk hunting with her family.

After her family was raised, she found her talent in acrylic painting. She created many paintings of the Three Sisters Mountains on saws of all sizes. She made a recording of her life stories and wrote stories of their early lives for each of her children.

She was a life-long member of the Home Rebekah Lodge #61.

She was the first cook at Black Butte Ranch Lodge in the early '70s, preparing tasty soups ladled out to the customers in individual black tureens. In 1982, she authored a cook book titled "Sagebursh Memories," that contained not only rib sticking recipes, but charming antidotes of her life growing up in the Bruneau Valley.

Her youth was spent on the back of a horse, herding sheep up in the mountains.

She was truly a Pioneer Lady.

She is survived by sister Fern Graham of Bruneau, Idaho, five children and their spouses, Letha G. DeForest (Larry), Norma J. Tewalt (Rick), Beckie G. Zimmerman (Gary Miller), all of Sisters, Ore., John (Oat), Albert (Darcy), of Howard, S.D., and James J. Albert (Theresa) of Alfalfa, Ore., 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by husbands, Tom and John, brother Grant Strickland of Bruneau, Idaho, sisters Mabel DeForest of Bruneau, Idaho, and Marjorie Vitalie of Elko, Nev., infant brother Oscar and infant great-grandbaby Warren.

There will be a memorial and potluck barbecue on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. at Three Creeks Lake, one of her favorite fishing holes. Bring a fishing pole and worm to drown in her honor.

Donations may be given in her name to Prineville Hospice or Ochoco Care Center.