As time permits I will correct links; in the meantime, if you run into a non-working link 
please let me know via email and I'll send the correct one if possible. Beth
  

A Note from the Editor

• As always, a mixture of the glad and the sad as we announce births, marriages, deaths, and special events.

 
• Corrections and additions to "The Book"

 
• News about a possible reprinting of Florence’s 1990 book and her new Index to the book

 
• Lost Gerkings

 
• A bit about the 1998 reunion

 
• A link to minutes from the last three reunions

     Martha was President of the Gerking Family group for many years and contributed much to the maintenance and growth of our organization. She gave up her office reluctantly as both her mother’s health, as well as her own, declined. Her mother, Maude Beck Wells, died in September, 1996. 

     Martha and two of her sisters, Patricia Adsit and Margaret Wells, had recently moved to Newport, OR. I talked with Martha just before leaving for the reunion, and she asked that a standing invitation be issued at the reunion for family members who 

    In addition to her family ties, another of Martha’s genuine interests was an organization called Housing Our Families. She was a founding board member of that group and served on the board for 4 years, most of the time as its treasurer. 

     On September 27, Housing Our Families honored Martha in a public ceremony by renaming the former Albina Plaza “Martha Wells Court.” Martha was aware before her death of the plan to rename the property. The flyer announcing the naming ceremony noted Martha’s “passion, energy, and commitment” to that cause. I believe those words could also have described her dedication to everything she did. She is missed. 

Ronald Balu Cox,  son of Bernard V. Cox (12-4-1-2-1), passed away 1 Apr 1997. (Information from 1997 reunion sheet). 

Sterling Q. Cox (12-2-1-2-2), husband of Arthena Marguerite Rice, died in December, 1995. Sterling and Arthena were faithful in their reunion attendance, not missing a single one until this past year. (Information from Opal Richey). 

Betty Roach has reported that the wife of Clark Gerking (12-13-2-4) died in December, 1995. No further information was available. 

Evaline Bixby has reported that the correct date of death for Claude Gerking (12-4-5-1) is 26 Nov 1995. 

Norman Mark Gerking (12-7-14-1-2), son of Tim and Peggy Gerking, died suddenly 4 Apr 1997 of heart disease. Mark and his brother Steve had lived in Troutdale, OR, for many years. Burial was in The Dalles, OR. (Information from Peggy Gerking). 

Fred Roach, husband of Betty Ann Gerking Roach (12-13-2-3), died 28 Dec 1995. Betty has since moved to Fossil, Oregon. (Information from Betty Roach). 

Hazel Ruth (Scott) Van Tassel Goodfellow, widow of Thomas Albert Goodfellow, Sr. (6-7-3-1), died 29 Dec 1995, W. Fall River Mills, Shasta, CA. She was buried in the Burney Cemetery, W. Burney, Shasta Co., CA. (Information from Clyda Goodfellow). 

The last mailing sent to Irene Zoe Cox Love (12-4-1-5-2) was returned marked “deceased.” 

Margaret Wilma Beck Shibley (12-4-3-3), died 28 Feb 1995, at Willamette Falls Hospital, Oregon City, OR. Margaret was the daughter of Roy and Winnifred Gerking Beck and faithfully attended Gerking reunions. (Source: Willma Guttridge). 

John Earl Shibley (12-4-3-3-6) died 3 Nov 1996. Burial was at Springwater Cemetery in Estacada. (Oregonian obituary). 

Hazel Adaline Newcomb Thomson (6-5-3-1) died 13 Nov 1989. Her husband, Carmi C. Thompson died 6 Mar 1990. Both died in Florida and are buried at Lee Memorial Park, Lehigh Acres, FL. (Information from Evelyn Finke). 

Carmi Newcomb Thompson, husband of Donna Faye Hoskins Thopmson (6-5-3-1-1), died in Kansas City 11 Feb 1991, and is buried in Riverside National Cemetery in California. (Information from Evelyn Finke). 

Gertrude E. Tolle (12-7-1-5) passed away 21 Aug 1996. Inurment was in the Tolle plot at the Old “Pioneer” Cemetery in Merrill, OR. (Information from her nephew, Paul A. Lewis) 

Martha Rhoda Wells (12-4-3-1-1) died 8 Aug 1997 in Newport, OR. (Please see related story above). 

Maude Beck Wells (12-4-3-1) died 21 Sep 1996 in Portland. Maude was born 19 March 1905 to Roy Elwin and Winifred Dorotha Gerking Beck. She attended nearly every reunion held and always brought her unfailing good humor with her. 

Word has been received from Kathy Breen that her grandparents, Ernest York (6-7-1-2) and his wife Marie Doyle York are both recently deceased. 

Jason Robert Moore (5-3-5-1-3-1-1) married Marie Kobylas 22 Apr 1995. They live in Commerce Township, MI. (Information from Kathryne Terrell Voelker). 

Danney Lee Thompson (6-5-3-1-1-2) married Louisa  18 Jan 1996 at the LDS Temple in Manti, UT. (Information from Evelyn Finke). 

Gabrielle Nicole Bixler (12-7-8-1-2-1-1) to Chris and Nicole Perry Bixler, 15 Jul 1996, in Portland, OR. 

Caitlyn Ruth Goodfellow to Jeffrey Scott (6-7-3-1-2-2) and Carol Cynthia Curtin Goodfellow, 17 Jun 1996, W. Fall River Mills, Shasta, CA. 

Marilyn Lucille Guttridge to Donald (12-4-3-3-1-4) and Tami Guttridge, 25 Aug 1994, Clackamas Co., OR. 

Amy Charlotte Larson (12-7-1-6-2-1) to Eric and Karen Larson, 19 May 1997 in Albany, CA. Proud grandfather John D. Larson reports Amy’s height as 21”. 

MARTIN PETERSON GERKING by Betty Gerking Roach 

 Dad’s name was Mart and not Martin. 

DRESKE (page 349) 

ABITZ 

William Lawrence Abitz (12-12-5-4-2-1) married Debby Dueck 9 Dec 1995, Merritt Island, FL. Children: Bronia Sherilyn Abitz (12-12-5-4-2-1-1) b. 10 Jan 1997. 

Benjamin Albert Abitz (12-12-5-4-2-2-1) married Brienne Johnson 14 Feb 1997, Vancouver, Clark Co., WA

DOEBLER 

Elisabeth Nicole Doebler (12-12-5-4-1-1) married Brian Richard Toole 6 Aug 1994. They live in the Chicago area. Children: Andrew Richard Toole (12-12-5-4-1-1-1) b. 22 Sep 1995, Olympia, WA. 

John Gilbert Doebler (12-12-5-4-1-2) married Elizabeth Ann Pierpoint 1 Jul 1995, Lookinglass, Douglas Co., OR. They live in Anacortes, WA. Children: Ryan Nathan Doebler (12-12-5-4-1-2-1) b. 17 May 1996, Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., WA; Jessica Nicole Doebler (12-12-5-4-1-2-2) b. 21 Jun 1997, Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., WA. 

DRESKE 

Edward Ronald Dreske (12-5-1-4-2), b. 27 Jan 1951,  married Cindy 10 March 1970. Children:  Kimberly Dawn Dreske (12-5-1-4-2-1), b. 4 Oct 1970; Eddard Ronald Dreske (12-5-1-4-2-2) II, b. 22 May 1975; and Jacquelyn Fawn Dreske (12-5-1-4-2-3), b. 2 Aug 1978. 

Kimberly Dawn Dreske (12-5-1-4-2-1), mar. Loren Harris 14 August 1987. Children: Andrew James Harris  (12-5-1-4-2-1-1), b. 22 Jun 1988; Alexandra Nichole Harris (12-5-1-4-2-1-2), b. 5 July 1990 

Kimberly Dawn Dreske married Micheal Greyson in 1993. Children: Megan Christine Greyson (12-5-1-4-2-1-3), b. 7 Oct 1993; Micheal James Greyson II (12-5-1-4-2-1-4), b. 7 Jan 1997. 

Special thanks go to everyone who shared their family information and funds. 

Bob Gilliland of Weston, OR has created a page devoted to Blue Mountain Cemetery. Click here for a look at his page. — Beth

My email address is [email protected]

As your children move away from home don’t forget to add their names and addresses to the mailing list. It’s said that one must be at least 40 to develop a real interest in family history, so if you suspect your young adult isn’t keeping the newsletter up to date, do it yourself. 

Also, I’m informed by someone near and dear to me (my mother) that luau shirts were very “in” that year! 

At the reunion this past August, the family decided to reissue the book if there are enough buyers to make another printing run cost-effective. 

The Gerking Family in America consists of 430 pages in the main body, and a new 75-page Index. (The Index is also being made available separately for those who have already purchased the book; the cost is $4.00). 

The book originally sold for $25.00, and postage ran about $3-5.00. We hope to have enough orders to keep the cost of the second printing at about the same level. The cost of printing will be determined by how many copies we have run, i.e., the more copies that are run, the lower the per book price will be. 

We are asking for no money for the book at this time. Instead, we ask you to send email to Beth if you are interested in purchasing the book. After we know how much interest there is, we will be able to determine a price for the book and will let you know what it is. At that time, we will request a deposit equal to half of your order’s cost. No books will be printed until (and unless) we can cover the cost! 

And while you’re at it, why not send in some news of your family for the next Newsletter?