Elmer SWIGER

                   Surname: Ritter, Swiger, Smith, Huff, Chandler, Montgomery

The Record Courier; Baker City; 28 Sep 2000
Grace LaVere Ritter, 94, died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000, at her home.

Her funeral will be Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Halfway Elementary School. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery with a reception to follow at the VFW Hall.

Mrs. Ritter was born Sept. 1, 1906, in Union to Elmer and Nora Smith Swiger. She was raised and attended school in Union. During her senior year in high school, the Oregon offered a teacher training program. She was one of tfive chosen. After successfully completing the course, she received a state teaching certificate for two years. Mrs. Ritter continued her education and completed her teaching credential at Eastern Oregon College. Her teaching career began at High Valley, near Union, then onto at Clear Creek School in Halfway. In coming to teach at Clear Creek, she boarded at the home of Jim and Ella Ritter. It was then that she met and fell in love with their son, Perk.

On April 16, 1927, Percy "Perk" Ritter and Grace were wed in LaGrande. Their married life was spent in Halfway, and they raised one son, Claude. They enjoyed the ranch, haying, milking cows, and the rodeo, Perk was a buckaroo. Grace was proud to tell that she never missed a fair in 70 years. On Nov. 21, 1971, Claude was killed in a work-related accident. After Claude's death, granddaughter Melody, continue to live with Perk and Grace.

In later years, Perk suffered from emphysema. Mrs. Ritter took care of him at home until his death in 1976.

Mrs. Ritter's teaching career spanned 58 years. She substituted at all of the schools in the valley prior to the consolidation. After the consolidation of schools she taught at the Halfway Elementary School. Mrs. Ritter felt it was her life to try and help get children on the right path in their lives. In 1972, at age 65, she was forced to retire from teaching full time, district policy, and in her words, it "broke my heart." But after a few rule changes, she was allowed to substitute until 1983, when she chose to retire herself, her reason being that discipline was lacking.

Mrs. Ritter believe she had lived a full life, always content with caring for her family, teaching and working on the place. She was a member of long standing with the VFW Auxiliary. She always had a story to share, a special wit and a genuine love for her family, students and friends.

Survivors include grandchildren Melody Huff, Sharol Chandler and Marcus Montgomery and families; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Perk, in 1976, a son Claude in 1971, a sister and two brothers.
                  

                   http://www.usgennet.org/usa/or/county/union1/qbirths.htm#R
Printed 1917
Obituaries and Other Vital Records of Union County, Oregon, 1890-1930.
Compiled by Clara Cline Lee.
Reproduced by Walter M. Pierce Library, Eastern Oregon College, 1972.
To Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Swiger, Thursday, February 9th, a son.
Donated by Robin Church

Name: Swiger, Ehrman Elmer
County: Baker
Death Date: 08 Jan 1993
Certificate: 93-00280
Spouse: Esther
Birth Date: 09 Feb 1917

Ehrman SWIGER
Birth Date: 9 Feb 1917
Death Date: 8 Jan 1993
Social Security Number: 518-14-4093
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Idaho
Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 97814
Localities: Baker, Baker, Oregon Baker City, Baker, Oregon Keating, Baker, Oregon Medical Springs, Baker, Oregon