Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home

08/12/2026

Beloved wife, sister and friend Debra Ann Lerten passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord at sunrise on Friday, July 31, 2026 at the beautiful Partners in Care Hospice House in Bend, Oregon, after a courageous months-long fight with Stage 4 cancer. She was 71.

Debbie was born in Juneau, Alaska on June 20, 1955 to Leo and Sadie (Zastrow) Rosenberger, the youngest of six who grew up in the southeast Alaska community.

Debbie graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1973, where she played flute and oboe in the school band. She moved that fall to Forest Grove, Oregon, to attend Pacific University, where she met and for a time was close to her future husband, Barney Lerten, both of whom graduated in 1977.

Five years later, Debbie reconnected with Barney, who had returned to Portland’s UPI bureau, and they quickly fell in love. The couple were married on Debra’s birthday, June 20, 1983 at Old College Hall on the Pacific campus – a date they came to call their ‘birthda-versary.’

Debbie and Barney enjoyed 43 years of love, life and laughter, despite her challenging series of health issues over the years. They were not blessed with having children, only a succession of wonderful kitty-cats and good fortune that allowed them to engage occasionally in Debbie’s love of travel.

Debbie held a variety of jobs after moving to Bend with Barney in 1991. She also sang in the church choir and played in the handbell choir with her mother at Trinity Lutheran...

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08/11/2026

Dennis Everett Jones was a lifelong resident of Bend, Oregon, whose life was defined by community
service, craftsmanship, and devotion to his family. Raised in Bend, Dennis spent more than 32 years
in law enforcement, including 25 years with the Bend Police Department, demonstrating a deep
commitment to protecting citizens and mentoring youth.

Outside of policing, Dennis was a highly skilled machinist and gifted gunsmith. He ran a business
called The Loading Bench, combining his technical talents with his passion for fi****ms through
commercial reloading and repair work. He also took immense pride in restoring a historic 1945 family pickup truck.

Dennis also dedicated countless hours to volunteering. He supported outdoor traditions by teaching
hunter education and working with the Oregon Hunters Association, the National Wild Turkey
Federation, and the Sumpter Valley Railroad. Notably, he served as charter president of the Central
Oregon Shooting Sports Association (COSSA).

Dennis is survived by his wife of over 56 years, LaDel Jones (née Huettl); their five children, Denise
Lever (Rob), Diane Stuart (Walker), Sean Jones, Scott Jones (Kimber), and Nicki Henshaw (Tyler);
15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Known for his unwavering moral compass and
humility, Dennis left a lasting legacy as a selfless family man and dedicated public servant.

Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home was honored to handle the arrangements.

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08/11/2026

Rosemary Anne Byrnes, born September 28, 1939, died August 4, 2026.

She was born in New York, NY, to James T. and Marjorie (Margaret) Byrnes. A graduate of The Ursuline School and St. Louis University, she was married to Terence William Doyle. Prior to retirement, she was a longtime journalist and editor at Time Magazine.

Upon visiting Central Oregon for the first time in 1991, she bought a farm in Alfalfa, Oregon, and then informed her husband and children of their new home, which they loved.

She was a citizen of the world. She lived in Pelham Manor, NY; Washington, DC; Lloyd Harbor, NY; Hong Kong; and finally in Bend, OR.

Rosemary was active in the Asil Arabian horse community as the former President of Al Khamsa, Inc. -the Arabian horse preservation organization- as well as a former editor of The Khamsat, the Arabian horse preservation magazine. She was the driving force behind her family's Arabian horse breeding program.

She contributed to her community wherever she lived. As a past President at the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club of Hong Kong, she helped serve the l***r communities in Guangzhou, China. She loved the historic St. Francis Roman Catholic church in Bend, Oregon where she was a parish member.

She is survived by her husband, Terence Doyle; her brother Thomas M. Byrnes of Clinton Corners, NY; her sister Margie (Margaret) Byrnes Meighan of Sag Harbor, NY; her son Lyman Doyle and his wife Nelsilya of Taipei, Taiwan; her daughter...

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08/10/2026

Explore the advantages of pre-planning. This seminar will guide you through options that ensure your final wishes are met while giving your family peace of mind.

08/10/2026

We have lost our beloved husband, father and grandfather. In his own words, he’s gone to be with the angels. He will be dearly missed.

John (Jay) Carroll was born to Thomas R. Carroll and Helen Brady Carroll on June 28, 1935, in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

Although he grew up in the city, Jay spent his summers at Camp Kawanhee in Weld, Maine. It was there that he developed a lifelong love of sports, the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. During the school year, he attended Englewood School for Boys.

Jay graduated from Dartmouth College in 1957, and Albany Medical college in 1961. During his time in Albany, he met Carol Ann Gibeault, a nursing student. They fell in love and were married on July 7, 1962. After completing their degrees, they relocated to Providence where Jay completed his medical residency in orthopedic surgery at Rhode Island Hospital.

He later served as a captain in the United States Air Force where he directed the orthopedic clinic at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

Following Jay’s service, he returned with his family to the east coast where he started his first private practice in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

However, thoughts of the west remained. During his flights over the Pacific Northwest while serving in the Air Force, Jay had become captivated by the natural beauty surrounding Bend. His vision became a reality when he was accepted as a new physician at the Bend Orthopedic & Fracture Clinic. In 1970, he and...

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08/03/2026

The world has lost an extraordinary soul in the passing of LeRoy Stanley Legowik. Lee was born on the 4th of July, 1944, in Great Falls, Montana, to Stan and Rita Legowik. His mother always liked to call him her “little firecracker” and he grew up worthy of that moniker. He passed away peacefully at Partners in care Hospice House in Bend, Oregon on July 27th, 2026.

He grew up in Great Falls and attended Catholic grade and high schools. He graduated from the University of Montana and shortly after joined the military and served in the Vietnam War. Once stateside, he joined the Washington Army National Guard, where he ultimately became the Assistant Adjutant General for the Washington Army National Guard for seven years. He became a private contractor. He retired to Bend, Oregon to be with his wife, Margi. They enjoyed 36 years of marriage, they took many trips before health issues slowed him down.

Lee was a man of great passion – his family, friends, and especially, his soldiers. Always one with a quick-witted comment and charisma, he charmed men and women alike with his genuine, positive personality. He was a joy to live with and his loving words and actions live in our hearts and brighten this darkness of loss.
Lee is survived by his wife, Margi, and daughters Kimberely Warren, Stacey Wimberley, Elaine Stevens and granddaughter Lilianne Stevens, his sisters Joyce Nelson and Carole Zohn. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved...

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07/31/2026

John (known to most as Jack) William Nicholson,78, passed away Wednesday, July 15th 2026 in Bend OR. He was born in Morton, WA on October 10th, 1947 to John and Lorraine Nicholson and was the older of two children. Jack graduated from Del Norte High /school in Crescent City, CA in 1966 and soon after went to Southern Oregon University where he obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Business. Summer work during his college years included two formative years on a fishing boat in Alaska as well as a ski instructor at Mt. Ashland. Fishing and skiing remained passions throughout his life.
His career centered on wood manufacturing, starting with Simpson Timber Company in northern California and transferring to Shelton WA Plywood Mill where he assumed supervisory positions and on to plant superintendent.

While in Shelton, Jack met and married his wife Deb (Debra Guttormson) in 1983. A job offer by Bend Millwork Systems in 1989 (later bought by Jeld Wen) brought them to Bend where they settled and raised their three girls, Chelsea, Marissa and Mackenzie. Jack ended his work with Jeld Wen in research and development where he developed Auralast, a patent wood protection designed to protect wood against rot, water damage and termites.

Jack was known for his stellar sense of humor and for his ability to fix or build anything. He always had a woodworking project going in his garage as well as spending time on the lake with his boat, hunting...

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07/31/2026

Linda Lee May passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026, at the age of 79, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on July 18, 1946, in Grangeville, Idaho, to Mary and Hubert Sewell.

Linda spent nearly 40 years as a Realtor and was proud to be part of Bill Jordan & Co. Real Estate in Redmond, Oregon. She especially loved helping first-time homebuyers and felt honored to share in such an important milestone in their lives. Her kindness, warmth, and genuine care for others made her deeply loved by clients, coworkers, and friends alike.

She was also a proud volunteer with Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO), a cause especially meaningful to her because of her father Hubert’s service in the Army during World War II. In recent years, Linda often baked cookies to deliver to veterans and staff, a simple but heartfelt gesture that reflected her generosity and care. She spoke often of her dad with pride, especially of his service to our country and the beautiful jewelry he lovingly made for her and the family.

Linda was cherished by many wonderful friends throughout Central Oregon. She also held a deep love for her hometown of Riggins, Idaho, where she graduated from Salmon River High School in 1964 as part of a class of just 19 students. Over the past decade, she was grateful to spend more time there with childhood friends and family she loved dearly, and she bought property so she could return often to the place that always felt like...

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