VAN WALTER BENGARD
VIOLET MAY MUDRICH
ANNA GEORGELINE BEAUCHMAN
LAVERNE WALLACE HURLBUT

VAN WALTER BENGARD
Van Walter Bengrad died on Oct. 10, 2009 in Susanville. He was born on the family ranch at Bitter Water Valley in San Benito County, on Oct. 1, 1918. He was the youngest of two sons. He quit school at age 15 to take over the running of the 2,000 acre ranch on which he raided grain and cattle. At this time, a major cash crop is the Salinas Valley was sugar beets. The sugar beets tops were not used when the beets were harvested. Van felt he could get a better gain to finish cattle for market by moving them to that area to feed on the sugar beets tops. This was a new concept at the time and proved to be very successful.
   
Van married Mary Smith on Aug. 21, 1938. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in August 2009. Their two sons, Robert and James, were born while the family still lived at Bitter Water.   
   
Van had some health issues and he and Mary and the two boys moved to King City, Calif., in 1950. There he owned and operated and automobile agency selling DeSoto and Plymouth cars. While in King City, Van was an active member of the International Order of Odd Fellows and the Farm Bureau.
   
They visited Lassen County on vacation and in 1952 decided to make their home here. Van was a farmer at heart and purchased 400 acres in the Standish area. He raised cattle and alfalfa. He also was one of the first ranchers in the Honey Lake Valley to realize the advantage of the nematode-free soil in the area. He raised wheat grass and garlic crops for the seed, which was sold to farms around the state.
   
In the early 1970�s he and his son, Robert, opened Sierra West Sales. They sold mobile homes, boats and RV�s until 1982, when the business was closed. Van also was instrumental in the development of the north end of Eagle Lake. After purchasing 40 acres of property with his brother, Chris and nephews, Wes and Darrell Bengard, he established Lahontan Heights subdivision with 24 home sites. This subdivision was unique in that it had central water system and a common boat dock/launch area. All homeowners had access to the water even if their property wasn�t on a lakeshore lot. When the state of California mandated that septic systems would no longer be allowed on Eagle Lake property, Van was part of a group of landowners who developed the sewer system at the north end. He also developed and additional 13 lots in this area.
   
Van belonged to the Susanville Elks Club, the Cattlemen�s Association and the Soil Conservation District.
   
He was preceded in death by his brother Chris, and is survived by his wife, Mary of Susanville; sons Robert and wife Gail, of Susanville; James and wife Karen, of Clear Lake, Calif., nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
   
Memorial services will be held at the Susanville Christian Fellowship Church at 705 Hall St., at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 31.
   
The family has requested that donations be made to the local Soroptimist Scholarship Fund.

VIOLET MAY MUDRICH
Clear Creek resident Violet May Mudrich died at Country Villa-Riverview in Susanville, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.
   
She was born in Jamestown, Calif.
   
She is preceded in death by her husband John; daughter Dolores Edwards and her brother Fred.
   
She is survived by her son Leo and wife Patricia Mudrich, of Clear Creek, Calif., seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
   
Following cremation locally at Fehrman Crematory private family services will take place at the graveside alongside her late husband in Skylawn Memorial Park located in San Mateo, Calif.
   
An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family suggests any remembrances in Violet's memory be made to Sierra Hospice c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803, Greenville, CA 95947.

ANNA GEORGELINE BEAUCHMAN
Anna Georgeline Beauchman, 89, died Oct. 23, 2009 in Reno, Nev. She was born on Aug. 31, 1920 in Bismark, N.D.
   
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 at Our Lady of Snows Church, 1138 Wright St, Reno, Nev.

LAVERNE WALLACE HURLBUT
Laverne Wallace Hurlbut, 95, of Susanville, Calif., died on Oct. 23, 2009. He was born on July 8, 1914 in San Jose, Calif.
   
He is survived by daughters Joyce and Geoffrey Messchaert and Lynda Desselle, of Susanville; Alvin and Barbara Wallace, of Modesto, Calif.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.