1991 Funeral Notices and Obituaries for Pomeroy Related People

Edwin C. Koller

Edwin C. Koller, 80, a Pomeroy area wheat and cattle farmer, died of cancer, March 6, 1991, at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Spokane. He was born Feb. 3, 1911, to Richard Henry and Ollie Burrus Koller at Sommersville, Mo. The family moved to Pomeroy when he was 1 and he attended schools at Pomeroy.

Koller began working at the age of 11 driving a header box in harvest for his father and other farmers in Garfield County. At 15 he worked for Oscar Tetrick, Oscar Miller, George Shepherd and Jack McGrann. The fall of 1936 he worked for Noah Peters.

Koller and Doris Shelton were married Dec. 24, 1936, at Pomeroy. The fall of 1937 he worked for John Cardwell and the following year he rented a farm in the Falling Springs region of Garfield County where he farmed for six years. They moved to the Black Farm in the Mayview District, 20 miles northeast of Pomeroy, and he later purchased the farm.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Pomeroy, a lifetime member of the Mayview Grange and member of the Pomeroy Masonic Lodge and Shriners. He also was a member of the Washington State and Garfield County Wheat Growers Association and the Washington State and Garfield County Cattlemen's Association. He was a past member of the Lewiston Elk's Lodge and past president of the Garfield County Fair Board. He was a lifetime member of the Garfield County FFA Alumni and honorary member of the Garfield County FFA Chapter.

He enjoyed working on his farm, sporting events and traveling. He also enjoyed horseback riding, dancing and playing cards. He worked with the Garfield County 4-H and FFA Chapters.

Survivors include his wife at Pomeroy; four sons, Larry Koller, Roger Koller, and Randy Koller, all of Pomeroy, and Loren Koller of Corvallis; his mother, Ollie Koller of Pomeroy; 11 brothers and sisters, Clarence Koller, Vergie Oldenburg, Blanche Ruark, Raymond Koller, Dorothy Feider, Donald Koller and Robert Koller, all of Pomeroy, Marie Hutchens of Auburn, Wash., Lester Koller of Spokane, Gilbert Koller of Seattle and Helen Jean Smelcer of Livingston, Texas; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A sister, Mabel Koller, died in 1923 and his father died in 1956.

The funeral is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at Richardson-Brown Funeral Home at Pomeroy. The Revs. Carl Beal of the United Methodist Church at Pomroy and the Howard Neal of the First Christian Church of Pomeroy will officiate. Burial is at the Pomeroy City Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the United Methodist Church at Pomeroy or the Pomeroy FFA Alumni, in care of Kayleen Bye, Route 3, Box 20, Pomeroy, Wash., 99347.

Richardson-Brown Funeral Home at Pomeroy is in charge of arrangements.

-- Lewiston Tribune 3/8/1991)