KRIEGE, Wesley George

bluemountaineagle.com 26 March 2013 PRINEVILLE – Wesley George Kriege, 95, formerly of Seneca, died March 15 in Prineville. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Mr. Kriege was born on Nov. 20, 1917, in White River, S.D., to August and Gladys Kriege. After attending school in South Dakota, he was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 14, 1941, in Tacoma, Wash. He was stationed in Papua, New Guinea, and Australia. While in the Army, he received several honors: the Good Conduct, Asiatic Pacific Service and American Defense Service medals; the Distinguished Unit Badge Per Go 23 HQ 163rd Infantry 43; Philippine Liberation Medal with One Bronze Star and Service Star Lapel button. After an honorable discharge on Aug. 25, 1945, he began working as a jackhammer operator on the Grand Coulee Dam. In 1947, he moved to Prineville where he began working as a planer man for Alexander Stewart. On Dec. 24, 1947, he married Geraldine Blevins, with whom he had three daughters. The family moved to Seneca, where he continued work as a planer man at Ellingson Lumber Company, and was promoted to millwright. He retired in December 1982. The couple became snowbirds, traveling to Apache Junction, Ariz. In April 2011, they moved back to Prineville, where they resided until his death. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and his wife. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Geraldine; daughters, Leona (Steve) Blasingame of Bend, Linda (Fred) Fell of Prineville and Georgia (Cecil) Morin of Prineville; grandchildren, Tami Steelman-Gonzales, Christina Olsen, Fred Fell Jr., Marnie Fell and Wes Kriege; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Donna Parker of Sisters; brother, Dick Kriege of Sisters; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, one brother and one infant great-grandson. Memorial contributions may be made to a local hospice in the care of Whispering Pines Funeral Home, 185 N.E. 4th St. # 103, Prineville, OR