Nov. 18, 1914-Sept. 3, 2004

PENDLETON – A memorial service for Otto John Broker was held in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Pendleton on Saturday, Sept. 4. Disposition was by cremation.

Mr. Broker, 89, a longtime Pendleton resident and retired Pendleton Woolen Mills employee, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at Willowbrook Terrace.

He was born Nov. 18, 1914, at Oakes, N.D., to Gearhart and Elizabeth Becker Broker. He attended school at Oakes and lived in that area until around the 1930s when he left home to travel to Montana to become a cowboy. After arriving in Montana, he worked on a ranch for approximately a year herding cattle and horses. He decided to travel further West, arriving in Oregon where he worked in the hops fields around the Silverton area near Salem. He always said he had $1.25 in his pocket when he got to Oregon.

He ended up in Pendleton, where he has been a resident the last 50 years or so. He worked at various jobs, on wheat ranches, doing odd jobs, as an extra in a Western movie being filmed in the local area, and at Frontier Machinery for seven years before going to work at Pendleton Woolen Mills where he was employed as a wool dyer until his retirement.

He was married twice and was the father of three children, son, Otto, and daughters, Diane and Connie.

Mr. Broker prided himself in several awards obtained from competitions at the Eagles where he was at one time president and always an active member.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and dancing.

Survivors include daughters, Connie Tibbs of Portland, Diane Fagner of Vancouver, Wash., son, Otto B. Broker of Salem; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild; brothers, Leonard Broker of Pendleton, and Walter Broker of Oakes, N.D., and Thomas Blaine, Lori Jean Teal, and Bonnie C. Talley, all of Pendleton, whom he raised. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and his companion of 35 years, Mary E. Blaine.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagles Lodge, Cancer Society, or Multiple Sclerosis Association.

Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.