Tag Archives: Class of 1945

Bill Witt

Willaim Witt — Class of 1945

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The Witt family came to Trona, CA from Chloride, AZ around 1942 and left about for Henderson, NV around 1948 so they weren’t in Trona for very long but he did graduate from Trona High School and he stayed in touch with lit Brush. The 1950 census lists his father as a foreman so I suspect he was recruited, like other were, to move to AP&CC’s plant in Henderson.

Bill was born April 4, 1947 and died in January 21, 2025. Perhaps someone could let use know if he had a family> He was one of the last living members of his class.

https://obituaries.neptune-society.com/obituaries/sacramento-ca/william-witt-12212063

Terri Durland

Teresa Ann “Terri” (Durland) Allen — Class of 1945

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Our beloved mom Terri Allen passed away peacefully on February 8, 2025 at the age of 97. Terri was born in Los Angeles, California in 1927 and was raised in Trona, a company-owned mining town in the Mojave Desert.

After graduating from high school in Trona, she moved to Berkeley and attended the University of California, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1949. She was in the Sigma Kappa sorority at Cal. She met her future husband, Don Allen, at Cal, and they were married in 1950 and lived in the Bay Area. The marriage ended in divorce. Terri worked as an administrative assistant in Menlo Park for many years and raised their three children, Leslie, Curt and Paul, as a single mom. After she retired, she moved to Grass Valley in 1999.

Terri was an active and dedicated member of the Baha’i Faith, and she served on the Baha’i Local Assembly as Secretary and as Treasurer for over 30 years. She was an avid reader and loved books about different cultures, societies and stories from around the world. She was a person of profound integrity and a strong sense of justice, and she stood up for and supported human rights and the oneness of humanity.

Terri is survived by her daughter Leslie Platner and son-in-law Paul Platner of Grass Valley, and her son Paul Allen and daughter-in-law Laura Allen of Emerald Hills. Terri’s son Curt passed away in 2018. Terri was a native Californian, “memah” and “purple nana” to six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and lived a long happy life, from the great Mojave Desert to the gold-rich Sierra foothills.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Unity in the Gold Country Spiritual Center, 180 Cambridge Ct, Grass Valley.

For those wishing to make charitable donations in Terri’s memory, please consider Hospice of the Foothills.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/terri-allen-obituary?id=57546311

Terri’s father was a chemical engineer. They lived in Trona from at least 1930 to 1950. She had a younger brother, William, who passed away in 2006.

According to the 1950 census the Durland’s lived at 306 Lupine St

The 1945 yearbook says Terri’s nickname was “Te De”. Terri probably went to elementary school in the old elementary school on Main St. and then I suspect she may went away to school and came back to finish school when Trona High School was completed in 1942.

 

Lois (Porter) Kimmet – Class of 1945

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Lois (Porter) Kimmet (THS 1945) passed away on June 16, 2017 after a short stay in the hospital. Her son, Marvin Kimmet, said that she died peacefully in her sleep.

Lois Helen Porter Kimmet earned her wings on Friday, June 16, 2017. Her family surrounded her with love and witnessed a perfect first flight.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 22, from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. Margaret Catholic Church with vigil services at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be Friday, June 23, at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery will follow and then a reception at the church.

The middle of three daughters, she was born Oct. 13, 1927 to Karl Edward Porter and Thelma Kathleen Knorr in Los Angeles, Calif. Her dad moved the family to the Porter Ranch homestead in Nine Mile Canyon in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and ran an outfitting business and supplemented the family income as an electrician for the Bureau of Power and Light in Los Angeles.

Mom loved the outdoors and was an excellent wrangler of horses and hunters and she could dispatch a rattlesnake with a shovel or rock. Oh, the stories she told us! One of her proudest childhood memories was helping move cattle for the Powers Ranch in the Sierras. She and her sisters attended grade school in the mountains and then worked and boarded-out to put themselves through high school in Trona, Calif., where she formed many lasting friendships.

Always the adventurer, she followed her Aunt “Zip” to Sunburst, where she met the love of her life, George Anthony “Tony” Kimmet who had recently returned from the South Pacific Theater where he flew B-29 bombers. Mom promptly converted to Catholicism and they were married Jan. 26, 1946 in Sunburst and started their family. Their path took them to the farm southeast of Cut Bank in 1953 and it became their permanent home.

They left behind a legacy of love of God, country and family. We are farmers, ranchers, teachers, homemakers, business people and public servants trying to contribute to the well- being of others. Mom taught us there was always room for another plate at the table and somehow made enough to satisfy all and there was always a bed for the weary or lonely.

Her family’s interests and activities are too many to mention. Her church and her community were very important. She was a committed farm wife and active in Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) for many years. She felt honored that she had the opportunity to visit with President Ronald Reagan and present the farm-wife point of view. A woman of tenacity and grit, she was not afraid to express her opinion.

Survivors include: Karen (Jack) Ganje of Great Falls, Judy (Tom) Fetters of Conrad, Kathy (Jay) Vasboe of Cut Bank, Tink Anderson of Cut Bank, Marvin (Becky) of Cut Bank, Martin (Pam) of Powell, Wyo., Mary (Jim) Embleton of Great Falls, Amy Schmerchel of Great Falls, and Karla Kelly (Mark Elison) of Billings; 22 grandchildren, 30 (plus one on the way) great grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Tony; sisters, Gwen Palmer and Jo Griffith; infant granddaughter, Heidi; and infant grandson, Bodie.

We are grateful to the caring staff at Glacier Community Health Care. To the special angels at Benefis Cardiac Unit (Red pod): your compassionate care of Mom and concern for her family will never be forgotten.

Condolences can be made to Lois’ memorial page at www.asperfh.com.