(Picture) (Veteran)

Don Kelter, 71

Don Kelter, 71, former administrator of Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, died Dec. 15, 2001, in Vancouver, Wash., from complications of a severe stroke. Private services were held Monday, Dec. 17, at his home in Hood River, Ore.

Mr. Kelter lived in Blair and worked as administrator from 1956 through 1971, presiding over the hospital’s early growth and expansion, before accepting a position as administrator of Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Ore.

He was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, and graduated from Creighton University in Omaha. He served in the Army during the Korean War, processing blood to be sent to Korea. While in Blair, he had seven children with his wife, Catherine.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, and his family Anne, Lou, Jessie, Jon, and Colin Gehrig; Jim, Peggy, and Rose Kelter; Jean, Rick, Nick and Peter Dills, all of Hood River; Margaret, Joe, Hannah, and Carin Pike of Forest Grove; Bill Kelter of Portland; Tom, Dana, Kristina, and Katherine Kelter of Algonquin, Ill.; and Michael and Vicki Kelter of Green Cove Springs, Fla.

Memorials are suggested to the Hood River Pubic Library, 502 State Street, Hood River, OR, 97031; or the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center at the Veteran’s Hospital: 9348 Memorial Fund in memory of Don Kelter, Volunteer Services, 3710 S.W. U.S. Veteran’s Hospital Rd., Portland, OR 97201.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~