Tag Archives: Class of 1956

Judy (Klein) Young

Judy (Klein) Young — Class of 1956

Judith Frances (Klein) Young (1938-2022)

Judith Frances Klein was born on October 23, 1938, in San Bernardino County, California (probably in Trona), to Byrle and Bullah Klein. She married Clellan N Young on July 21, 1973, in Sacramento, California. She died on January 1, 2022, at the age of 83. The last address I had for her was in Roseville, California.

Judy had a sister, Sally (Klein) Hall, in the class of 1958 and two brothers: Kenneth in the class of 1962 and Tom in the class of 1967.

If the family publishes an obituary I will link to it here and I will update this post with any additional information I receive. If you contact me I can provide you with the latest contact information that I have.

I would like to express my sincerest sympathies to her family.

William Jon Schultz 1956

Jon Schultz — Class of 1956

William Jon Schultz (1937-2021)

Jon was born to William and Lillian Schultz in 1937 in California. In the 1940 census I found Jon living with his parents in Johannesburg, Kern County California where his father was working for Atolia Mining Company as a hoist engineer. Lillian had been working as a teacher in Randsburg before she married in 1936.

The Schultz family lived next door to the Hackman’s where I’m sure he met John (Jack) and Roy Hackman. Their father was commuting to Trona to work in the chemical plant so it seems natural to think that Jon’s father and mother also decided to look for work in Trona as well. Jack Hackman graduated from Trona High School in 1951 and his brother Roy graduated the same year Jon did, 1956.

In 1948 Jon’s mother began work as a teacher at the Trona Elementary School and worked there until 1965.

In the 1956 class will it says, “I Jon Schultz do hereby will all my trades and abilities to the teachers and administration. I hope it will help them run this school a little more peacefully.”

Jon died in New Braunfels,Texas Feb 9, 2021.

The family chose not to publish an obituary. If you contact me I can give you the latest address I have for Jon.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Jon’s family.

Phyllis Oswald

Phyllis (Oswald) Bettencourt — Class of 1956

Phyllis (Oswald) Bettencourt 1938-2021

Phyllis was born in the Trona Hospital on June 28, 1938 to Leonard and Marjorie Oswald on June 28, 1938. Phyllis married her husband Bill Bettencourt in 1961. When going to Trona High School Phyllis was was the head majorette when she was a senior, the secretary of the California Scholarship Foundation and a member of the tennis team. In 1956, her senior year Phyllis was homecoming queen. Phyllis has a brother, Don Oswald, who was in the class of 1960.

Phyllis passed away December 19, 2021.

My deepest condolences to Don, Bill and the rest of her family.

A service will be held on January 4, 2022, 10:00am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 608 N. Church St. in Visalia, CA

You can find a complete obituary for Phyllis at:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/visalia-ca/phyllis-bettencourt-10496698

Judith Ann “Judy” (Bueltmann) Johnson — Class of 1956

Judith Ann “Judy” Johnson (nee Bueltmann) died on April 24, 2019 in Vancouver, WA, at the age of 81 after a valiant fight with Alzheimer’s disease.

Judy was born on November 1, 1938 in St. Louis, MO to Ed and Mary Lou Bueltmann. The family moved to Trona, Ca in 1947. Judy graduated from Trona High School in 1956 and attended Chaffey College in San Bernardino. She met Logan Johnson in Trona and they were soon married in Reno, NV in 1957. The couple made their home in Trona where Judy worked in the central offices at the Trona High School. They had three children in Trona before relocating to Vancouver, WA.

Judy is survived by her husband of 62 years, Logan Johnson; two sons, Howard Johnson (Kathleen) and Jeff Johnson (Tammy) of Vancouver; daughter Jill Greiner (Steve) of Portland; brother Ed Bueltmann (Phyllis) of Lake Isabella, CA; and sisters Linda Kaletka (Jim) and Laurie Holte (Bruce) of Tucson, AZ; and two granddaughters.

A memorial to celebrate Judy’s life was held in Vancouver, WA on May 12th at the home of Howard and Kathleen Johnson.

— Linda Bueltmann.

Gary Norton – Class of 1956

Gary Norton went to school in Trona until the 6th grade. After that he visited Trona many times during the summer. Gary passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2018.

 Services will be Friday, February 2, at 10:4510:15, at .Riverside national memorial cemetery ,reception just inside the  entry.

http://obituaries.desertsun.com/obituaries/thedesertsun/obituary.aspx?n=walter-gary-norton&pid=187815311&fhid=29972

Cathy Goodman – Class of 1956

(Catherine Goodman/Brooks) passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2018.

On January 14, 2018 Catherine went home to be with the lord. She was born in Coalinga, CA on September 16, 1937 to Walter and Bonnie Goodman. Walter was an oilfield worker and Bonnie had taught school but was a stay at home mom taking care of Catherine and two older sisters Bonnie M. and Avery D. Later a fourth child, Dorothy M., come into the family. Her father was said to have commented that “4 queens beats 3 aces anytime.” All of her childhood family are deceased.

Soon her father was placed in charge of a company oil field, near Maricopa, Ca and the moved to a company home on the lease. Later tragedy struck the family when her father died suddenly. Faced with the task of supporting herself and 4 girls, her mother needed to return to school to complete the courses need to re-instate her teaching credentials. During this time the 4 girls were placed in the David and Margaret school for girls in La Vern, CA

Upon getting her teaching credentials updated her mother moved them to a home she purchased on King St. in Bakersfield, Ca. When the older girls reached the dating age her mother felt more comfortable taking teaching jobs in smaller communities where she believed she could better watch her girls. She moved to Frazier Park, Ca and taught school there for several years. After the two older girls had married the mother took a teaching position in Trona, CA , and moved there with the two remaining girls.

Catherine and sister Dorothy both attended Trona High school. Catherine married a local boy and had three children. Dorothy and Valerie Brooks still reside in Trona, while her son Brian Brooks resides with his family in Forsyth, Georgia.

In 1976 Catherine had divorced and moved to Las Vegas, where she earned a real estate license. While attending a real estate conference she met a young man and re-married. By 1981 the marriage and fallen apart and Catherine moved to Upland, Ca where she worked at various sales jobs. Eventually she returned to her real estate profession and sold new homes for the J.M. Peters company located in Southern California.

Eventually, she met and Married Stan Andersen who resided in Washington State.

Catherine could not get the desert out if her soul and she and Stan bought a home in Trona and lived part time on the desert and part time in Washington State.

They sold their home in Trona and moved to Ridgecrest where they were residing when she passed away.

She is survived by her husband Stanly Andersen, her daughters Dorothy and Valerie Brooks of Trona and her son Brian Brooks of Forsyth Georgia. She has 9 Grand children, 14 great grand children and 3 great, great grand children.

On Feb. 10th at about noon family and friends will meet to celebrate Catherine’s life. Directions are: From intersection of Drummond street and Norma drive North on Norma about 2 blocks, turn right at big Rodeway Inn sign, Then go to Heritage club house at end of street.

Donald Dansby – Class of 1956

A message from George Sherman about Donald Dansby (THS 1956):

I’m very saddened to announce that Donnie passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 in his home in Elk Grove, CA. His step-brother Danny Knight (THS 1967) called me yesterday to let me know. (Danny’s father married Don’s mother.) Donnie died as a result of renal failure after having to undergo daily dialysis for several years. Before he passed, he requested that there would be no memorial service.

Donnie was in our class in Trona from at least first grade through senior year, graduating in 1956. He excelled in both academics and athletics (primarily in football and baseball). He was admired and respected by members of the class, who frequently elected him Class President or Vice President for various school years. He made it into the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) in both his Freshman and Senior years and was one of six students in our class to be awarded the Elks Award for Leadership at the end of our Senior year. Donnie loved his Trona heritage and came to all of our reunions including the 50th Anniversary of our Class Graduation in 2006.

David Pillott : Class of 1956

David passed away on December 19, 2015 at 5:00 PM. He passed quickly and ever so peacefully in the home that he built in Idaho and loved and cared for surrounded by his family.

Being at home under the care of family and hospice provided a peaceful ending to a long hard battle for a little over a year and a half, with many trips to Minnesota for treatments.