Category Archives: Trona News

Elise Louise Rains — Class of 1966

Leave a reply

Elise Louise Rains, affectionately known as Lisa, peacefully passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 8, 1948, in Ridgecrest, California, to Clarence Victor Carr and Ellen Lucille Fertig Carr. Lisa grew up in Trona, California, where she attended school alongside her cherished brother, Craig Allen Carr.

Lisa shared 52 beautiful years of marriage with her devoted husband, Charles Ernest Rains. Together, they built a life full of love and laughter, raising five children: Cathie Mayfield (Rick), Cynthia Moreno (David), Connie Rains-Hamlett (John), Charles “Alan” Rains, and CarriAnn Rains. Her legacy continues through her twelve grandchildren and growing number of great-grandchildren, who will forever carry her warmth in their hearts. She was also a beloved bonus mom to her nephew, Jeremy Rains.

Lisa was preceded in death by her grandsons, Michael Frank Jolly and Charles Alexander Campos.

Lisa worked as a telephone operator for Contel. She spent time as a teacher’s aide. She also served as a secretary at High Desert Scribe and owned Trona’s local Channel 3. In addition to her professional roles, Lisa was a longtime volunteer EMT for Searles Valley.

A woman of boundless compassion and empathy, Lisa embraced the belief that all life was sacred. She lived with a rare and unwavering kindness, never harming even the smallest creature or the trees that stood rooted in the earth.

Though there will be no immediate services, her memory will be honored through the love of those she touched.

The Daily Independent ridgecrestca.com

 

Ruthie Lancaster

Ruthie (Storm) Lancaster — Class of 1963

Leave a reply

Ruthie passed away on April 2, 2025. She was a proud member of the THS class of 1963. She was also the Trona High School librarian for many years. She claimed to be the meanest Trona High School Librarian there ever was.

Around 1948 Ruthie moved from Missouri  to Trona with her parents, sisters, her Uncle Ray and Ray’s  daughter Donna (Storm) Carter (1947-2022) who  was the class of 1964 . Donna was married to Kenneth Carter (1943-2020) from the class of 1961. Ruthie’s older sister, Helen (1940-2021) was in the class of 1958.

In 1954 Ruthie’s grandparents moved to Trona along with her youngest uncle, Dale. Dale married Patricia Ritter (1937-2009) from the class of 1956.

We share the families sadness as we all remember Ruthie.

If someone knows what years she worked as the librarian please let us know.

 

 

Martha (Pounds) Kennedy — Class of 1976

Leave a reply

The world was never the same after the birth of Martha Pounds and will never be the same without her. Martha passed away on December 5. 2024, at Peace Hospice surrounded by her loved ones after a long and hard-fought battle with multiple myeloma.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Great Falls Church of Christ.

She was born in Los Angeles, California to Chuck and Carol Pounds on March 12, 1958. After graduating in 1976 from Trona High School she married her high school sweetheart Kory Kennedy on June 26 that same year.

Anyone who knew Martha knows how her family was her life. She and Kory had three children that gave them a run for their money! Keisha (Reggie) Sutton, David (Lindsey), and John. She was “Nana” to four grandchildren who adored her, Kyler Kennedy, Belle Murphy, Braxton and Colton Kennedy, and her loyal French Bulldog, Grace, who was by her side until the end. She is also survived by her sisters, Sharon, Linda, and Nancy (quit fighting, Linda and Nancy)! She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles; sister, Janet; mother and father; and numerous aunts.

During her years of employment, Martha could crunch numbers with the best of them. She was very meticulous and a perfectionist in every way. She was an administrative assistant with the Ulm school district, CFO at the Great Falls Housing Authority, and an internal auditor at Montana Credit Union (her most loved job)! Her upbeat personality and wit brought joy to every place that she worked.

Martha was faithful to her God and felt serving and worshipping Him was life’s sole purpose. She looked forward to hearing the words, “Well done good and faithful servant. Job well done!” She was very involved in her congregation at Great Falls Church of Christ. Her church family was an important part of her life, and she loved having gatherings and going on retreats.

She was a pillar to her family and community and would not want anyone to miss a beat in life mourning her passing. She lived to be happy and spread joy to everyone who was lucky enough to be blessed by her presence. God has gained one special angel.

Donations in Martha’s memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

https://www.oconnorfuneralhome.com/obituary/martha-kennedy

 

 

Nancy (Smith) Morris — Class of 1955

Leave a reply

Nancy (Smith) Morris (1936-2024) was born in Pennsylvania but came to Trona as a child and attended school in Trona from kindergartens until graduation in 1955. See married Eugene Morris in 1958. They were married 61 years until his death in 2019. They had two children, Paula (Morris) Lee and  Pete Morris both of them attended Trona High School.

Anita Aasgard — Class of 1980

Leave a reply

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Anita Aasgard on September 10, 2023, our dear sister, sister- in-law, and aunt.

Anita had several careers and loved hiking, camping and fishing. She enjoyed gardening and everything outdoors. She was an avid writer who wrote inspirational thoughts and kept many journals of her hopes and expectations for herself. She was a good poet and loved to draw. She loved God, her family and friends and her loyal animals. Anita will be missed by all who knew her.

Anita was predeceased by her grandfather and grandmother Al Aasgard Sr. and Rose Aasgard, father Al Aasgard Jr.(Class of 1943), mother Patricia and Harry Pounds all from Trona. She was also predeceased by her brother, Lew Aasgard (Class of 1973) and niece Kayla.

She is survived by her older sister Phyllis, brother-in-law Frank, sisters-in-law Gretchen and Sandy, nieces Hope and Aspen and many loving cousins.

The family will have a service in honor of Anita on April 20th on a beautiful spring day at the Searles Valley Cemetery in Trona.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/anita-aasgard

Charlotte (Duffel) Hicks — Class of 1955

1 Reply

Charlotte was born 14 JUL 1937 and passed away August 7, 2024. The Duffel family came to Trona in 1955 so Charlotte was not a student at Trona High School for very long. She wasn’t there long enough to have a graduating picture in the yearbook.

Her services will be 10 am September 21, 2024 at the Searles Valley Cemetery.

Charlotte will be buried in the Searles Valley Cemetery along with her parents, her sister, Regina, class of 1961 and her brothers, James, class of 1958 and Rex, class of 1959.

Charlotte was also known as Charlotte Van Sickle.

Regina (Duffel) Blevins — Class of 1961

1 Reply

Graveside services were held for Regina at the Searles Valley Cemetery on Saturday, May 25, 2024. where her parents, sister Melva and brothers Sunny and Rex are buried.

The Duffel family came to Trona in 1955 from Arkansas. I can’t tell you much about Regina. Perhaps the classmates and friends who new her best will leave comments.

James Hunter 1938-2024

James “Jim’ Hunter — Class of 1956

1 Reply

Jim Hunter’s Graveside service is Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10 am at the Searles Valley Cemetery. Following the service is a potluck at Trona Elks. Family and friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation at T2T.org or a organization of your choice.

Jim’s family moved from Oklahoma to Trona in 1952. Jim married Ellinor Crossley from the class of 1958.  In 1998 Jim marred Sharon Sessions from the class of 1959. She passed away in 2019.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/james-hunter

Alice-Quezada-Korba-Criger.

Alice (Quezada) Korba Criger — Class of 1949

3 Replies

Julie Korba let us know that her mother Alice (Quezada) Korba Criger passed away on May 31, 2024 at 5:30. Her Facebook account is under Alice Criger.  She was 93 and Trona’s biggest Cheerleader!

The 1949 yearbook lists Alice’s achievements as  G. A. A. President, Girls League, Telescope Staff and Cheerleader ’47, ’48 and ’49, .

Alice had eight brothers; Edwardo (1913-2009), Edmundo (1916-2001) , Jesus (1919-2006), Migel (1922-2010), Fernando, Raul, Estaban (1915-2002), Art (1944-1968) and and three sisters; Evangenia (1924-2019), Estila (1926-2023) and Hortencia (1929-2007).

https://www.ridgecrestca.com/obituaries/alice-quezada-korba-taylor-criger/article_cbc36606-85a1-11ef-8fe2-27645eed5ca9.html