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ERHARDT BUCHFINCK Erhardt Buchfinck, 80, Baker City, Ore., died March 16, 1997, at his home. His funeral was held March 21 at First Lutheran Church, with Rev. Dennis Hickman officiating. Vault interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Buchfinck was born June 2, 1916, at Krem, where his parents, Gustav and Wilhelmina Buchfinck, had settled. Mr. Buchfinck attended schools in Stanton and Beulah, the United Diesel Engineering School in Minneapolis, Minn., and later took drafting classes at Oregon City Vocational School in Clackamas. In his youth he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps program that developed Roosevelt National Park at Medora. He worked in coal mines in the Dakota country until an injury occurred, later preventing him from serving in the armed services. He moved to Oregon in 1940, working on a ranch until the Oregon Shipyard was opened. He later transferred to Gunderson Bros. where he was a welder under the Boilermakers Union as a welder, material expediter, and shop steward. He pioneered the privately owned, cooperatively owned shipyard bus system that became the backbone of the shipyard transportation system during that period. On Nov. 27, 1942, he married Virginia Simpson at Zion Lutheran Church in Oregon City. They lived in Portland area until they bought the Oregon Trail Cabins in Baker City, in 1949. The property was developed into a modern trailer park and the present day Oregon Trail Motel and Restaurant were built. The final units housed the production crew of the “Paint Your Wagon” movie. He and his wife were partners with Portland interests in the Sunridge Inn complex. Mr. Buchfinck was a member and past president of the Oregon Motor Hotel Association. He served two terms on the city council and several terms on the civil service commission. He was an active member of the chamber of commerce and served on its board. He was avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying hunting, fishing, and boating. Mr. Buchfinck was an active member of First Lutheran Church, serving in many capacities. He will be remembered for his positive attitude and his unique ability to find solutions to problems in whatever area he was involved that seemed otherwise unsolvable. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; daughters, Kathryn Sandstrom and Sherril Miller and her husband, Paul; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his sister and her husband, Erman and Ted Voegele; his brother and his wife, Ted and Alma Buchfinck; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandchild, two sisters and a brother. ~Source: The Hazen Star, Thursday, April 3, 1997
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