Glenn And Marian Salo

Glenn Wallace Salo, age 90, of Grants Pass, Oregon died July 18, 2019 under the careful watch of family after a short illness. He is greatly missed.



Glenn was born in Great Falls, Montana on December 19, 1928 to Henry Salo & Clarice Van den Heuvel. The family lived in the small town of Windham where Henry operated the local grain elevator and began raising sheep in Judith Basin County. Glenn recalled some early memories of living on Montana sheep ranches and decided to write his own obituary which follows:

On the third sheep ranch of my life is where my memory begins to focus. The "Rowe Ranch" was a 5000-acre place in the foothills of the Rockies 10 miles from Cascade - a town of about 500. It was there that the Salo kids - older sister Shirley, younger brother Gary "Cork" and I attended school. Life on a sheep ranch was a busy affair - what with lambing, shearing, trailing to the mountains in summer, trailing to the stockyards and train station in the fall to mention a few activities. As a small child, I helped with "all of the above." At age ten I joined the hay crew - learning to drive a team of horses while operating the hay stacker. Then I progressed to the dump rake and finally the horse-drawn mower. I think it was in 1942 that the Ford tractor and mower arrived at the ranch - I was ready to make the switch from draft horses to mechanical power.



In 1944 ranch labor was so scarce that Dad decided to sell the sheep and raise cattle. A lot less work than sheep ranching and a chance for my brother and I to become cowboys. For me - not so good. Turns out that I was highly allergic to cattle - so Cork would eventually takeover the ranch and I would go to college. I completed my last 2 years of high school at Great Falls - graduating in 1946. Then I enrolled as a Mechanical Engineering major at Montana State in Bozeman. During my senior year I met the love of my life- Marian Rickner - a Home Economics major. We were married the next year on October 21, 1950 in her hometown - Lewistown, Montana.

I joined the Air Force during the Korean War and trained as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Officer. I served an overseas tour at Kadena AF base on Okinawa - the location that most B-29 missions departed from. I returned home to my bride and son Kenneth in 1953 and began thinking of a career. I was offered a short-term teaching position at the University of Idaho at Moscow. We stayed at Idaho for a second year where I was able to complete a Masters degree in Agricultural Engineering. Our daughter - Laura - was born in Moscow.



Cal Poly State University at San Luis Obispo offered me a teaching position, which I accepted and so began a 35-year tenure of college teaching. My specialty field was Agricultural Structures Design. Over time I taught many other courses such as Surveying, Irrigation Systems, and Solar Energy Applications to Agriculture. I enjoyed it all - especially working with the young men and women so eager to learn new things. It was at San Luis Obispo that two more children joined the clan, a son David and a daughter Rebecca. I retired in 1990 and Marian and I moved to Grants Pass, Oregon.



After building our dream home, we began to enjoy retirement activities. River rafting was high on the list - we made many trips down the "Wild and Scenic Rogue". More time for dancing (Square, Round, and Ballroom) - an activity Marian and I enjoyed nearly all of our married life. There was RV travel throughout the Western states "checking on the kids."



Now in my eighties I have had to back off from a lot of these activities. I still keep a small apple orchard and do quite a bit of the yard work. Marian has taken over the vegetable garden - much to my relief. Yes, indeed - I have had a very good life! A loving wife and soul mate. A family of four children followed by five grandchildren and now five great-grandchildren. The Montana Cowboy Artist - Charley Russell - said it best - "Any time I cash in now I'm a Winner."



In honor of Glenn, donations may be made to Grants Pass Habitat for Humanity. Glenn was a volunteer Job Foreman and helped build the first habitat Home in Grants Pass.



Marian Rickner Salo Obituary

April 11, 1927-June 28, 2021



Early one April morning, a winter blizzard was blowing on Castle Butte. We lived on my grandfather's homestead in Central Montana. A miserable challenge for my mother as they tried to drive through the snowy roads in a 1917 Hupsmobile car. I was born on the outside hospital steps after an eight mile ride to town. My parents were Clawy Alva Rickner and Nell Furnas Rickner. I was the youngest of four children.



At age 4 1/2 years, I started first grade in a white, 1 room country schoolhouse. My oldest brother, Chester, was our leader through the wooded hills, followed by my second brother, John and sister, Roberta. The snowy trail was then nicely packed for me. Walking or riding a horse was the means of our transportation. After finishing 4th grade, we went to Lewistown City Schools. Highschool graduation was June, 1944.



My goal was a college education. I worked at many jobs. My first job was cleaning a neighbor's house for $1/day. I also collected echinacea in the mountain meadows for medicinal use. This was the beginning of my savings for a college degree. My first college experience was 2 years of study at Pasadena City College in California. With that 2 year degree I was able to teach migrant farm worker children in the Central Valley. Montana State University was my choice to earn a Home Economics degree and teaching credentials at the elementary and secondary levels.



While studying at MSU, I met my best friend and spouse, Glenn Salo, a student in Agricultural Engineering. We had many common interests including growing up on Montana ranches. We married a year later. Glenn joined the Air Force during the Korean War and served an overseas tour on Okinawa. He returned home in 1953 to finally welcome our new son, Kenneth. Glenn then accepted a teaching position at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Our daughter, Laura, was born in Moscow.



After considering our live/work options, we settled on California Polytechnic State University, also known as Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where Glenn was a professor of Agricultural Engineering for 35 years. It was a perfect choice. Our last 2 children, David and Rebecca, were born there. Our years in San Luis Obispo were spent appreciating the college and beautiful setting, enjoying the community and educating our four children.



I was a 47 year member of PEO, a philanthropic organization dedicated to education for women. I also held membership in League of Women Voters, Cal Poly Wives Club and American Association of University Women. We were active members in the Presbyterian Church for over 45 years.



In 1990, when Glenn retired, we built our home on the Rogue River near Grants Pass, OR. Over our 69 years of married life we enjoyed many favorite activities: whitewater rafting, camping in an RV with family or friends, hiking, biking, swimming, gardening and dancing.



My greatest joys in life were family and friends including 5 grandchildren: Cody and Jordan Salo, Elisa LeDesky, Cole and Dylan Daneman and 5 great grandchildren: Kendall and Kacy Salo (Cody and Jessica Salo), Ethan, Liam and Avery Salo (Jordan and Maria Salo).



Her children would like to add the following. Mother was a true homemaker from an era when women took care of their husbands and children, raised vegetables, preserved fruit, and sewed our clothes. She was a creative spirit who loved fabric, sewing fine clothes and quilts. She taught tailoring and gourmet cooking. She shared her produce from her garden with neighbors and the local mission outreach. Mother was an avid reader of non-fiction who always had excellent book suggestions.



"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8