Obituaries

BIG THUNDER

Hennessy

October 8, 2007

Submitted by Barb and Ray Slish 19 October 2007

?? – February 2003
Submitted by Sara Walton, 10 February 2003

I hate to report that Pooky, my 5 year old Doberman has passed away. It was only in January that he really showed his stuff at the 3rd Annual RSK pull. Words can't even say how much he meant to me, he was the best dog I have ever owned. If anyone saw him at the pull , they knew how much he loved me and how much he wanted to please me. He was an incredible dog, so intelligent and funny and I hope he knows even though we're sad that he's gone, hopefully he's someone's new puppy in heaven.

Sara Walton, region 11

In Memory of
Swampdog's Froggy

May 25, 1998 - January 28, 2003
Submitted by Todd Pederson, 28 January 2003

See full tribute and pictures at http://www.geocities.com/mrsswampdog/InMemoryofFroggy.html

Froggy gave his all to our Family.  He was a great housedog and would play for hours with the kids with a ball.  He spent many days lounging around and fit into our home naturally.  When it came to weight pulling you couldn’t ask for more.  His loyalty and nonstop attitude were unsurpassable in our eyes.  Anyone could take him to a pull and he would perform his best and enjoy himself.  Froggy had a wonderful stupid pet trick that I’LL NEVER FORGET.  If you asked him if he had a cold, he would shake his head yes fast.  Then his head would pull back in preparation for a big sneeze and let it rip.  It was a riot for newcomers to see and a great icebreaker for many conversations.  Froggy will be greatly missed here at Swampdog Kennels and it will never be the same with him gone.  His memory will forever be in our hearts and minds.

18 May 1989 – 03 December 2002
Submitted by Ron Bowser, 07 December 2002

I was into backpacking at that time, and with the kids growing-up; my only companion would be Sam.  He had his own pack and carried his food, water, fittings, and a ground-cloth.  My wife insisted that Sam undergo obedience training if I were to take him backpacking.  That was the best thing to happen to us and caused Sam and I to form a lifetime bond.

We went through the basic obedience course, and then joined a weekly session with dogs at various skill levels.  We continued this for nearly 3 years – every Wednesday evening Sam started getting excited as the time for the lessons approached.  I was not after degrees or certificates; but after a few years I realized he did everything required for a Companion Dog obedience certificate. (CD)

Since a CD from the American Kennel Club is not issued to mixed breeds and Sam was not papered, I had to apply for an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP).  Sam was a large Samoyed and might actually have a little Pyrenees in him.  We passed, but only after having to be viewed in person by a judge.

Sam received his CD in June 1992.  Never did go for the CDX as he wouldn’t down at a distance on a recall – always came to me before downing.  I even acquired the Sent Discrimination tools required for a Utility Dog degree and was getting him used to them.  He wouldn’t pick-up the aluminum dumbbells until he found he got a treat; then I would be working in my office and he would find the box of tools and bring one to me and expect a treat.

We started in weight pulling in January 1992.  We had attended a weight pull seminar in the late summer of 1991, but didn’t immediately become involved.  That winter I acquired a harness and decided to try.  Our first pull was a snow pull near Cicely Alaska – not really Alaska, but that is what I called it as it was near Roslyn Washington where they filmed the popular TV series “Northern Exposure”.  Sam took to that pull like a champ, and a week later we attended another pull and joined the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA).

Sam started pulling with great vigor, but it wasn’t long before he decided it was work -- and, it didn’t help that I was lax on training.  Occasionally I had him pull a chain of tires in the driveway, and my wife got us a cart I could ride for training; but it was a little heavy for one dog.  But, he was stubborn.  The weight pull cart would reach around 1000 lbs. and he would decide that was enough.  Later he became quite vocal when he was done.  But, as soon as we timed out and I stepped across the line, he would pull.  By 1996, he wouldn’t pull.  One I remember vividly was him not even tightening the rope on the empty cart and just barking until time-out.  When his class was over, we tried the winning weight.  With me up close to him, he almost pulled it the 16’.  The last pull we attempted was March 1998 and he was going on 9 years old.

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Ike

23 April 2001 to 10 June 2002

Submitted by Sherri Radle, 09 June 2002

I lost a very dear friend and companion today.  Ike was the best tempered dog I've ever had the pleasure of owning.  He was as genuinely happy as any dog could possible be.  He would have started pulling this coming season and loved to pull--he thought it was all a game.  He graduated 2nd in his obedience class at 6 mos. of age.  He was a natural and his aim was to please...and eat cookies!

Although he was only with us a short time, he will be sorely missed and never forgotten.  I will forever miss him talking to me in the morning as I took care of all the dogs and will miss him leaning on me as I stood to visit with friends.  So here's to you "IKE", the great that never got to be.....

I love you, buddy.

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Butkus

31 Mar 1994 to 09 May 2002

Printed in the May 2002 IWPA Newsletter

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Ron Overgaard

Click picture for double size

Submitted by Kent Stuart, 04 June 2002

I'm not very good with words, but I'll give this a try for Ron;

I met Ron Overgaard about four years ago. My wife and I had just lost one of our Rottweilers to bone cancer and we wanted to get a Rottie pup. We went to the Portland Bench Show where you can walk around and pet the dogs and talk to breeders. There, we started talking to both Ron and his wife Sandy. Our lives were never the same.

Sandy grilled us with questions on why we wanted a Rottweiler and what our intentions were with the pup when and IF we got one from them. Ron sat quietly and listened. We spent several days earning the privilege of owning a Pepperhaus Rottweiler. I didn't really understand what all the fuss was about at first, but I soon learned. These were not just any Rottweilers, these are Pepperhaus Rottweilers. They are only sold to those who prove to Ron and Sandy that they can handle the breed and will, more than anything, love their dog.

Well, apparently my wife and I passed muster. We were given Pepperhaus Sonic Samson. I started talking with Ron about their show dogs shortly after we got Samson. Before I knew it, I was traveling to all the dog shows and helping load and unload, and load again, and groom and on and on. But I loved every minute of it. Being around Ron was a blast. After a while, Sandy would take a few dogs to one show, and Ron and me would take the rest and go to another.

Then one fine day, Ron told me he wanted to get an American Staffordshire Terrier. I told him he must be nuts and asked why. Ron said he wanted to start weight pulling again. See, during our dog show travels, I had heard ALL the stories about Big Mac and all the records he set and how much fun weight pulling with the dogs was. And so soon, here came Roxie the Am. Staff. She was extremely cute and everyone fell in love with her right away. Especially Ron. Roxy was Ron's baby.

About six months later, I was once again given the privilege (and I'm not joking when I say that), of becoming the owner of Pepperhaus Turn of the Century, ("T"). "T" was a show quality Rottweiler and I was very excited to finally have a dog that could be shown in conformation.

I know this is a long story, but I really am getting to a point. About a year later, Ron and me were at the Puyallup Dog show when Ron informs me that he has entered Roxy in a weight pull, a snow pull to be exact. Then he further informs me that following the Saturday dog show, we will be traveling to Leavenworth, Washington to pull Roxy, (that's about a three to four hour drive). He continued on to say that we would then be leaving directly after Roxy was done pulling and drive back to Puyallup, WA. for the dog show on Sunday morning. That meant we'd be in Leavenworth for about a half an hour, turn around and drive back to Puyallup. And we did. Eight hours of driving for a half hours worth of weight pulling. I thought he was nuts. I didn't know at the time that he did it because not only did Ron love to weight pull, he loved being with weight pull people and dog show people and he loved being with his dogs.

Ron suggested I start going to the weight pulls with him as he planned on starting to pull Roxy all the time. I asked if he was going to start next season because the current season was already half way over. Ron said, "No, we're going to Yakima so we better start training!" This time, I knew I was dealing with a lunatic. Once again, I didn't know I was dealing with Ron Overgaard.

So we started training and training and training and training. Every single day training. We trained our dogs for two months every day and then went to Yakima. Samson got third place and Roxy won her class. We also had an English Mastiff named Moses. Ron wanted a heavy dog to pull so he co-owned Moses and started training him too. I was thinking we were getting too many dogs to pull. I was wrong.

So now that I was all excited about weight pulling too, after Samson's third place at Yakima, we just never stopped training and traveling to weight pulls. That was about three years ago.

Ron came back to weight pulling and the weight pulling community welcomed him back. I hung on Ron's coat tails and enjoyed seeing the world of weight pulling being brought to a higher level because of him. Ron loved all of his dogs very much and trained them that way. In doing so, those dogs would give everything they had for him. Ron also trained me and I know Ron would have done anything for me. I would have done anything for Ron.

I will miss Ron for the rest of my life, I know others will too.

I know that Sandy would not want me to end without thanking the dog world in general and especially the weight pullers for their wonderful words of support. We all appreciate them more than you all could know.

(Ed.) An article about the accident follows

POLICE: COLLISION BETWEEN PICKUPS LEAVES 42-YEAR-OLD CAMAS MAN DEAD

Friday, May 31, 2002 By JOHN BRANTON, Columbian staff writer

A 42-year-old man was killed on Thursday in a two-vehicle collision at Northeast 199th Street and Delfel Road, north of the Clark County Fairgrounds. Ronald L. Overgaard of Camas was pronounced dead at the scene, said sheriff's Sgt. Craig Randall.  The other driver, Norman W. Raymond, 61, of Portland, was not injured.  Randall said Overgaard was driving a 1987 Toyota pickup west about noon,  approaching the intersection with the right of way. Raymond, driving a 1994  Ford F-250 pickup north, reportedly stopped at the stop sign, saw noone coming and moved into the intersection.  The pickups barely collided, but it was enough to cause Overgaard to lose control.  The Toyota rolled over and Overgaard, who wore no seat belt, was ejected from the truck.  No citation was issued immediately, but the crash remained under investigation by the sheriff's Traffic Homicide Unit.

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Joe Cool

Submitted by Barbara Slish, 10 May 2002

Joe Cool -- passed on 27 April 2002

Joe Kool a great saint. Owned by Barbara Slish.
On April 26th Joey and I spent a fun day having lunch with a friend and her 2 saints. On the way home our car was rear ended by 2 cars and shoved us into another car. I was able to get away with bumps and bruises but Joe took a bad hit to the head. The vet stayed open till I got there and had me take him home and watch him. Ray and I stayed with him all night as he could not get up by himself and when we did help him up he could only go a short distance before falling over. By morning we made the hard choice not to put this proud dog thru any more pain and had him put down. Joe Kool was the number 3 saint in weight pulling all time in the national saint club. But he was more than just a puller. He earned his CH. in the conformation ring in 5 months. Also a CGC.a CD and Draft Dog titles. A really special dog. We looked forward every year to the Leavenworth, WA pull with the town set to a Swiss style so we could put his keg around his neck and watch all the tourist taking pictures of him. Joey was loved by all and we will miss him dearly.

Barbara Slish.

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Fly

Submitted by Donna Libbey, 09 January 2002

Fly 10-6-96 to 12-25-01

Fly came into my life when it was taking yet another upheaval.  We were packing to move and Nellie, my 7 year old purebred Border collie was pregnant to my registered Male Oscar for her last litter I had vowed.  She decided to deliver on moving day of course.  Fly was the 7^th pup and for once Nellie had more than one female in a litter.  No, 2 this time and when it came time to sell the litter I couldn’t part with them.  Fly got her name because of her attitude.  Like a fly on manure pile was the way this pup acted, constantly wanting attention while her sister is very stand-offish.  We joked often about how the sisters would double team another dog, cat or anything that they wanted to herd. 

A year after the move, my friend Shirley Webber talked me into training Fly to pull as I had done with my Aussie Bull Dozer.  That year and every year after Fly qualified for the Nationals either as a Bronze or Silver medal regional winner only in the year that we went to Washington State did I take her because she was always the crowd pleasing clown.  Fly use to love to ride around on my shoulders and would jump and climb up my front and if I wouldn’t let her, she won’t pull.  She was a little dog with unending energy and more than once she’d make a pull when I thought she was all done, she was a little dog with a heart and soul as big as a mountain.  On Christmas day I put her out and when I came back she was hurt but still alive, Shirley came to help and rushed us to the vet.  Fly died in my arms but as someone has since said God wanted a special dog for his son and since my son Patrick is there and it was his birthday too I think they just wanted s little dog that got her name and sure lived up to it.  

About a week later, Donna lost her bull dog, Spooky, to liver cancer

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Kodi-Bear

Submitted by John Berntsen, 12 October 2000

Kodi-Bear

1986-2000

A litter of 10 male Malamutes was born September 26th, 1986 under the burned out shell of a home in Rochester, WA that was once the home of my son and daughter-inlaw. They, fortunately, were at work at the time but lost everything and moved into another house next door owned by Briarwood Farms, their employer. They had bought a female purebred Mal ("Baby") in Olympia two years earlier for a watchdog :-)...yeah right. Their neighbor had a beautiful 130 lb. male "Yukon" who was born in Alaska and after a series of foster homes, ended up in Rochester..........well you guessed it, lust at first sight and I received a phone call from my excited daughter in law that morning announcing the birth. My grandson, flash light in hand, had crawled under the house and and passed the pups out one at a time.........all black & white except the last......BROWN???, thoughts of a retriever in the wood pile flooded our minds. I asked her how many males and females, with the air of a professional breeder, she informed me it was too early to tell, they all looked alike ;-)

 Well seven weeks later they sold all the pups in a week and got a whopping $75.00 each. They were rich. As luck would have it my daughter and son in law bought the "brown one".......the novelty wore off for them and Maria and I thought our white lab "Tyrone" needed a playmate........a move which would change and enrich our lives for many years. Well Kodi and Tyrone hit it off real well and were best buds forever. About this time we decided we would get rich too. I bought a 6 year old intact female "Lady Nakia Malichi" from a guy in Lacey and you guessed it lust at first sight. Around the same time I opened the Sunday paper and saw "Misty" and Bill Lumbattis pulling on a weight pull in Lacy WA..........little did I know.

 Well Kodi's first year of pulling was less than spectacular, 300lbs was the top weight he pulled, but hey, he pulled it sideways. He was really spooked at first, traffic, lots a people, dogs and noise was overwhelming to this farm dog. He mellowed out in a few years to become a laid back journeyman. He finally won a Gold on wheels in 1991-92 season and was the top pointed (along with Suzy Malcom's 80 lb.class winner Pepper?) dog in all weight classes and regions. As luck would have it we had switched to regional medals that year so he only received the gold for region 2. Ah yes......timing is everything, huh Suzy? His last pull was my favorite, it was local, he was around 8 or nine years an we just went for a lark, there were 5 dogs in the 100 lb. class. He came in third, beaten by 2 of his great grandchildren......a fitting finish.

 Well the vet came to the house last night with his needle, Kodi wanted me to say good-bye to you all Moose, Jobe, Conan, Apple Jack, Glacier, Luke, Zarkov, Baloo, Zahari, Star, Max, Anorak, O'rion, Tahoe and any other hall of famers I may have forgotten.........it's getting light now and I have a hole to dig.

John & Kodi-bear

PS I have a litter of week olds in the house....2 greys, 5 black and white, and you guessed it.....one "brown".

John Berntsen organized an annual pull in Olympia, WA in the early 90's.  He was last active in IWPA the 97/98 season handling Boomer.  We are sorry for his loss.

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