Rock Springs Miner, Jul 30, 1950
WALTER (IKE) OJA
Funeral services for Walter (Ike) Oja, 44, were held at the Wildermuth mortuary chapel Saturday. The Rev. Fred K. Swett of the Congregational church conducted the rites and burial was in Mountain View cemetery. Mr. Oja died suddenly Wednesday while at his work at the Harry Swanson Men's store. He had been a victim of a heart ailment for several years but had been in apparent good health for weeks.
Walter Oja was born in Rock Springs Nov. 3, 1905, a son of Abel and Mary Oja, who resided in Superior at that time. He lived in Superior and attended school there until shortly after the end of World war I when the family moved into Rock Springs, which had since been his home with exception of two years, 1945 and 194, when he lived in Portland because he had been advised to live in a lower altitude.
He was a talented musician, playing both the clarinet and saxophone. For many years he was a member of Rialto theater's orchestra prior to installation of the theater's talking and sound systems in the 1930s. Later he organized Ike's orchestra which was popular in musical and dance circles for years and at the same time worked for the late Thomas Berta, manager of the Rialto, in several capacities, including that of doorman. Since his return to Rock Springs from Portland he had worked at intervals at Keith's store for men and at the Swanson store where he had been employed permanently since July 1.
Mr. Oja is survived by his wife, Dorothy Moore Oja, whom he married here on Jan. 20, 1939; two brothers, Arne Oja of Rock Springs and Eino Oja of Rawlins; a nephew and niece, John Arne and Doria Oja of Rock Springs; and aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Rasanen of Aberdeen, Wash., and several cousins.
Six men who had been associated with him in Ike's orchestra served as pallbearers. They were Leno Ceretto, Lawrence Constantino, John Kovach, Donald Mills, Steve Orester and John Santich.
John Davis sang "The Lord's Prayer" and Mrs. Alfred Jackson Jr. sang "Beyond the Sunset," accompanied by Mrs. S.M. Boucher, at the funeral services.
