Aaron Ingalls

Aaron Ingalls was born on September 10, 1933 in Minnesota. He was the fourth out of eleven children to parents Ethel and Eri Ingalls. Aaron, 92, died on October 27, 2025 in Forest Grove, Oregon.  A private family interment will be held at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.  Aaron’s celebration of Life Pancake breakfast will be held November 15, 2025 ~ 1:00 pm, at the Halfway Lions Club, 235 Lions Street, Halfway, Or 97834. Because Aaron's favorite time of day was after any meal “dessert time” if you’d like to bring your favorite dessert to share, you are welcome to.

When Aaron was a newborn he developed pneumonia; his grandparents John and Julia Randall came to visit the new baby but they saw how sick he was and ended up taking him home, put him in an egg incubator and nursed him back to health. He lived with them until he turned five when his parents said he was old enough to start working on the farm; his job was milking the cows. Later in his childhood one of his uncles took Aaron to the Minnesota state fair and entered him in the milking competition, Aaron took first place in every age group. In the early 1940’s the Ingalls family moved west to Oregon; finally settling in John Day.

As a teen, in the summer Aaron would work at the Wildland Firefighter camps in the remote wilderness, cleaning the dishes. During those summers he developed a love for the wilderness and cutting down trees. Aaron was a logger in the 1950s and 60s, he was one of the best guys on the crew and when there was a tough tree to fall they would call him. He could fall a tree between two houses and hit a can of Pepsi dead center.

Aaron met his wife of 65 years Ann in November 1959. After just 3 weeks he proposed and after some thought and talking with her mother, Ann said yes. They were married in Halfway, Oregon on May 14th 1960.

Aaron and Ann moved to Portland, Oregon in 1961, buying their first house for just $13,000. While in Portland, Aaron worked for Jantzen Swimwear as a sewing machine mechanic. His boss once asked him why he was never busy, Aaron replied “I always fix it right the first time.” and as he would put it he had 500 girls to look after. Because his machines were always up and running, the girls in his department had him judge weekly dessert competitions. Aaron said he gained a lot of weight working at Jantzen but he never declared a winner because he wanted the desserts to keep coming his way. Aaron and Ann finally moved back to Halfway in 1969 and bought their beloved ranch in 1974.

Aaron never officially retired from logging but when he was in his 40s he said logging was a young man's game and he started working for Morrison-Knudsen at the Brownlee Dam. While working there, he conspired with his boss, Frank. They were working 7/12s and they needed a vacation for the 4th of July, so Aaron started a rumor that a sturgeon had swam into the holding tank and they had to shut down the entire job site. Aaron and Frank got to spend the 4th of July camping and riding horses with their families, together. It took four days for the holding tanks to be drained and searched, no sturgeon was found. Aaron had a love of the outdoors. He loved to camp, hunt, fish and trail ride on his beloved horse Foxy.

In 1984, Aaron was working at the Grand Coulee Dam when a work injury occurred and he was forced into retirement. He spent his later years on the ranch, taking care of his horses, eating Snickers every single day with his favorite dog Nick (the dog would get his very own Snickers bar) and making breakfast for anyone that stayed at the ranch. No one could make pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns, and eggs quite like he could.

 Aaron was a member of Blue Mountain Lodge #34 A.F.A.M, Esther Chapter #11 OES both in Baker City, Oregon and Past Rainbow dad for Laurel Assembly #43 IORG in Canby, Oregon.

Aaron was preceded in death by his parents, Eri Richard Ingalls and Ethel Josephine Randall. And by his siblings, Rachel "Dade" Purdy Pierce, Richard "Dick" Roy Ingalls, Grace Ruby Dellett, Ethel "Beanie" Irene Hobgood, Ione Ilet Hovde, Jeannette "Peakie" Julia Randall, Eri "Knute" Roland Ingalls, Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Browning, Alice Kay Smith, and Rose Marie Davidson.

Aaron is survived by his wife Ann, Children, Robert “Bob” (Ruth Ann), Sharron (Bruce), Craig, and Teresa. He also has many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

     For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Aaron, may do so to the Pine Haven Cemetery Beautification Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com