Obituaries

William Barton

Ledbetter

1930-2007

A celebration of life is 11a.m. Friday at 1123 Winnemucca Ave., South Lake Tahoe, for William Barton Ledbetter, 77, of Zephyr Cove. Mr. Ledbetter died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at Eisenhower Hospital on Dec. 23, 2007. He lost a year-long battle with Myelodysplastic Syndromes .

Mr. Ledbetter was born May 15, 1930, at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento. He attended school in a one-room school house in Elk Grove, Calif., followed by Sacramento College. After college he joined the Army and served in the Korean War. He met his wife Beverlee Gross during summers spent in Tahoe bringing cattle up from Sacramento with his family. He married Gross on June 12, 1954, in Glenbrook.

He worked at Harvey's Casino and Hotel for his in-laws, Harvey and Llewellyn Gross, where he rose to the position of general manager.

He was instrumental in building the new tower of Harvey's as well as gaining its four-diamond rating as a luxury hotel in Lake Tahoe.

He recognized and respected how important his extended family of employees contributed to the overall businesses success. As well as the gaming industry, he and Beverlee partnered with Pat and Spec Rahbeck to start The Outdoorsman in South Lake Tahoe which operated successfully for over 25 years. He also operated an extension of the Outdoorsman, the Equinox inside of Harrah's Tahoe, a high-end boutique for men and women.

His mother, Fay Ledbetter and aunt, Alva Barton, donated the property for Barton Memorial Hospital in memory of their father. Mr. Ledbetter was a member of the Barton Board and he took the lead in many projects including the artwork that now brightens the halls of the hospital.

He loved Lake Tahoe's beautiful scenery and he was involved in many beautifying Lake Tahoe projects along Highway 50. He was active in the community in many ways and with many organizations.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and was very proud of all their accomplishments in school and work. He loved spending the winters in Palm Springs and the summer and fall in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Along with his passion for cars, he spent his days skiing, snowmobiling, traveling and landscaping.

His wife Beverlee and daughter Erica preceded him in death.

He is survived by his best friend and sister Melba Mosher, William Mosher Sr.; William Jr., Kay, and Melanie Mosher; Faye, Bob, Kathleen, and Jonathan Krull; Ouida, Herb, Jackie, and Caitlin Garms and children Jessica and Kirk Ledbetter.

His family and friends were at his bedside: Jessica, Kirk, Debbie, Kristopher and Brandianne Ledbetter; Ranee Barsanti and Theo Tsiknakis.

In lieu of flowers, family members ask that well-wishers donate blood, plant a tree in his honor or make a donation to the Mylodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, P.O. Box 353 Crosswicks, NJ 08515 Ð mds-foundation.org, where a memorial fund will be set up in his name beginning Jan. 2, 2008.

Margaret 'Jean'

Millholland

1917-2007

Margaret "Jean" Millholland died Dec. 23, 2007, in Carson City. She was 90 years old. Millholland was born in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1917.

Mrs. Millholland moved to Gardnerville in 1962, from Walnut Creek, Calif., later moving to Carson City in 1987.

She owned and operated Iron Fence Antiques in Gardnerville.

Mrs. Millholland enjoyed travel and had seen much of the world. In her 60s, she and her husband spent a year on their small sailboat making the grand loop down the Mississippi, up the Intercoastal Waterway, through the Great Lakes and back to their starting point.

Mrs. Millholland received the 1995 President's Achievement Award from the Nevada Landmarks Society for which she served as treasurer from 1990-1995. She volunteered at Robert's House, donated antiques to help furnish it, and helped with fundraising activities. She was a volunteer for Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center for many years, and she supported Friends in Service Helping.

Mrs. Millholland was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh Ernest Millholland Jr., who passed away in 1985.

She is survived by three daughters, Jeannette Kelly and husband Roger of Auburn, Ca., Robin Keith of Reno, and Rebecca Smith and her husband, Gary of Elgin, Ore. She is also survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

There will be no services per Mrs. Millholland's request. Walton's Chapel of the Valley has been entrusted with arrangements.

Sallie Maria Ruperti Springmeyer

1903-2007

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Coventry Cross Episcopal Church in Minden for Sallie Maria Ruperti Springmeyer, 104, who died Dec. 23, 2007, at the Indian Creek Ranch in the home she and her husband built nearly 70 years ago when they were first married.

Mrs. Springmeyer was born Aug. 22, 1903, in New York City, to Justus Oskar and Sarah Elizabeth Nicoll Ruperti. She devoted to her life to family, friends and community service. She was a faithful member of the Coventry Cross Episcopal Church. A pioneering woman lawyer, she brought her legal training to bear in improving Nevadans' lives in many ways, improving welfare services for children, modernizing public health through the State Board of Health and moving Nevada's mental hospitals from custodial institutions to humane and supportive environments. She also touched a great many lives by supporting them with her compassion and strengthening them with her fortitude. Her many achievements were recognized in the Distinguished Nevadan Award conferred on her in 2001.

She was preceded in death by her husband George Springmeyer in 1966. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sally and Esmail Zanjani; grandchildren Don Springmeyer, Mariah Evans and George Zanjani and great-grandchildren Parnell, Wilhelmina and Shyla Springmeyer, Claire and Sarah Kelley and Owen and Alexandra Zanjani.

A celebration of Mrs. Springmeyer's life, following the memorial service, will take place at the J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room beginning at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of Walton's Douglas County Mortuary in Minden.

Melvin F. "Buzz" Springmeyer

1919-2007

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life 11 a.m. Saturday at the CVIC Hall in Minden for Melvin F. "Buzz" Springmeyer, 88, who died Dec. 22, 2007. Mr. Springmeyer was born July 29, 1919.

For more information contact Jon Springmeyer at (775) 220-6810 or e-mail at springmeyer@charter.net.