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Archiver > ORDESCHU > 2004-03 > 1078768779


From: Nan Ramsey <>
Subject: [ORDESCHU-L] New to list & Interest in a fatal shooting
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 09:59:39 -0800 (PST)


Good Morning Listers,

I am new to your list and I'm wondering if some kind soul maybe
willing to look up something in the library for me on their next
visit.

I have just recently learned that one of my father's first
cousins died in Oregon. Her husband died in Deschutes County.
The surname of this couple was BALZHISER.

I wrote to some BALZHISER people who came up in a directory
search on the Internet. One lady replied and informed me that
my father's cousin, Jennie Bonita Balzhiser nee Watkins, known
as Bonnie, had shot and killed her husband Robert Balzhiser in
Bend, OR. on June 20, 1956.

Well, this has made me more than a little bit curious. I would
assume that there would have been something in the local
newspaper about this incident. I would love to be able to go
into a library and research this myself, but unfortunately, I
live on the east coast in Maryland.

I would be interested in knowing anything about this case that
was published. I was told by the woman who contacted me that
Bonnie did not go to jail and that it was considered self
defense. I do not know if she was tried or never even charged
because of lack of evidence.

I do know that Bonnie had previously been living in Seattle, WA
and working for the SSA then known as U.S. Federal Security
Agency Bureau of Old Age & Survivors Insurance. She is last
listed in the 1948-49 Directory.

Robert Balzhiser was also living in Seattle and working for the
IRS. He was Married to a woman named Ardys. As late as 1951,
the Seattle directory listed him and Ardys as being at the same
address. Bonnie appears to have left Seattle before 1950. I do
not know when she arrived in Oregon. After 1951, Robert,
called Bobby, also disappeared from the Seattle directory. The
next thing that I found is his death on Jun. 20th of 1956.
Bonnie died in Multnomah, OR Jan. 3, 1989. I am curious about
when Bonnie, who would have been Watkins at that time, arrived
in Deschutes County. Also, when did Robert Balzhiser arrive.
Are there any old directories in the local library that may
answer these two questions?

I was told that Bonnie broke up Robert's marriage to Ardys, so I
am curious if she left Seattle and Robert and he later followed
her to Oregon. Needless to say, the woman that I spoke to felt
that the whole affair was Bonnie's fault. But I would like to
know what the press reported at the time.

Is there anyone on this list who would be willing to take a look
at the library and see what if anything can be found?

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Most sincerely,

Nan Ramsey

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