News

Former Madera Attorney & Mendocino County Chief Public Defender Linda Thompson Passes at 59

UKIAH - The Mendocino County Sheriff's Department has lowered their flags to half-mast at their main building to honor former Madera attorney and Mendocino County Chief Public Defender Linda A. Thompson who passed away later last week after a year-long battle with cancer. Linda was born on September 14, 1959, and passed away on June 13, 2019.

She was born and raised in La Crescenta, in between Burbank and Pasadena, until such time she graduated high school in 1977 and went off to college at Arizona State University. She graduated ASU in 1981 and went to Law School at the University of San Francisco in 1981. In July of 1985, she started in criminal public defense in Madera, California, eventually becoming one of their contract defenders for six years and contracting out in Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties.

The Face of Cancer Founder Dies: Holly Carter (50)

Holly Carter (50) was a beautiful, thoughtful and dedicated daughter, sister, mother and friend. She experienced great empathy for others, which allowed her to establish deep meaningful relationships and interact in a very touching and unique way.

In raising her four children, she was a courageous protector, taught profound devotion and exemplified perseverance. She considered her children, Tess, Christian, Hannah and Hope her greatest achievements. Upon being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2009, she found new meaning in the name of her youngest daughter, Hope, who was only three at that time.

Norma Claire Jantzen (81)

Norma Claire Jantzen (81) passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in Madera at the age of 81. Norma was a lifelong resident of Madera. She was born to Warren and Kathryn Younger on July 13, 1937. Norma attended local schools. She graduated from Fresno State and was a teacher at Madera and Furman High Schools. Norma was a member of the Madera Avenue Bible Church.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother Gilbert “Bud” Younger. She is survived by her husband of 62 years Bill Jantzen, her sons Greg Jantzen and his wife Jane of Dinuba, Chris Jantzen and his wife Traci of Texas, her daughter Tracy Jantzen of Madera, two sisters Mavis Sheridan of Ventura and Louise Joses of San Andreas. Norma also leaves behind five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Fred Gleason (82)

Fred Gleason (82), of Stevinson formerly of Madera, passed away suddenly as a result of an automobile accident on March 2, 2019. Fred was born on January 3, 1937 to Alice and Jim Gleason in Fresno, Ca. He attended Heaton School. At the age of 9 years old the family moved to Taft, Ca.

When Fred was in high school, they moved to Santa Maria, California, where Fred graduated from Santa Maria High School. In 1956, the family moved to Madera, Ca where he met Barbara Sordi. They were married in 1958. From this union they had two children, Julie and Curt. Fred graduated from Fresno State with a B.S. in Agriculture in 1960.

Ret. Major William Dario “Bill” Jones Passes at Age 82

MADERA - William Dario “Bill” Jones fell asleep in Christ on February 11, 2019 Fresno, CA. He was born in Ft. Huachuca, AZ on December 19, 1936 to William McKinley Jones and Juanita Rubio, and baptized in Christ on April 3, 1937.

Bill enlisted in the US Navy in 1954 until an honorable discharge in 1961. He then proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. During his service he flew over 684 Combat Missions and earned: numerous medals, awards, citations and commendations. Thank you for your service.

Rose Marie Austin (84)

Rose Marie Austin (84) passed away Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in Mariposa, CA. Born on her grandmother’s ranch in Livingston, she was a 5th generation Central California resident, and a, 57 year Madera County resident. Graduating from Merced High School in 1953, RoseMarie began her 45, year career as a legal secretary with W. Treadwell, Esq. in Merced and assisted Judge Corcoran of Mariposa with the 1954 Courthouse Centennial.

She worked for Judge D. Scott of Firebaugh, J. Telles, Esq. of Dos Palos, and retired after over 30 years as private secretary to Thomas Caswell of Caswell, Bell and Sullivan, Fresno. She was co-founder/owner and financial officer of Ag and Industrial Supply and Firebaugh Ag Supply. RoseMarie was a member of Madera American Legion Post 11, Tin Can Sailors and USS Saint Paul Association. She was proud of her Azorean and California pioneer heritage and enjoyed camping, square dancing, sewing and reading.

Monsignor Walter Minhoto (80)

Monsignor Walter F. Minhoto completed his earthly mission on earth on February 18, 2019, after faithfully serving nearly 55 years as a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Fresno. Walter Francis Minhoto was born September 5, 1938 in Watsonville, California. He was the only son of the late Frank Minhoto and Mary Fontes. His early years were spent in San Juan Bautista where he attended Olympia Elementary School.

After graduating from Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California, he began his seminary studies at St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California. He completed his seminary formation at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fresno on April 30, 1964. He would later go on to do post-graduate studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.