Dane R. Bond

Dane R. Bond was born on November 27, 1960, in Worland, Wyoming, to Walter and Nancy (Robinson) Bond. He grew up alongside his siblings, Howard, Dennis, and Denise, spending his early years in Tensleep, Kemmerer, Cheyenne, and Casper, Wyoming. In 1979, he moved to Mill City, Oregon, where he met his high school sweetheart, Darlene Pennington, at Santiam High School. The two were married on July 12, 1980, in Lyons, Oregon, and together they built a life filled with love, hard work, and devotion to family.

Dane dedicated over 40 years to the plywood industry, beginning his career with Young and Morgan, which was later acquired by Freres. He worked at Plant 3, learning all aspects of the trade, and in 2016, he earned his certification from Northwest Trucking Academy. He briefly stepped away from Freres to embark on a two-year journey with May Trucking before returning to take part in the groundbreaking of Mass Plywood Panel (MPP) at Plant 6. Dane took great pride in learning and teaching others about the new machinery. He continued his work at Freres until his early retirement in October 2024 due to health concerns.

Beyond his career, Dane was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and Darlene shared a love for music, attending countless classic rock concerts, including performances by Train, Journey, Styx, and his all-time favorite band, Rush. He was also an avid sprint car racing fan, frequently attending events at Willamette Speedway, where he and Darlene made many lifelong friends. An enthusiastic reader, Dane enjoyed the works of Stephen King and was a passionate collector of Jack Daniel’s memorabilia.

One of Dane’s greatest joys was spending time with family. Every year, he and Darlene traveled to Wyoming, where he cherished visits with loved ones and took in the beauty of the Grand Tetons, one of his favorite places. Dane was known for his outgoing and compassionate nature, always putting family first and living by a strong set of values.

Dane passed away on March 13, 2025. He was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Robinson Bond, and his baby brother, Anthony Bond.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Darlene Bond; his father, Walter (Peggy) Bond; his children, Jamie (Kenneth) Bates and Anthony (Cherry) Bond; his grandchildren, Rachel Bates, Galatia Bates, Corinthia Bates, Grace Bond, Isaac Bond, Adalyn Bond, and Amelia Bond; his brothers, Howard (Nancy) Bond and Dennis Bond; and his sister, Denise (Daniel) St. John.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in both Oregon and Wyoming. Donations can be made in his name to Shriner's Children's Hospital, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239.