A stone memorializing former Newport residents Victor and Loretta Leichner is the most recent addition to the walking path at River Mountain Village.
The stone was purchased and installed by the Leichner’s children Myrna Driskill of Spokane Valley and Michael Leichner of Canyonville, Oregon. Driskill and her husband, Denny, oversaw the installation of the stone.
“Mom was one of the first residents at River Mountain Village,” said Driskill. “She really liked her apartment, she was quite proud of it.”
Loretta Leichner was a lifelong resident of Newport. After marrying, she and her husband, Victor, owned and operated a dry cleaning business for 30 years in downtown Newport. The couple were charter members of several civic organizations and Victor served on the city council.
“They were very civic minded and contributed so much to that town that we don’t want them forgotten,” Driskill said. “We wanted to pay tribute to them and leave a legacy, a memory.”
River Mountain Village is an assisted living center operated by Newport Hospital and Health Services. In 2009, local Boy Scouts constructed a pergola over the seating area and water fountain at the center of the park.