A Tri-Cities church’s popular ranch was caught in the flood and a family of 6 needed rescuing

The family that runs a historic ranch owned by a Tri-Cities church watched as the rising waters of the Umatilla River flooded, taking out the ranch’s bridge and submerging the log inn.

Mike and Michelle Stempson and their four kids where among the 54 people rescued and flown to safety by Oregon Army National Guard helicopters 10 days ago.

They had repeatedly offered to take their neighbor Janet Tobkin Conley into their home on the Bar M Ranch as the waters rose. But tragically, the 62-year-old was swept away and killed in the Blue Mountain floods.

Now, Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities in Kennewick has begun the work of cleaning up the 633-acre ranch south of Walla Walla and east of Pendleton.

On Monday, with the road partially repaired, Michelle Stempson and the children were headed back to stay at the ranch, where Mike Stempson had already returned.

Over the weekend the first large group of volunteers was able to drive in to start helping.

Since Calvary Chapel bought the property in 2011, it has become a popular site for retreats and gatherings by church groups of many denominations from the Tri-Cities and elsewhere.

It also is used for family reunions, weddings, outdoor training classes and business conferences.

“A lot of people know and love the ranch,” Michelle Stempson said.

The church was unable to buy flood insurance for the property on the Umatilla River and also is losing money as bookings have to be canceled during cleanup.

It has started a donation fund to help pay for repairs and also is seeking volunteers to help.

Umatilla River floods neighbors

Michelle Stempson said on the day and night of Feb. 4, the ranch got almost two feet of fresh snow, and then Feb. 5 the precipitation turned to rain.

Early on Feb. 6, they were woken up by the owner of a nearby cabin close to the Umatilla River. About 12 to 15 cabins are near the property, most of them used only seasonally.

The cabin owner said there was water on his porch and he needed help.

The Stempsons picked up him and his wife about 7:30 a.m. on an ATV and took them to their mobile home at the ranch, which sits on a high point about 200 yards from the river.

They stopped at Conley’s house, which was a little farther from the river, and offered to take her with them, but she said she was going to walk around the area and would let the Stempsons know if she needed help.

Through the day as the water crept closer to her cabin, the Stempsons traveled up her road about six times, checking on her. But she said she would be fine in her house and wanted to remain there, said Michelle Stempson.

The Stempsons spent most of the day watching from their home as the river raged and grew higher.

They were high enough to feel safe. And though they lost power and electricity, they had a generator and a fireplace to keep warm.

About soon debris and rushing water took out the ranch’s suspension bridge across the Umatilla River.

Finally, on Feb. 7 the water started to recede.

They saw a Chinook helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard fly over, checking on them and the nearby cabins.

Then it started to snow.

The same Chinook helicopter landed at the ranch about 1:30 p.m. and they were given 15 minutes to pack their bags before they were flown to Pendleton.

Days later the Stempson kids, ages 8 to 15, were still talking about their “cool helicopter ride.” It didn’t hurt that in the rush to leave, no school books were packed.

Bar M Ranch a stagecoach stop

The Stempsons were brought to the Tri-Cities to stay.

The next morning, the body of their neighbor was found on the Bar M Ranch. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office said she appeared to have been swept away by the flood waters.

The road to the Bar M Ranch has been washed out, but Mike Stempson and church pastors were able to return for the first time last week.

Flood waters carved muddy trenches across the property and, as they already knew, the suspension bridge was gone.

Water had flooded into the inn, they call the Ranch House, which is the center of ranch activities. Among repairs needed are restoring its hardwood floors.

The three-story building was built in 1864 of hand-hewn logs as a stagecoach stop from the Califonia Stage Co. along the historic Thomas-Ruckel Road, according to information from Calvary Chapel.

The road was the mail route from Boise to Walla Walla.

But most of the buildings on the ranch, including some small cabins, a bunk house and a 1950s barn used for church worship services and large gatherings were not damaged.

The Stempsons are hoping to start booking events again sometime in March.

To donate to help with repairs or to volunteer, go to barmranch.com.

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 12:58 PM.