Oliver Dell Strampher

Oliver D. Strampher went home to be with the Lord on March 16, 2011. He was born on November 6, 1931, in Keldron, SD to Hayes Oliver Strampher and Bessie May (Warfield) Strampher. Upon graduating from Lemmon High School in 1950, Oliver enlisted in the United States Air Force on his 19th birthday and became a Flying Crew Chief, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Oliver served his country for four years and seven months, completing summer and winter survival training and receiving his flight badge and two medals. During his time in the Air Force, he was able to fly to many of the countries in Europe and Greenland. After his honorable discharge, Oliver rejoined his family at Walla Walla, WA, where he studied at Whitman College and then Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. After college, Oliver met the love of his life, Marlene Johnson, and they were married on June 14, 1959. Oliver and Marlene enjoyed a wonderful 51 years and nine months together. In the early years of their marriage, Oliver worked as a Line Foreman for Birdseye Corporation and Manager of Pacific Finance Company in Hermiston, OR. In 1968, Oliver found his true calling and joined Sears as a Service Technician. In 1974, Oliver was transferred to East Wenatchee, where he worked until his retirement, traveling the entire North Central Washington region to work on customers' appliances in their home. In 2003, Oliver and Marlene moved to Yuma, AZ to enjoy the weather, friends and activities the area has to offer. Oliver always enjoyed outdoor activities with Marlene and his sons, gathering firewood for the family home, Elk hunting, waterskiing on the Columbia River, and fishing at the family recreational property at Clear Lake near Cheney, WA. Upon moving to Yuma, Oliver made many good friends very easily and began playing billiards as a pastime, at which he became quite accomplished. Oliver is survived by his wife, Marlene, at home; his two sons and their families, Larry Strampher of Wenatchee, WA and Todd and Jane Strampher of Cashmere, WA; his grandchildren, Ian Strampher of Rock Island, WA and Kayla Cramer of Seattle, WA; two great-grandsons, Axle Strampher and Ayden Strampher; and two sisters, Velma Zent of Clarks Grove, MN and Bonnie Sams of Kennewick, WA. He was preceded in death by his father; mother; three brothers; two sisters; and a daughter, Ellen Gay, who only lived for eight days following her birth. Oliver was well loved by everyone who has ever come to know him, for his outgoing personality, kind regard for others, his honesty in all his endeavors and associations, and his willingness to help others anytime he was able. Most of all, Oliver was known for his smile, which he kept even under the worst of circumstances, during the many months of treatment for his illness, even in the last moments of his life. He would like to thank Dr. Garrison and the Oncology Department at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and Dr. Bart Scott at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, who made it possible for him to spend the last 16 months of his life with his family in relative health, under the best care anyone could possibly receive. Viewing will be Monday, March 21, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Telford's Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee. Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Telford's Chapel of the Valley. Entombment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, 1301 10th Street NE, East Wenatchee, WA. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, 711 Grant Road, East Wenatchee WA.

Oliver Dell Strampher

November 6, 1931 - March 16, 2011