Esther Deffenbacher

Esther Deffenbacher Esther Lydia Stolsig Deffenbacher passed away peacefully July 23 at the age of 95. Fiercely independent until earlier this year, Esther’s memory will be kept alive by the family and friends who loved and treasured her. Esther was born May 10, 1920 in Ipswich, South Dakota to parents Jens and Sena Stolsig, immigrants from Denmark. The youngest of 11 children, Esther moved to Coburg with her family at the age of 2 where they remained for her entire childhood. Esther attended Coburg Grade School and graduated from Coburg High School as valedictorian while living on the family’s dairy where the children tended the cows and delivered the milk before school each day. In her spare time, Esther, a gifted singer and musician, joined two of her sisters to form the Stolsig Sisters, a group that performed at fairs, churches, camps, retreats and lodges into adulthood. It was during her high school years she met and married the love of her life, Fred Deffenbacher, a fellow Coburg High School classmate who was four years her senior. The two wed in December 1939 and welcomed their first son David in 1941. Their first purchase as a married couple was a piano, as both Fred and Esther loved music. During World War II, the couple moved to Wyoming and Portland while Fred served in the Army Air Corps, before they eventually returned to Coburg. In 1945, they welcomed their second son, Mark. A third son, Paul, joined the family in 1955. In the 1970s, the family moved to Eugene. They also both were very active volunteers. Esther was the PTA president and involved in statewide PTA activities. She was a lifelong member of the Friendly Street Church of God in Eugene and was on the church advisory council up until her death. She served in the church as a youth leader and board member and participated in the music program throughout her life. When Fred retired, the two volunteered one year to the Warner Pacific College in Portland where their middle son Mark was Dean of Students. The two served as resident advisors of a dormitory and worked with students and on campus grounds. They also made several trips to Mexico as volunteers, building houses and teaching bible study together. Esther was an accomplished seamstress, cook and artist, who also enjoyed traveling. Esther began driving at the age of 15 and drove her car while living on her own until the age of 94, without a ticket. Esther had a strong lifelong faith in God. She loved her family and was so proud of her children and grandchildren, who all will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by husband Fred and oldest son David. She is survived by sons Mark Deffenbacher, of Fresno, Calif., and Paul Deffenbacher, of Junction City; grandchildren Lydia Billman, of Spokane, Wash., Sara Isherwood, of Des Moines, Wash., Jon Deffenbacher of Puyallup, Wash., Brent Deffenbacher, of Fresno, Calif., Kristin Deffenbacher, of Fresno, Calif., Andrew Deffenbacher, of Eugene, and Evan Deffenbacher, of Eugene; and five great grandchildren. A memorial service has been planned for August 29 at 12 noon at the Friendly Street Church of God, located on W. 23rd Ave. and Friendly Street in Eugene.