Lorene Claire Halstead

A service for Lorene Claire Halstead will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at Gates Community Church located at 40070 Gates School Rd. in Gates, Oregon with private placement at Fairview Cemetery. Lorene was born on March 23, 1931 in Boise, Idaho to Andrew and Velva (Watt) Coon. She was the youngest of two children, the eldest being her brother LeRoy. Her brother would be her first best friend in life. They would enjoy growing up in Idaho building tree houses, riding in go carts, rock hounding and playing sports. Lorene liked to be active, playing basketball and softball, her love of sports holding true throughout her entire life. During WWII her family moved to San Diego for 4 years and then returned back to Idaho. In 1947 Lorene would meet the love of her life through random circumstances. Her cousin was taking a road trip with his good friend Richard “Dick” Halstead from upstate New York when their car broke down in Boise. Lorene and Dick met and became pen pals, corresponding over the next year until they married on August 14, 1948. They decided to take their honeymoon in upstate New York so Lorene could meet her new extended family. During this time she would write about their adventures of a “city girl” and “farm boy” in a journal to which the family still has today. Eventually, they would move to Oregon where Dick could attend Bible College at NCU in Eugene. As a pastor, Dick was called to wherever the Lord led him and Lorene; she would help Dick with Sunday school and Bible study classes. In 1965 they moved to Nash, Oklahoma, followed by McMinnville, Oregon in 1968 and ending up in Mill City. Throughout these moves they began a family and as a mom, Lorene was dedicated. Together, she and Dick loved to get their children involved in games like Pinochle, Dominos, Aggravation or Shoot Caroms. On Sunday nights after the days church activities were done, Lorene would make a huge batch of popcorn in her roasting pan and as a family they would have Disney movie night. They also enjoyed many fishing trips and typically Lorene would out fish anyone. Later when the kids were older, Lorene decided to go back to school at Chemeketa and became a Registered Nurse. She was incredibly dedicated to her studies after going back to school later in life. After graduation, her first nursing position was at St. Benedictine. When Dick was called to be the pastor at the Nezperce Christian Church 1980, the family left their home in Mill City, Oregon and moved to Nezperce, Idaho where Lorene accepted a position as the Director of Nursing at the Grangeville Convalescent center, an assisted living facility. Lorene and Dick moved back to their home in Mill City, Oregon when they retired in 1990, and later transitioned to the Turner Retirement Home in Turner, Oregon in 2004. On October 2, 2016, Dick passed away and Lorene would stay at their home in Turner for one more year before moving to the Elmcroft in Stayton. In addition to all she did professionally and at home, Lorene held many hobbies. She was an avid reader, oil painted, made latch hook rugs and later on in life make her own greeting cards. Ever since she was a young girl she continued to love sports, watching University of Oregon and Boise State Broncos football, Portland Trail Blazers basketball, and Seattle Mariners baseball. Overall, throughout her life, Lorene just loved to travel, and be active. Whether it was walking somewhere, spending time with family or being involved in her church, Lorene embraced life and lived each day to the best she could until God called her home on May 14, 2019 in Stayton. She will always be remembered primarily for her sense of humor, and missed by everyone whose life she touched. She was preceded in death by husband, Richard “Dick” Halstead, Sr.; daughters, Sharlene Hoffmaster and Lori Ann Halstead; brother, LeRoy Coon. She is survived by her children, Marilyn Ferguson, Sherry Perdue, Richard “Rick” Halstead, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Mary Coon; her son-in-laws, Darrel Hoffmaster, Tom Ferguson; her daughter-in-law, Julie Halstead; 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Please leave online condolences at Weddle-Funeral.com