Aliene Beverly Oesterblad

She grew up in Guide Rock Nebraska alongside her siblings, two brothers and two sisters, helping her parents run their family restaurant. While a teenager she created quite a stir and started a trend at her school and in town by wearing the first pair of floral print pants for women.

She experienced the Dust Bowls in the Midwest. Recalling how they would roll into town like a storm causing a blackout during the day and leaving a huge mess to clean up at the restaurant.

Aliene married Karl H. Oesterblad on May 9th, 1934. They had three children Karlene, Denny (Dan) and Linda. Over the years her family lived in California, Kansas and Oregon where they built two of their homes from the ground up, never taking on a mortgage by doing the work themselves and paying as they built. When they built their house in Aloha, OR each day while Karl was at work Aliene dug out the basement and carried the dirt out one wheelbarrow full at a time while also raising their children. She mixed the cement for the foundation in that wheelbarrow and worked side by side with Karl doing whatever was needed. Both the homes they built still stand today.

Aliene was a hard working and compassionate woman who treated everyone with kindness and respect. Aliene was a woman who loved and cared for others beyond her immediate family; she lived by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Family was especially important to her. She took in one of her teenage nieces providing her with a stable home. One year for Christmas she handmade every one of her grandchildren a teddy bear, she was determined to finish them all by Christmas morning, in fact she worked so hard her fingers began to bleed. Christmas morning all thirteen grand-kids had a bear under the tree. Many of those teddy bears are still around today.

In later years Karl developed Alzheimer's and she cared for him until his passing. Over the years she provided hospice care to three other family members.

In her 70's to keep busy she worked at Fred Meyers with one of her granddaughters for the holidays. She also went to work with her daughter at KAO when they needed extra help.

In her late 80's one of her granddaughters was on bed rest during her pregnancy. Aliene was happy to be there everyday for months to help care for her great grandson, even chasing after him as he was learning to walk and run; she would rock him to sleep everyday for his naps.

Around the time Aliene was 98, she took up sewing fifty pillows a month, the pillows were donated to local hospitals and charities. She continued the pillow project right up until she was 101.

At the age of 100 she took her first trip to Hawaii where she waded into the warm Kauai waters. Even though she was a "Fish" by birth she didn't know how to swim. At 101 she returned to Hawaii and took her first catamaran trip to see the beautiful Napali coast.

Shortly before turning 102 she took a trip to California, she went to Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farms. From opening to closing time Aliene was enthusiastic, climbing on many of the rides, she really had so much fun! She was so touched by the people at the parks! The parks employees ushered her to the front of the lines for rides, they gathered people around and sang happy birthday to her, many of the characters were sure to get their pictures with her. Everyone was so thoughtful and eager to join in celebration of her upcoming 102nd birthday, giving her a REAL VIP experience.

Aliene had set a goal to live to 100, she surpassed her goal. She lived independently and on her own until almost 102 surrounded by her wonderful neighbors and friends. Aliene looked forward to her monthly Bunko games held in the neighborhood. She also loved her weekly game night and was sure to plan around them.

Aliene was preceded in death by her husband Karl, her daughter Karlene and son Dan. She is survived by her daughter Linda Flanary, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-six great grandchildren and seventeen great-great grandchildren.