Obituary: Diane Kaseberg

At the young age of 8 years old, Diane showed her Hereford Steer at the Wasco County Fair. Showing her families registered Hereford Cattle became her first love and she continued showing at all local shows and expanded to showing on the professional circuit. It was 1958 when Diane first met Terry Kaseberg of Wasco, Ore., at the Oregon Wheat Growers League Livestock Show where they were both showing cattle. After meeting Terry, Diane said she never had to carry a bucket of water or a bale of hay for the rest of that show.

She and her family traveled, showing in Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Calif., Denver, Colo., and as far away as Calgary, Canada. Diane was a natural and always very professional and comfortable in the show ring. In addition to showing cattle, she also enjoyed participating in 4-H sewing and cooking clubs throughout her youth and high school years. Diane often spoke about her time growing up on the farm with fond memories of waking in the mornings to the smell of fresh cut alfalfa. It was on the farm that she learned the lifelong lessons of hard work and responsibility raising and caring for her animals and working with family.

As a proud student of The Dalles High School, Diane also was a member of The Dalles High Booster Girls Club, which was a drum and bugle corps. The Booster Girls performed at home game half-time shows and represented the high school and City of The Dalles, participating in many parades including the Portland Rose Festival Parade.

After graduating The Dalles High School in 1961, Diane traveled to Eugene and attended the University of Oregon. She was a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and studied business while at the U of O. It was at The University of Oregon where she once again met Terry and soon the romance was rekindled. Terry and Diane were married in Eugene on March 30, 1963. Late 1963, they returned to Sherman County, where Terry began working with his father Paulen and brother Lee on the family farm. In November 1963, they welcomed their son Steve and in early February 1965, their daughter Paula arrived.

As a young mother and homemaker and always the supportive wife, Diane wore many hats. It was with much pride as she watched her children grow up on the farm. She was always the teacher and mentor when it came time for Steve and Paula to begin their 4-H and FFA projects. As the supportive wife when Terry began his coaching career, she even put her skills to use sewing warm-ups for the Sherman girls basketball team. She continued to support and follow her children as they followed their own paths whether it be athletics or showing animals from elementary school through college.

It was with great joy and much pride that she became a grandmother and great-grandmother. With a blended family came seven grandsons, two granddaughters and sixteen great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Diane and Terry always supported and followed the grandchildren whether it be athletics, 4-H and FFA projects or a theater production. This past year she was so proud that the oldest great grandson showed his animal at the Sherman County Fair.

Diane is survived by her son Steve (Lisa) Kaseberg of Wasco; daughter Paula (Jeff) Smith of Wasco; grandsons Matthew (Angela), Derek, Zachary (Kelsey), Austin (Hayli), Travis (Shelby), Jordan (Natasha), and Tanner (Dana); granddaughters Audrey (Chad) and Brooklyn (Matthew); and sixteen great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Diane is also survived by her brothers Mike (Janice) Wagenblast and Mark (Ginger) Wagenblast and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Terry Kaseberg, and her parents Dewey and Rose Wagenblast.

A memorial service will be held at Spencer Libby and Powell Funeral Home in The Dalles on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Diane’s name to the Sherman County 4-H Leaders Association or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.