Delores "Dee" Oster

Delores (Dee) Alvina Oster was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on July 31, 1943, to Wendell and Alvina Buttermore, and was promoted to Heaven on September 2, 2016. She left behind her three sons, John, Jeff and Joel, their spouses Donna, Kristi and Wendi, her grandkids John Dale, Caleb, Shaylee, Zakary, Luke, Gracie and Kathryn, as well as her granddaughter-in-law Rebekah (John Dale's wife). In addition, her three siblings Jan Phipps, Sharon Blakely, and Duane Buttermore, and their spouses Lloyd, Jim and Sharon, are missing her greatly but look forward to the day, as we all do, when we will be reunited with Dee in Heaven.

On her promotion day, she was met in Heaven by her husband John C., both her parents, as well as two of her children Jodene and Jimmy.

Dee's life was love demonstrated. Her love for her Savior Jesus Christ was evident in her daily walk. Being a private duty nurse by trade, she consistently went the extra two miles in caring for her patients. She said. "I always wanted to be a nurse. I had a toy doctor's kit and I would pretend to take care of others. I always thought of myself as a nurse." Indeed, loving on others was her life. So she often held concerts for her patients and their neighbors, and took them on excursions to provide joy and interest to their lives.

It was as a private duty nurse that Dee was able to care for some prominent patients, including Bess Truman, the wife of President Harry Truman, and Mr. Katz of the Katz Drug Stores, which is now CVS Pharmacy. Interestingly, when asked what she would have done if not a nurse, she responded, "I still wish I could be a saleswoman." Well, anyone who had any interaction with Dee knew she could convince eskimos to buy premium air-conditioner units with a warranty to boot.

Her ability to sell was evident in 1962 when she encountered her husband to be. As Dee told it, John came to a parsonage in Scottsbluff where Dee was visiting. Dee came down the stairs in her "muumuu" and curlers. That encounter turned into a dinner date at "Big John's BBQ" and the rest, as they say, is history. They were married on August 28, 1964.

A highlight in her life came when she turned 50 and decided to enter the Mrs. Kansas pageant. She trained hard with the help of her niece Pam Barkley. Her costume was Glenda, the good witch from the Wizard of Oz. And what should come as a surprise to no one, she won best costume and best woman. Her pageant experience was covered by the local news and a national publication.

Dee's passion included music, her kids and grandkids, and quizzing. Being a quizzer herself, she devoted countless hours helping her kids and grandkids learn the Bible. Dee loved music. She sang alto and played the violin, organ, accordion and piano. Even in her last days, she could sing most of the verses to all of the great hymns. It is a true testament to the power of music that even in the later stages of Pick's disease, she could express the love of Jesus through music embedded in her soul. We all look forward to the day when we can join Dee, Mom, and Grandma, in the great Heavenly choir.

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Memorial contributions are suggested to Evergreen Community of Johnson County, or to Gideon Bible.