Stephanie Thorpe (Ofstedal) Tesch, 81, of Richland, Wash., died Oct. 17, 2018, at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

It was a cold, cold evening early in January of 1959, in Decorah, Iowa, that I first met Stephanie. I had just returned to Luther College to finish my degree after being in the Navy. Stephanie had just graduated at mid-year and had started an interim teaching position. I was having coffee with two other returning vets when she walked in and joined us. We have been together since that day for almost 60 years. Dec. 21, 2019, would have been our 60th wedding anniversary.

I graduated from Luther College in 1960 and took a teaching position in Decorah. In Oct. of that same year our daughter Dawn Katheryn was born. Our second child, Dana Blaine, came along in April 1963. Nathan Eric, our third child was born in Jan. 1965. It was our third child, because of damp and cold weather, prompted us to move, in June of that same year, to Pasco, Wash. Here is where our educational careers to root. Stephanie started as an elementary teacher, was asked to become a reading specialist and then director of libraries. She moved on to director of curriculum and eventually became Assistant Superintendent with the Pasco School District.

We got our Masters Degree’s together and Stephanie completed her Doctor of Education degree in the mid 80's. Here, dear friends and family, there is need to interject a second story. At the age of 26, Stephanie lost her sight in her left eye on Nov. 23, 1963. She regained it eight weeks later. It was the first episode and the beginning of a disease that would remain with her for the rest of her life. We went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for a diagnosis that, at that time, could not be named. It was before MRI's, CAT Scans or other means to place an accurate diagnosis to what had happened. Mayo called it “Polyneurtis” not willing to give it the name “Multiple Sclerosis.” We never told anyone and life went on with Stephanie leading a very accomplished and rewarding life.

In the late 80s and early 90s, MS became an inhibitor to her abilities. In 1992 Stephanie retired. Stephanie was born on July 21, 1937, in Valley City, N.D., the daughter of Rudy Ofstedal ‘21 and Edith Estrem Ofstedal. Stephanie was the youngest of five girls and one boy.

Stephanie died Oct. 17, 2018, in Richland, Wash. She leaves a very loving family: loving husband Ken Tesch ‘60; three loving children as named above; four loving grandchildren: Stephanie Spates, James Miller, Taymussa Miller and Lacy Cowgill; four loving great grandchildren: Ariana, Rico, Jaxton and Kaya. The Spirit Powers Us.

Service: Nov. 17, 2018, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 640 N Columbia Ctr. Blvd., Kennewick, WA. 99336. (PHOTO)