Dennis David Denfeld

Published 9:02 am Tuesday, May 28, 2019

January 4, 1944 – May 7, 2019

Dennis “Denny”, 75, was born in Portland, Oregon, to Am (Ambrose) and Mickey (Charlott Beaty) Denfeld. He was the first-born son of six children; Cathy, Dale, Larry, Ed and Linda. Denny passed away on May 7, 2019, in Bend, Oregon, with family by his side.

Denny was raised in Portland and after graduating from Madison High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He received the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged from the USMC in 1965. Shortly after, he met and married his first wife, Carol “Toni” Huhta. They lived in Portland while Denny worked with his father in the paint business. Eventually, the young couple moved to Bend, Oregon, where Denny began the family paint business (Denfeld Paints). In the mid-eighties, Denny changed his career path and went into ranch work and “cowboying”. He married Rebecca Mae Johns in 1986, and they owned and operated the Skyhook Motel in Mitchell, Oregon, for over 30 years. Denny survived his wife, Becky who passed away on May 23, 2012.

Denny is survived by his children, Kelly Shumar (Grays River, Washington); Denny Denfeld (Battleground, Washington); Tyler Denfeld (Evans, Georgia); and Heidi Williams (Newberg, Oregon); step-children, Paul Meyer (Portland, Oregon); MaRae Urell (Redmond, Oregon); Rene’e Powell (Redmond, Oregon). 15 grandchildren: Skyler (19), Jaden (18), Adelaide (17), Seth (15), Emily (14), Julian (13), Anna (12), Ellie (11), Lisandro (9), Finley (8), Johnathan (7), Abigail (5), Josie (4), Elizabeth (3), Giselle (2) and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a graveside memorial with military honors in Mitchell, Oregon, at a later date. Contributions may be made to the Mitchell Baptist Church, 209 SE High St, Mitchell, OR 97750.