Jeannine M. (Heimgartner) Sather, a Bend resident, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022 after a lengthy battle with dementia. She was born in Lewiston, Idaho to parents Elmer and Lola (Lerew) Heimgartner on August 11, 1938 and raised on the family farm with her two younger sisters Donna (Corkill) and Shirley (Lindstrom). She met her husband Gary R. Sather in high school and they were married on September 4, 1955 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Genesee, Idaho. Together they raised four children; John, Jean, Steve, and Doug.

Jeannine started her career as a secretary/bookkeeper at the University of Idaho Administration Office where Gary was a fulltime college student and athlete. After college they moved their family to Oregon where Gary was a high school teacher and coach for over 30 years. Jeannine was a secretary in the Oregon public school system for 18 years followed by 6 years at Wallowa County bank and 15 years as the City Recorder for the town of Joseph, Oregon. In addition to working while raising her four children, she was also a coach’s wife/mother who spent many hours in the bleachers supporting her husband and children. After retirement in 2000 Gary & Jeannine moved back to their old stomping grounds in Lewiston, Idaho where they resided until 2018 when they moved to Bend, Oregon to be closer to their children.

During their lifetime Jeannine and Gary loved to camp and spend time in the outdoors with family and friends. After retirement they traveled the United States in their RV exploring the many beauties our country has to offer!

Jeannine was an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking for her family. She always had fresh baked cookies for her grandchildren when she visited them or they visited her. Her signature cookies were: snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, butterscotch scotches, oatmeal raisin, and jumbo raisin. She was also known for her delicious pot roast meals.

Jeannine is survived by her two oldest children; Son John R. Sather (Carole-Jean), their son’s Erik, Mark, Craig (Melinda), great-grandchildren Addison, McKenna, Layla Sather; Daughter Jean M. Stephenson (Dan), their son’s Jeremy (Trudi), great-grandchildren Caleb, Abbigail Stephenson, and Brian Stephenson; Daughter-in-law Karen, grandchildren Ryan and Hannah Sather; and also great-grandchildren Kole and Vivian Sather. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son’s Steve and Doug and grandson Aaron. There will be a private graveside service at a later date.

The family would like to share our appreciation for the wonderful care our mother received from the Partners in Care team in Bend and all the staff of Mr. Bachelor Memory Care.