Delbert A. Rysdam

Delbert A. "Deb" Rysdam, 54, of Elgin, died July 23 at his home in Elgin surrounded by his family.

A graveside funeral service was held this morning at the Cricket Flat/Highland View Cemetery on Good Road outside Elgin.

Deb was born March 12, 1955, the first of four children to Delbert D. and Betty (Hayes) Rysdam in La Grande. He attended school in Elgin, graduating with the Class of 1974. He married Kathy Miller of Elgin on Sept. 14, 1974, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in La Grande.

Deb worked for various logging companies including Art Gilliam Logging, Eagle Creek Logging, Hafer Logging and Higley Logging.

Besides his children, Deb's biggest enjoyment was deer and elk hunting and spending time on Cricket Flat, often seen doing the "Cricket Flat Crawl."

Deb is survived by his wife Kathy; children, Jeff Rysdam of Wilsonville and Amy Calabretta and her husband, Ben, of Moscow, Idaho; mother, Betty Rysdam of Elgin; sisters, Teresa Higley and her husband, Gene, and Tammi Rysdam, all of Elgin; brother, Doug Rysdam and his wife, CeCe, of Elgin; brother-in-law, Bobby Miller and his wife, Terri, of Elgin; four nieces; one nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. Deb was preceded in death by his father Nov. 4, 2000.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Elgin Little League for field renovations or the Grande Ronde Hospital Home Healthcare Hospice in care of Loveland Funeral Home.

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