Laura Mae Eichelberger

Laura Mae Eichelberger died Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at her home in Albany, Oregon, just one day before her 88th birthday.  Laura Mae was born in Friend, Nebraska, May 27, 1933, to William & Clara Roth.  Laura Mae was delivered by Mrs. Billings, a nurse who lived in town.  Laura and her mother stayed with Mrs. Billings in her home for a while as she cared for them, which was her standard practice.  Laura joined five older brothers and an older sister.  Eventually, one more brother and four more sisters arrived to complete the family of a dozen children.  When Laura was a young girl, she moved with her family to Broken Bow, NE, which is where she remembered growing up.  She graduated from the 8th grade and her father thought that was enough education for a girl.  When she was about 16, she moved to Oregon with her parents, her younger brother, and four younger sisters. 

Laura Mae was married to Gaile Eichelberger on July 10, 1955.  They were married for 54 years, until Gaile's passing in December 2009.  The Lord blessed them with six children - five girls and one boy.  Laura Mae managed their household by cooking delicious meals, packing lunches for work and school, making many dresses and shirts (including wedding and bridesmaid dresses), planting and harvesting a huge vegetable garden every year, canning and freezing produce, and supporting many different activities and hobbies. 

Laura Mae attended Mennonite churches for all of her life and was baptized at the age of 12.  She was a long-time member of Fairview Mennonite Church, where she served as a deaconess and in many other roles. 

Laura Mae is survived by her children who are Susan (Danny) Bean, Carol Eichelberger, Rebecca (Lorenzo) Robles, Delene (John) Powell, Marlin (Julie) Eichelberger, and Anita (Wendell) Hostetler; two grandchildren, Yolanda (Ted) Gonzalez and Luke Powell; three great-grandchildren - Ted IV, Gabriel, and Laura Gonzalez (named for her great-grandmother); three brothers, Lauren, Lyle, and Bill (Jr.) Roth, and four sisters, Marilyn Sherman, Grace Roth, Marlene Kauffman, and Lois Oesch.

A graveside service will be held at Fairview Mennonite Church on June 7, 2021, at 10 a.m. followed by a lunch at the church. 

Memorial contributions may be made to one of the following:

Kids Alive International - 2507 Cumberland Dr. (PO Box 2117), Valparaiso, IN  46384-2117
Christian Aid Ministries - PO Box 360, Berlin, OH  44610
Fairview Mennonite Church - 35100 Goltra Rd. SE, Albany, OR  97322

Aasum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements. 
 

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