Elizabeth B. Oldenburger

Elizabeth Blanche Oldenburger, 99, went on to be with the Lord in the early morning of April 29, 2025, passing peacefully in her sleep at Glenwood Place in Vancouver, WA (she is better known by her family and relatives as "Betty"). Elizabeth entered this world on Jan. 9, 1926 in Seattle, with Harold and Lillian Benston as the proud parents. Many if not most of her growing up years were in the Southwest Washington area, and she was a graduate of Castle Rock High School. Elizabeth went on to study at Northwestern Bible School (St. Paul, MN), and later transferred to Multnomah School of the Bible (Portland, OR). There she met a grad student preparing for missionary service in Japan, Harry Oldenburger; they were married in 1954. Though they were both accepted by the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade, Harry ended up not passing the strict medical exam, so he served as office manager in the mission headquarters for some years. They adopted two children from Korea: daughter, Celeste Joy, and son, Kevin Tad. In addition to those already mentioned, Elizabeth resided in numerous other places during her life including: San Francisco, Detroit, Minneapolis, Ellensburg, Manchester, Port Orchard, Normandy Park, Riverton Heights, Pacific, and Buckley (WA). It was in Buckley that Harry started a new local church (now Rainier Hills Christian Fellowship), and Elizabeth served faithfully with him as a pastor's wife for some 17 years. It was in this way that her aspirations for serving the Lord in full-time ministry were ultimately realized. Elizabeth's love of God, love for the Scriptures, love of God's people, and love for his creation, are summed up by Psalm 27:4 which has been most meaningful to her ever since she became a believer, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Elizabeth was preceded in death by her father, Harold Melvin Benston; her mother, Lillian Pearl Benston; her son-in-law, Loren Glenwood Metcalf; her brother, Richard Lee Benston; her beloved husband of 64 years, Harry Oldenburger, and her sister, Marguerite Joy Cooley. She is survived by her daughter, Celeste Joy (Oldenburger) Metcalf; her son, Kevin Tad Oldenburger (spouse Pitsamai); and her five grandchildren and spouses: Elaine Lazzeri (spouse Drew), Eric Metcalf, Benjamin Metcalf (spouse Lani), Mark Oldenburger (spouse Mary), and Andrew Oldenburger (spouse Abigail). Private interment at Willamette National Cemetery.

Elizabeth B. Oldenburger

January 9, 1926 - April 29, 2025