Deena Marie Brandenberger, 74, went to be with our Lord Jesus on August 26, 2025. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the Life Church in Stillwater. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
Deena was born in 1951 to John and Ada of Cushing, in Yale, Oklahoma. She has two sons, Ilex of Medford, Oregon married to Jamie, and Kyle of Atlanta, Georgia and four grandchildren Isaac, Emma, Karis, and Ada.
Deena grew up in Cushing and married her college sweetheart Lynn Brandenberger at a private park in Cushing complete with all the trimmings, including chiggers that lingered with the wedding party for several days.
She completed her B.A. degree in Spanish from Oklahoma State University and her M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Texas.
She was an accomplished musician playing piano and singing for church services during her years as a Kansas farm wife. Deena evolved from a “city girl” to a farmer during the years that she and her husband farmed near Burrton and Haven, Kansas. She became quite handy at operating tractors and other farm machinery during those years. Deena always enjoyed farm work and had fond memories of her time there. She and Lynn lived without running water in a converted chicken coop at one point.
During the early 80’s the family moved from Kansas to East Texas where she was deeply involved in raising their sons and managing the home. She was always ready to teach her sons about the world around them, and they enjoyed hearing her read to them during the days and evenings. After their time in Northeast Texas, they moved to College Station, Texas where she supported Lynn during his studies at Texas A&M. The family then moved to Southwest Oklahoma where Ilex continued his elementary education and Kyle began his. Deena was a huge part of caring for her sons and encouraging their education. The first years in Oklahoma she walked Ilex to his neighborhood school and then walked back home with Kyle. In one instance, they left the house, and a strong cold front (blue-northerner) swept into town dropping temperatures 20-30 degrees in minutes. She and Kyle were glad to make it back to the house safely.
Deena, Lynn, and the boys moved to Northwest Arkansas a few years later so Lynn could pursue an advanced degree. The move resulted from Deena and her mother encouraging Lynn to do this. Lynn’s initial response to this idea was “are you nuts, we’ll starve to death”. Deena worked for the university both as a secretary and in the university library for several years. After completing graduate school, the family packed up and moved to South Texas
and the Rio Grande Valley, about 5 miles from the U.S./Mexico border. While there, USDA hired Deena to organize a library as a joint project with Texas A&M. She collected books and periodicals from all over the research station, catalogued them, and created their first research library. Also, during this time, she earned her master’s degree in library science.
In the early 2000’s Lynn and Deena moved back to Stillwater and have lived there since. Deena worked in the OSU library and at Richmond Elementary.
Deena enjoyed traveling with her family making several mission trips to Mexico and visiting England, Guatemala, and Mongolia. A friend encouraged her to go to Mongolia with Lynn. Deena spent most of her time in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar but also visited the countryside and even spent a few nights in a ger camp.
Deena was an amazing woman willing to venture out to places unknown. She was an avid reader, and books were a huge part of her life. She will be remembered by her husband and sons as a lifetime learner, encourager, teacher, supporter, and a great friend. She will be sorely missed.
Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.