Joan Shirley Rhinhart

Joan Deel Rhinhart, age 90, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026 in Walla Walla WA. Joan was born in Portland, OR on February 29, 1936 to Arnold and Elva Deel Anders.  She grew up in Pendleton, Oregon and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1953.  In 1952 she married Lloyd Rhinhart whom she first met at their church youth group.  This began her journey of being a farmer’s wife and helpmate for 73 years.  She learned to help with harvest on their wedding day!  But they got to the church on time with harvest complete.  As a young woman Joan worked at the East Oregonian and later on when her children were older, she drove school bus for many years.  But her life centered on the farm where she helped in innumerable ways, driving wheat truck, running to town for parts, packing lunches, figuring out where Lloyd was at when he broke down farming, and overall keeping the household running.  Joan volunteered over the years as a Camp Fire and 4-H leader, with school activities, taking children to piano lessons, and served on the Pilot Rock School Board.  She was an avid reader and patron of the Umatilla County library where she encouraged her children to check out as many books as possible.  Joan was a life-long member of the First Christian Church in Pendleton.  She served in many ways as deaconess, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school, and other activities.

In her quiet way she demonstrated to her children and others how important her faith and church life was to our family. 

She was preceded in death by her sisters Margaret Legarra and Ila Brown.

Joan is survived by her children Susan (Dan) Leathers of Dixie WA, Debbie (Phil) Bondurant of Covington, WA, and Karl (Carolyn) Rhinhart of Helix, OR.  In addition, she has six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. 

Lloyd her beloved husband passed away during the same night as Joan on March 31, 2026.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at the First Christian Church in Pendleton at 11:00 on Saturday May 9 for all friends and family.

“I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when this life was done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories I leave when life is done”.