Dennis E. (Sr.) Lenhart

Dennis Lenhart

December 2, 1930 - December 6, 2022

Wheat farmer Dennis Lenhart passed away at age 92 on Dec. 6, 2022, at Suttle Care & Retirement in Pendleton, Oregon. Dennis was known as a kind soul who loved people, and a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Born on Dec. 2, 1930, in Hermiston, Oregon, to Uriah Lenhart and Ada Vera Armstrong Lenhart, Dennis spent his childhood in several towns across Oregon. In 1936, when Dennis was 6 years old, he suffered a leg injury that became infected and, without modern medicine like penicillin, the infection progressed and he spent time in and out of Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Dennis donated to Shriners Children’s Hospital throughout his life.

In high school, he played the french horn in band, threw the javelin in track and field, and played basketball. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1949. Dennis worked his way through college on local Pendleton wheat farms. He attended both Eastern Oregon University, where he played basketball and Oregon State University where he graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

After graduation, Dennis worked in personnel at U.S. Gypsum in Pilot Rock, Oregon. Dennis and Sharon Woodward, daughter of Don and Ethel Woodward, married in 1956 and had three children, Donna “DeeDee” Jones, Dr. Dennis Lenhart Jr., M.D. and Steve Lenhart. They lived on the Woodward Family wheat farm before moving to Mt. Hebron in Pendleton, where they raised their family and Dennis resided for 57 years.

Dennis worked with his father-in-law, Don Woodward, on Don A. Woodward Farms Inc., from 1958 and farmed every day for 48 years. Most recently, Dennis farmed alongside his son, Steve, and grandson, Dave Lenhart. Dennis never officially retired from wheat farming. His entire life was focused on farming and family.

Dennis and Sharon were active members in the Pendleton Presbyterian Church, where he served as an usher and coached a church league basketball team. Dennis was also active in Pendleton Grain Growers and the Oregon Wheat Growers League. He was very dedicated to donating blood to the American Red Cross.

Dennis loved to travel in an RV with his wife, Sharon. Together, they visited many places across the U.S., most national parks, and they also enjoyed cruises. Later in life, he traveled throughout the world with his family, including a Footsteps of Paul Tour in Israel, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. He also visited Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, China and took a Baltic cruise.

Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, siblings, Kenneth Lenhart and Shirley Cassens; and grandson, Ryan Telford. Dennis is survived by his children, Donna “DeeDee” Jones, Dr. Dennis Lenhart Jr., M.D. and Steve Lenhart; brother, Jeff Lenhart; grandchildren, Sherry Accime, Dave Lenhart, Whitney Lenhart and Liezel Lenhart; and greatgrandson, Gabriel Accime.

A graveside service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washington, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at noon followed by a no-host lunch at El Sombrero. A donation can be made in Dennis' memory to Shriners Children's Hospital Portland or the American Red Cross.