June Belford Oster

June Belford Oster passed away on May 24, 2026 at the age of 95. June was born on Oct. 1,1930 to Frank and Revia Belford and grew up south of Cloverdale where her grandparents were pioneers in the local grape industry. Her early years were spent on the family farm where they raised sheep and chickens and grew grapes and prunes. In 1950 she married Tom Oster and they lived on the Preston ranch north of Cloverdale for many years. In 1959 they moved to Ukiah to be near the airport where Tom had his flying business, and then to Redwood Valley where she has lived on Tomki Road since 1964. June worked in the lumber industry as an accountant and then at the Redwood Coast Regional Center. In 1982 she earned her AA degree in Business and Art. She loved playing the piano, dancing, and delving into local and family history. She was an accomplished seamstress and a talented artist. June was an active member of the Mendocino County Art Association for more than 60 years and her beautiful landscapes grace many walls across the Ukiah Valley. She loved the outdoors and kept active throughout her life with square dancing, line dancing, hiking through the hills, plein air painting and observing the many birds around her property. She was an avid journalist, and we are fortunate to have most of her memoirs still with us; in which she describes growing up on a farm during the depression, surviving the war years as a teenager, her early interest in aviation and her young married life. Her resilience and determination helped her through the difficult times as well as the joyful ones. Her quiet Christian faith was an example to those around her. In her later years she enjoyed sitting under her redwood trees, watching the birds, reading, and sketching. She continued to express her creativity through painting as long as she was able. June was very thankful for her loving family and is survived by her three children, Jeanie Sumerfield (Harold), Wayne Oster, and Ken Oster (Teresa); five grandchildren, Adrianna Gozza (Joe), Hannah Simkins (Lars), Gibson Oster (Theresa), Daniel Sumerfield (Christy), and Luke Sumerfield (Katy), her nephew Frank (Kathy) Belford; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will have a private graveside interment in the Cloverdale Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in her memory to any of several local charities: Ukiah Senior Center, Plowshares, Hospice of Ukiah, or Mendocino Co. Historical Society