Heaven welcomed Nena Lee Stenberg on October 20, 2019. She passed away in Yakima at Virginia Mason Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. Nena was born on June 7, 1957 in Fort Bragg, California to Nellie Irene Straugh and Kenneth Belden. Her early childhood was in North Bonneville, Centerville, Goldendale, and Klickitat, Washington. As a teen, she moved to Yakima and went to West Valley where she met the love of her life, Rod Stenberg. In 1974, at the early age of sixteen they were married and two years later started their family.
Nena was born a natural caregiver. She worked in the medical field for 30 years. The highlight of her career was when she worked for Wendy Eider, where they became close friends. She was incredibly sad when she was forced to retire due to her health.
The love she had for her family was endless. She always looked forward to yearly vacations with the whole family. She loved going to the beach, car shows, waterskiing, camping, fishing and she loved the mountains. Every November she would go to Leavenworth for a girl’s trip with her friends, where she would buy a special Christmas ornament for her children and grandchildren. She also had a huge heart for all animals.
Nena will be deeply missed by her three daughters, Amanda Hoffman (Eric), Andrea Stenberg (Krysta), and Samantha Stenberg, two grandsons: Dylan Hoffman and Dawson Hoffman, an honorary granddaughter Delilah, her sisters, Tina Tsubota (Gene) and Darlene Woodruff, her brother Kenneth Belden, and sister-in-law, Tina Bowden. She also leaves behind many special cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Rod Stenberg, her mother Nellie Irene Straugh, her father Kenneth Belden, her mother-in-law Barbara Lavender, her brother-in-law Jess Bowden, and her grandmother Nellie Roberts.
There will be a visitation at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Thursday, October 31, 2019 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Graveside service will be Friday, November 1, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com.
