Sue Newstetter

This is very sad news. Her dedication to the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon (PLSO) was boundless. She lived in Eastern Oregon, so to attend board meeting throughout her tenure as an officer at the chapter and state board level meant 6 hour one way drives on crooked two lane highways over a couple mountain ranges to get to the Willamette Valley. Same with her membership in the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Land Surveyors (OSBEELS) which is based in Salem. It is also noteworthy that in 2003 she was recognized as Surveyor of the Year by PLSO.

Oh wow, sorry to hear this.

This is sad news. I am sure all the other Oregon surveyors will agree. I have not been there in awhile however I wish to express my sincere condolences to her family and the folks that knew her. I remember her from PLSO when I was a much younger surveyor. Sad news indeed.

dig, out.

Wow, I am really sad to hear this.

But I do have a positive anecdote I'd like to share: A few years ago, the BLM was pushing out a new Manual, of which some Oregon-based surveyors were involved. At the PLSO Conference that year, there was a Manual at the auction, signed by our local BLM superstars. When I saw it, I was determined to win it. Well, in a bidding war with Sue Newstetter, I eventually gave up and Sue won it. Despite the loss, that was the most fun I'd had in a long time. Those of you familiar with the auctioneer will understand how fun he makes it. Anyway, that is a fond memory in my surveying-related past that I will never forget. Sue was a great opponent and we were grinning and laughing with each other the entire time, as the auctioneer "encouraged" us to continue bidding. I can't remember the final price, but I think it was in the hundreds of dollars. That is my only memory of Sue because I didn't know her other than knowing her name and stature in our great state, but it is memory that will never leave me.

Rest in peace, Sue.

Wendell

I did not know Sue, but your anecdotal story makes me feel as though She was a great person.

You write well.

N

Curious about where to find the newsletter?

So sorry to hear the news. Prayers and best wishes to her family an friends.

The newsletter is an email that PLSO members receive. Scott has posted the entire contents that pertain to Sue Newstetter above.

Sue attended the PLSO Conference earlier this year and was in good health. She had had some trouble with cancer but it seemed to be clear at that time. I guess things suddenly took a turn for the worse and in early April she was told her time was short.

I just got your email at work today before heading out into the field.

It just stunned me, and made me feel so very sad.

Sue was a fearless supporter of the profession, and one of the nicest people we could have been blessed with to be surveyor of the year (for very good reason), and a member of OSBEELS as well.

Sue and I got off to a great start some years ago during a day long seminar she had worked hard to bring to other surveyors in developing their professional hourly rate. A great seminar that held for many discussions outside the seminar venue. I was lucky enough to strike up a conversation with her during the lunch break there and we started chatting away like old friends right off the bat.

Over the years since, it was always a nod, a wink, and a smile on the way past each other during the PLSO state conferences, or one of the last times I got to chat more with her the OSBEELS symposium last year.

We spoke briefly of the symposium, work, and the challenges ahead.
After, we chatted about gardening, predators, and pie.... she could handle each subject with ease and we shared a few laughs over each.

She earned and deserved more of a rest from the work and medical struggles.

I for one, will miss that smile, wit, and thoughtful remark that was always pretty much dead on. I will always carry forward nothing but good memories of our encounters.

My deepest condolences to her family, and other friends who shared time with her.
The loss is deep and real, though I'm still in shock.

Sue was in a class all her own. I first got to know her in the early 80's when we were on the PLSO Board together.
More recently, she was working towards an effort to get the PLSO Foundation off the ground. She had boundless energy. Heaven will be busy with her in residence.

It was an honor to know her and be her friend.

I met Sue through the PLSO Board of Directors too. She always seemed to have boundless energy and a wonderful sense of humor. I'm deeply saddened that she is no longer with us.

On her long drives from Mt. Vernon (near John Day) to Salem, she would occasionally stop at interesting locales for a rest, and a picture with her "Greenie Weenie", a little green stuffed dachshund toy which she posted on Facebook.