Constance S. Dempsey
Constance Ruth Steiger Dempsey was born April 2,1926 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, into a family of rug makers. She died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on August 6, 2018 at the age of 92 from natural causes.
Connie wove a spirit of adventure, art and travel into the fabric of her life. She made homes in Oshkosh, WI, Menlo Park, CA, Newport Beach CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Phoenix, AZ, La Jara, NM, Santa Fe, NM and Albuquerque, NM, and travelled the world. She raised four children and was stepmother to eight more.
She was preceded in death by her husband John E. Dempsey (d.1996) and daughter Elizabeth Ann Damler Marietta (d.2007). She is survived by her daughter, Carla Ward of Sandia Park, son, Fritz Damler (Mari Anderson) of Washington Island, WI, son, Christopher Dempsey (Lysha Montiel) of Albuquerque, NM, grandson, Hunter Hetfeld of Raleigh, NC. She is survived by one sibling, Mary Garman of Sundance, Wyoming, as well as numerous Steiger, Dempsey and other blended family members. Connie grew up with many advantages but never took them for granted. She rode the range on the family’s cattle ranch in Wyoming and majored in aviation at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, in 1944. She attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she met her first husband, W. F. Damler (d. 2009), a World War II Marine fighter pilot. They moved to California in 1953 and she embraced the California lifestyle where she continued to add to the fabric of her experiences. She instilled in her children and all those around her, the ability to take risks and accept the challenges of life.
Connie owned an art studio workshop in Old Town, Albuquerque in the 1960’s and opened a women’s retreat center on her property in La Jara, NM in the 1990’s. Her friends and family will miss her enthusiasm and creativity. She was well-cared for at Albuquerque’s BrookdaleValencia during the last years of her life. The family wishes to thank High Desert Hospice for their professional service and support.
She has been cremated and a Memorial will be held in November.