When Philip Errol Estergard was a child, his parents owned a malt shop in downtown Eugene, the perfect jumping-off point for him and his brother to while away hours watching “Rin Tin Tin” and “Lassie” at the local movie theater after school.

Spending that dime at each show was a little uncharacteristic of young Philip, recalled his daughter Linda Estergard. Known throughout his life as hardworking and driven to succeed, he was frugal and began to plan his future career raising sheep when he was just 10 years old.

“He said the most frivolous thing he ever spent his money on was he saw ‘Lassie’ 11 times,” said Linda Estergard, who lives in the Portland area. “That was a big deal because it was 10 cents.”

Philip Estergard, of Junction City, died Sept. 11 at age 89. He lived his dream career raising herd animals for most of his life, raising either sheep or cattle until he was 80 years old in the Harrisburg and Halsey area.

Philip Errol Estergard envisioned becoming a farmer when he was a child. Credit: Provided by the Estergard family

“He worked hard,” said his daughter Karla Reerslev, of Junction City. “Not everybody can say that. And it wasn’t just to make money. I think that it made him feel good.” 

Before he became a farmer, Philip Estergard was an excellent student and athlete, growing up in Lorane, Eugene and Harrisburg.

Philip Errol Estergard was a standout athlete as a young man, playing basketball, baseball and football. Credit: The Estergard family

A multisport athlete in high school, he earned first-team and all-state selections at the state basketball championships and played quarterback and safety in the East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game.

“I just saw someone from our hometown recently, and they were still talking about my dad’s basketball days,” Linda Estergard said.

At 15, he began working 10-hour days, seven days a week in the summer, probably for a local farmer, but neither daughter recalls the exact circumstances. He socked away the money to buy sheep.

At Harrisburg High School, he participated in Future Farmers of America, was student body president, and could have been salutatorian, but, never much for talking, he didn’t turn in his last papers when he learned he’d have to give a speech, Linda Estergard recalled. 

He was recruited by small colleges around Oregon for his basketball skills and offered a football scholarship but chose baseball and the Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University).

He planned to study to become a history teacher. That idea didn’t last long because he was dismayed by the work ethic of some of his classmates, his daughters recalled, so he ended up transferring to the University of Oregon and studying business.

Estergard served in the U.S. National Guard. He committed to join the U.S. Air Force but was unable to fulfill that duty because of a car accident that injured his ankle. 

Philip Errol Estergard raised sheep and cattle during his career and also bought and sold wool. Credit: Provided by the Estergard family

After college, he began his sheep business, buying 1,700 feeder lambs at age 22. He raised both feeder lambs and breeding ewes, and his largest flock topped out at 13,000.

Estergard mostly worked by himself, seven days a week. Linda Estergard remembers working for him with one of her sisters for a time. While their dad worked quietly, the girls were singing. 

“He’d look at us and shake his head,” Linda Estergard said. 

Philip Estergard expanded beyond raising sheep to become one of the country’s largest independent wool buyers, buying more than half the wool in Oregon. For several years, he exceeded 2 million pounds annually.

Linda Estergard recalls being part of the crew that stuffed wool into giant bags, filling them as full as possible until they weighed 300 pounds and were sewn up.

Philip Estergard ran a downtown warehouse to store the wool and transfer it to waiting train cars.

Eventually, the sheep business suffered because of coyote problems, so Estergard pivoted to raising cattle. 

His job involved a lot of physical labor, which kept him in shape, but he also stayed fit throughout his life, especially by running. 

He loved watching other runners compete, attending state championship high school track meets and memorizing stats. He missed only two in 60-something years. 

“He could tell you who won the 3,000-meter boys race in 1976,” Linda Estergard said. “He was just this wealth of information.” 

Until about a year before his death, he still walked laps through his kitchen and living room, Karla Estergard recalled.

“He wasn’t just going to sit there,” Karla Estergard said. “When he was sitting there, he was lifting (hand) weights.”

In retirement, he continued to read history books and watch sports, especially Oregon Ducks football and women’s college basketball. Through the years, he was a member of Harrisburg Methodist Church, then Harrisburg Christian Church and finally Faith Lutheran Church in Junction City.

He is survived by his wife, Barbra; children Linda Estergard (Thad), Karla Reerslev (John), Michael Estergard (Lacey) and Susan Washington (Miron); 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

“He lived a life with high integrity. I can’t think of a time where he wasn’t honest,” said Karla Reerslev. “And he was incredibly generous.”