Patricia Lea Dewald

Patricia Lea Dewald, age 80, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on July 7th, 2019 after spending the last year battling lung cancer.

Pat was born January 16th, 1939 in Portland, Oregon to Walter and Lydia Ketterling and spent her life as a proud Oregonian. Pat attended Polytechnic High School from 1952-’56 where she excelled academically. She went on to be President of the Polyettes, Leader in her sorority Sigma Tau Kappa, National Honor Society, President of the Jr. Roadside Council, and member of the Fuchsia Court. She was also the feature editor and photographer for the school paper where she went on to compete in a state journalism contest against 34 other schools and won first place which came with a 2-year college scholarship at Pacific University as well as acceptance into Oregon State University.

In July 1955, while visiting her grandparents in Streeter, North Dakota, Pat met Marvin Adam Dewald and for one month they enjoyed life together before she had to return back home to Portland. They wrote one another constantly while Pat finished her senior year in high school and Marv attended Wahpeton State School of Science in North Dakota. They knew their lives would never be complete being separated, and on December 24, 1956 Marv, her love, slipped an engagement ring on her finger and asked if she would marry him. Through happiness and joy she gave him her heart. Marv and Pat married May 3, 1957 at American Lutheran Church in Streeter, North Dakota and resided in Portland, Oregon during their 62 year of marriage.

In 1958 they started their family and Pat joined the work force in 1965 at the Bank of California located in downtown Portland where she worked for 35 years receiving multiple promotions finishing as a Loan Documentation Specialist before retiring in 2000. She made life- long friends at the bank and she enjoyed the monthly lunch get togethers with the ladies over the last 19 years.

Family was the most important thing to Pat. She enjoyed trips to their beach property in Long Beach, WA and spending time at Detroit Lake with her children. Travelling was in her blood and her and Marv explored the world with visits to Greece, Italy, Russia, Germany, as well as other European countries. She always made it a point to bring back pottery and knickknacks from her travels where she proudly displayed them in her sitting room hutch.

Pat’s other passion was working in her garden where she spent hours planting and nurturing the many flowers and plants that brought her so much joy.

Pat was preceded in death by her Parents, Walter (1973) and Lydia Ketterling (1959) and sisters, Norma Odom (2017) and Betty Lang (2004)  She is survived by her husband of 62 years Marvin Dewald; Her son Jeffrey Dewald and his wife Jamie; her daughter Rhonda Mullican and her husband Dave; Her son Christopher Dewald and his wife Stacey; her Grandchildren Jordan Dewald and his wife Kori, Jaren Dewald and his wife Mari, Jana Dewald, Lindsay O’Toole and her husband William, Mandy Henry and Chris Baptiste, Shay Dewald, and Jaide Hagen; and her Great Grandchildren Johann Dewald, Dallas Dewald, Hope Ruiz, Annika Baptiste, and Jeriah Baptiste.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be open to family and friends to be held on August 17th, from 2 pm - 5 pm at Risley Landing Garden, 16195 SE River Forest Place, Oak Grove, OR.

Please join us for Hors d’oeuvres and happy hour (two of Pat’s favorite things!)

Dress code is Garden Casual - (Dress shorts w/ Collar shirt)

No pets please

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Oak Grove Garden Club in her memory. P.O. Box 67105 Oak Grove, OR. 97268.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Patricia Lea Dewald, please visit our Tree Store.