1912
Bertha
2011
Bertha L. Doughty
July 8, 1912 — September 14, 2011
Bertha Doughty passed away on September 14, 2011 at age 99. She was born Bertha Elfrida Lundquist on July 8, 1912 in Boise Idaho to Lawrence Lundquist and Amelia Stephan Lundquist. Although her family moved to Portland, Oregon when she was young, she and her parents moved between Boise and Portland throughout her childhood. In Boise, she lived with her grandparents, Ludwig and Bertha Stephan (whom she was named after), and became close to her cousins, Katherine, Mae and Babe. In Portland, she spent time with her grandparents, Thure Levin and Frida Lundquist.
Bertha attended a number of grade schools including an Adventist school in Boise and Holiday, Sabin and Creston in Portland. She attended Grant High School where she enjoyed Glee Club and participating in theater.
She later attended Multnomah Junior College where she met her husband Preston Kingsley Doughty. Although they met as college students, they went their separate ways and dated others. They began to date again not long before World War II. During the war, Preston was in the Navy stationed at San Diego and Pearl Harbor. While he was away they wrote letters back and forth and fell in love. When he returned home following the war, he asked her to marry him. Bertha and Preston had one child, Jeanette, in 1948.
Bertha and Preston were active members of Hinson Church and were members of the Navigators Sunday School Class. Bertha, or Berthalie as her friends at Hinson called her, was active in the Women's Mission Society, in Bible Study and served as a Deaconess. Her church family was very important to her. In her last years she listened to the church prayer line daily and prayed for those in need.
Berte, as her husband and family called her, was a homemaker and very active in her community. She served as Republican Committeewoman and went door to door to support the Eisenhower campaign. When Jeanette entered school, Bertha became involved in the Rose City Park PTA where she served as Secretary and on the Hospitality Committee. She also served as Brownie and Girl Scout leader and assistant leader and was loved by the girls.
Bertha loved people and always had a smile for them. She made many phone calls for PTA, Hinson and Girl Scouts. Her gift was her friendly and warm personality.
She was a caretaker. As a young woman, she cared for her mother who died of cancer when Bertha was around 30. As a young mother, she cared for two grandmothers and her child. Her very elderly Grandmother Lundquist spent each day at her house allowing Bertha's father to continue working. Her husband's mother, Grace Doughty came to live with the family when Jeanette was five. When Bertha was needed, she volunteered to care for her grandson Luke each day while her daughter worked. She volunteered monthly at Luke's preschool and later became re-involved in PTA as a grandmother.
Bertha was never on time but always had a good time! She enjoyed playing with her daughter and later with her grandson. For her, playing with her child was far more important than chores or deadlines!
When Preston retired, they enjoyed life together! They walked the neighborhood together daily, hand in hand. They met all of the neighbors and really enjoyed these walks. They took a number of short trips and really enjoyed seeing the countryside. Bertha used to say that she and Preston were like "two peas in a pod" and that growing old together was such a privilege. They prayed together each night and told each other how much they loved each other.
When Preston passed away in November of 2004, Jeanette moved in with Bertha. Dianna Hesselman, a neighbor 2 doors away, became Bertha's caregiver during the day while Jeanette worked. Dianna soon became part of the family as did her daughters who also spent time caring for Bertha. Bertha's son-in-law Greg Wagner called her several times each day which she enjoyed so much!
Bertha was able to attend her Grandson's Law School graduation and later his wedding to Lyndsay. Lyndsay became a granddaughter to Grandma Berte and spent time with her baking, doing crafts and laughing.
Bertha never had a bad word for anyone! She liked to see the best in people and brought it out in them. She knew how to love unconditionally and did so freely. She was an inspiration to her family and her friends and will be missed!
Bertha attended a number of grade schools including an Adventist school in Boise and Holiday, Sabin and Creston in Portland. She attended Grant High School where she enjoyed Glee Club and participating in theater.
She later attended Multnomah Junior College where she met her husband Preston Kingsley Doughty. Although they met as college students, they went their separate ways and dated others. They began to date again not long before World War II. During the war, Preston was in the Navy stationed at San Diego and Pearl Harbor. While he was away they wrote letters back and forth and fell in love. When he returned home following the war, he asked her to marry him. Bertha and Preston had one child, Jeanette, in 1948.
Bertha and Preston were active members of Hinson Church and were members of the Navigators Sunday School Class. Bertha, or Berthalie as her friends at Hinson called her, was active in the Women's Mission Society, in Bible Study and served as a Deaconess. Her church family was very important to her. In her last years she listened to the church prayer line daily and prayed for those in need.
Berte, as her husband and family called her, was a homemaker and very active in her community. She served as Republican Committeewoman and went door to door to support the Eisenhower campaign. When Jeanette entered school, Bertha became involved in the Rose City Park PTA where she served as Secretary and on the Hospitality Committee. She also served as Brownie and Girl Scout leader and assistant leader and was loved by the girls.
Bertha loved people and always had a smile for them. She made many phone calls for PTA, Hinson and Girl Scouts. Her gift was her friendly and warm personality.
She was a caretaker. As a young woman, she cared for her mother who died of cancer when Bertha was around 30. As a young mother, she cared for two grandmothers and her child. Her very elderly Grandmother Lundquist spent each day at her house allowing Bertha's father to continue working. Her husband's mother, Grace Doughty came to live with the family when Jeanette was five. When Bertha was needed, she volunteered to care for her grandson Luke each day while her daughter worked. She volunteered monthly at Luke's preschool and later became re-involved in PTA as a grandmother.
Bertha was never on time but always had a good time! She enjoyed playing with her daughter and later with her grandson. For her, playing with her child was far more important than chores or deadlines!
When Preston retired, they enjoyed life together! They walked the neighborhood together daily, hand in hand. They met all of the neighbors and really enjoyed these walks. They took a number of short trips and really enjoyed seeing the countryside. Bertha used to say that she and Preston were like "two peas in a pod" and that growing old together was such a privilege. They prayed together each night and told each other how much they loved each other.
When Preston passed away in November of 2004, Jeanette moved in with Bertha. Dianna Hesselman, a neighbor 2 doors away, became Bertha's caregiver during the day while Jeanette worked. Dianna soon became part of the family as did her daughters who also spent time caring for Bertha. Bertha's son-in-law Greg Wagner called her several times each day which she enjoyed so much!
Bertha was able to attend her Grandson's Law School graduation and later his wedding to Lyndsay. Lyndsay became a granddaughter to Grandma Berte and spent time with her baking, doing crafts and laughing.
Bertha never had a bad word for anyone! She liked to see the best in people and brought it out in them. She knew how to love unconditionally and did so freely. She was an inspiration to her family and her friends and will be missed!
Memorial Service
Hinson Memorial Baptist Church
1137 Southeast 20th Avenue
Portland
,
OR
US
97214
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 11:00 AM
Cemetery
Willamette National Cemetery
11800 S.E. Mt. Scott Blvd.
Portland
,
OR
US
97266
Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 12:30 PM
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