Leatherman, Arlene Gertrude 94 June 22, 1922 Nov. 22, 2016
Arlene Leatherman was born and lived her entire life in Portland, Oregon. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was eight and she was raised by her single working mother. She went to Alameda Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1940. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Wash., for a year before running out of funds and going to work as a secretary at the Carnation Company in Portland.
On Feb. 11, 1945 she married Kenneth Elvene Leatherman at Central Lutheran Church. With housing hard to find after WWII Arlene and Kenneth lived and served as caretakers for several years at the bird sanctuary of the Audubon Society near Macleay Park in northwest Portland.
Their first child, Timothy Stephen Leatherman was born in 1948. In 1950 she, Kenneth and Tim moved to a home built by Ken on SW Garden Home Road. Stuart Richard Leatherman was born in 1950. Arlene, Ken, Tim, and Stu lived in the house for eight years. In 1958 they moved to another home built by Ken in the Bridlemile area of SW Portland, where she and Ken lived for the next 56 years. Finally at the age of 91 she and 97 year old Ken moved to an independent living facility, but after two years he died and her health immediately declined. She died a peaceful death of natural causes Nov. 22, 2016 at the age of 94. Arlene spent her entire married life as a homemaker. She loved interior decorating and was skilled in sewing. But her greatest loves were family and church. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church for over 62 years. She also strongly connected with her Norwegian roots. She never visited Norway, but corresponded with Norwegian relatives and was visited several times by relatives from Norway. She had a social conscience and willingly helped others. In 1975 she was instrumental in getting her daughter-in-law's family settled in Portland after they fled from Vietnam. No one ever visited her home without being well fed.
Arlene was born June 22, 1922 to Berntilda and Kristian Gjertsen, an only child. She is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Chau of Portland; son, Stuart and his wife Cathy of Happy Valley; and grandson, Lee and his wife Kelsey of Neskowin.
Published in The Oregonian from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14, 2016
Arlene Leatherman was born and lived her entire life in Portland, Oregon. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was eight and she was raised by her single working mother. She went to Alameda Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1940. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Wash., for a year before running out of funds and going to work as a secretary at the Carnation Company in Portland.
On Feb. 11, 1945 she married Kenneth Elvene Leatherman at Central Lutheran Church. With housing hard to find after WWII Arlene and Kenneth lived and served as caretakers for several years at the bird sanctuary of the Audubon Society near Macleay Park in northwest Portland.
Their first child, Timothy Stephen Leatherman was born in 1948. In 1950 she, Kenneth and Tim moved to a home built by Ken on SW Garden Home Road. Stuart Richard Leatherman was born in 1950. Arlene, Ken, Tim, and Stu lived in the house for eight years. In 1958 they moved to another home built by Ken in the Bridlemile area of SW Portland, where she and Ken lived for the next 56 years. Finally at the age of 91 she and 97 year old Ken moved to an independent living facility, but after two years he died and her health immediately declined. She died a peaceful death of natural causes Nov. 22, 2016 at the age of 94. Arlene spent her entire married life as a homemaker. She loved interior decorating and was skilled in sewing. But her greatest loves were family and church. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church for over 62 years. She also strongly connected with her Norwegian roots. She never visited Norway, but corresponded with Norwegian relatives and was visited several times by relatives from Norway. She had a social conscience and willingly helped others. In 1975 she was instrumental in getting her daughter-in-law's family settled in Portland after they fled from Vietnam. No one ever visited her home without being well fed.
Arlene was born June 22, 1922 to Berntilda and Kristian Gjertsen, an only child. She is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Chau of Portland; son, Stuart and his wife Cathy of Happy Valley; and grandson, Lee and his wife Kelsey of Neskowin.
Published in The Oregonian from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14, 2016
Leatherman, Arlene Gertrude 94 June 22, 1922 Nov. 22, 2016
Arlene Leatherman was born and lived her entire life in Portland, Oregon. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was eight and she was raised by her single working mother. She went to Alameda Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1940. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Wash., for a year before running out of funds and going to work as a secretary at the Carnation Company in Portland.
On Feb. 11, 1945 she married Kenneth Elvene Leatherman at Central Lutheran Church. With housing hard to find after WWII Arlene and Kenneth lived and served as caretakers for several years at the bird sanctuary of the Audubon Society near Macleay Park in northwest Portland.
Their first child, Timothy Stephen Leatherman was born in 1948. In 1950 she, Kenneth and Tim moved to a home built by Ken on SW Garden Home Road. Stuart Richard Leatherman was born in 1950. Arlene, Ken, Tim, and Stu lived in the house for eight years. In 1958 they moved to another home built by Ken in the Bridlemile area of SW Portland, where she and Ken lived for the next 56 years. Finally at the age of 91 she and 97 year old Ken moved to an independent living facility, but after two years he died and her health immediately declined. She died a peaceful death of natural causes Nov. 22, 2016 at the age of 94. Arlene spent her entire married life as a homemaker. She loved interior decorating and was skilled in sewing. But her greatest loves were family and church. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church for over 62 years. She also strongly connected with her Norwegian roots. She never visited Norway, but corresponded with Norwegian relatives and was visited several times by relatives from Norway. She had a social conscience and willingly helped others. In 1975 she was instrumental in getting her daughter-in-law's family settled in Portland after they fled from Vietnam. No one ever visited her home without being well fed.
Arlene was born June 22, 1922 to Berntilda and Kristian Gjertsen, an only child. She is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Chau of Portland; son, Stuart and his wife Cathy of Happy Valley; and grandson, Lee and his wife Kelsey of Neskowin.
Published in The Oregonian from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14, 2016
Arlene Leatherman was born and lived her entire life in Portland, Oregon. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was eight and she was raised by her single working mother. She went to Alameda Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1940. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Wash., for a year before running out of funds and going to work as a secretary at the Carnation Company in Portland.
On Feb. 11, 1945 she married Kenneth Elvene Leatherman at Central Lutheran Church. With housing hard to find after WWII Arlene and Kenneth lived and served as caretakers for several years at the bird sanctuary of the Audubon Society near Macleay Park in northwest Portland.
Their first child, Timothy Stephen Leatherman was born in 1948. In 1950 she, Kenneth and Tim moved to a home built by Ken on SW Garden Home Road. Stuart Richard Leatherman was born in 1950. Arlene, Ken, Tim, and Stu lived in the house for eight years. In 1958 they moved to another home built by Ken in the Bridlemile area of SW Portland, where she and Ken lived for the next 56 years. Finally at the age of 91 she and 97 year old Ken moved to an independent living facility, but after two years he died and her health immediately declined. She died a peaceful death of natural causes Nov. 22, 2016 at the age of 94. Arlene spent her entire married life as a homemaker. She loved interior decorating and was skilled in sewing. But her greatest loves were family and church. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church for over 62 years. She also strongly connected with her Norwegian roots. She never visited Norway, but corresponded with Norwegian relatives and was visited several times by relatives from Norway. She had a social conscience and willingly helped others. In 1975 she was instrumental in getting her daughter-in-law's family settled in Portland after they fled from Vietnam. No one ever visited her home without being well fed.
Arlene was born June 22, 1922 to Berntilda and Kristian Gjertsen, an only child. She is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Chau of Portland; son, Stuart and his wife Cathy of Happy Valley; and grandson, Lee and his wife Kelsey of Neskowin.
Published in The Oregonian from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14, 2016
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