Darrel Dean Sommerfeld, lovingly known as D by and friends and family, passed away in Gresham, Oregon, New Year’s Eve 12/31/2020. D was born at home in Vernon, Colorado, on February 18, 1933, to Ernest Louis and Lela Christine (Clark) Sommerfeld. D loved to share memories about his youth on the farm and around the Vernon/Wray area where he attended a one-room schoolhouse called Bunchgrass and Vernon High School.
At 17 years old, D got his father’s permission to join the Navy. When he returned on a 3-day leave after boot camp, he married Anna Lee Stewart in Wray. To this union one child was born, Julie in 1958.
D served his U.S. Navy career stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington, during the Japanese occupation of Guam. After an honorary discharge, he started working for John Deere Equipment. During his 35 years career he got promoted to Division Manager of Credit for the western United States and Mexico. Later, he was transferred to the Insurance Division and promoted to Branch Manager.
After transferring to the Portland area, he met and married the love of his life, Leila Rae Dowhan. D and Leila were married in the farmhouse they lovingly remodeled in Troutdale, Oregon.
Upon D’s early retirement, he and Leila settled in Bend, Oregon, where he built his own home and several other houses in nearby Redmond. D further used his carpentry skills as general contractor on a Habitat for Humanity home, Hurricane Katrina cleanup, and building a church in Guatemala.
D enjoyed participating in sports. As a Vernon High School Bulldog, he played basketball and football. The football team went undefeated. While living in San Francisco, he practiced with the 49ers during walk-on tryouts. He also enjoyed golfing, flying his airplane, and driving his Model T.
Later in life D grew in his walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. D and Leila attended Grace Community Church in Gresham. There he started “The Old Guys. Bible Study”. In his home. He valued his friendships with the “Old Guys” and volunteered weekly with some of them at SnowCap Community charities resource center.
D was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, their husbands, and one brother, respectively: Normal (Don) Koehler, Jeanne (Albert) Hanssen (Thomas) Bunker, Virginia (Phillip) Bottler, and Ken Sommerfeld. Also two nephews, one niece and her husband respectively: Ernest Bottler, Andrew Hayers, and Bonnie Bottler (Jim) Simon. Left to celebrate his life and mourn his passing are his wife Leila Rae Sommerfeld; daughter Julie (Perry) Cogburn of Windsor, CO; step-daughters Kathy (Rick) Pugh and Kelly Dowhan; grandchildren Clayton