A memorial service for Elsie Krieger, a former Sandy and Gresham resident, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 14th, 2012 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8705 E. Burnside St, Portland OR.
Elsie Emma Frenz was born July 15, 1925 in Boring, OR, the second of four children born to Arthur and Emma Frenz. She was baptized on Aug. 9, 1925 and confirmed on April 10, 1938 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sandy, OR. She graduated from a little one room schoolhouse in Sandy Ridge, OR May 19,1938 and from Sandy High School May 21, 1943.
Growing up on a farm, Elsie had many chores to do. Summers were especially busy working on her family’s farm, picking berries on neighboring farms, and helping her mother with the canning duties. Her family didn’t have a car so each Sunday morning they walked the 3 miles into Sandy for Sunday School and church.
After graduating from high school, Elsie left the farm and worked as a secretary in Portland for the John Deere Co. She would go home to the farm on weekends and attend Immanuel Lutheran Church where she met Carl Krieger. They were married there on May 22, 1948. In 1951, Linda was born and then Larry in 1953. Carl had taken on the responsibility of his widowed mother and his sister with special needs, so wherever Elsie and Carl lived, Elsie had the challenge of living next door to her mother in law and sister in law. Having a mother in law next door willing to help with child care also had its benefits. Elsie was able to return to work as a secretary at Clackamas County Bank in Sandy. Elsie continued to work especially hard in the summers, as she had growing up, because while her husband Carl worked for the State Highway Dept, and she worked at the bank, they also had a small berry farm. In 1959, the family plus in laws moved to Forest Grove, OR where Elsie worked at First National Bank. In 1961, the family plus in laws moved to Portland and Elsie worked for Farwest Federal Savings and Loan until she retired in 1983.
Upon retiring, Elsie and Carl built a house on a large lot in Damascus OR where they enjoyed gardening until Carl died in 1988. Elsie moved back to Portland where she was an active volunteer at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. She also volunteered regularly for Loaves and Fishes and Lutheran Family Services where she was honored as volunteer of the year.
Elsie was not only good at growing flowers, she had a natural talent for arranging them. Arranging flowers for the church altar was one of her favorite things to do. She was also amazing at baking. Her pies, cookies and fudge were legendary. She loved playing games. Pinochle was a favorite. She made up different variations of pinochle depending on how many people were around to play.
In the summer of 2010, Elsie had 2 strokes and broke her hip and moved into Good Samaritan Society Fairlawn Village. She died there Dec 8, 2011.
Memorial Contributions in Elsie Krieger’s name can be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church 8705 E. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97216, Lutheran Community Services 605 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd. Portland OR 97214, or Loaves and Fishes 7710 SW 31st Avenue Portland OR 97219.
Survivors include her daughter Linda May and husband Lawrence of Portland OR, son Larry Krieger and wife Donna of Pottstown PA, 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
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