Boring resident, Mary Bernhardt died at her daughter’s home with her family by her side in Sandy on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the age of 95.
A Funeral Service will be held at Sandy Funeral Home on Friday, July 6, 2012 at noon. A private burial will follow at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
She was born, Mary Agnes Boyko on November 20, 1916 in Killdeer, North Dakota to Mokey Boyko and Eva (Marinenko) Boyko. She was raised in Killdeer and received her elementary education there. During the Depression, the family moved to Oregon and made their home in the Portland area. For a time, Mary and her sister moved to Oakland, California where they both worked as a waitress. Mary later returned to Portland where she was employed at BPA and later at the Governor Hotel downtown Portland.
Mary was married to Raymond R. Bernhardt on March 6, 1948. They made their home in Portland and began their family. Prior to moving to a farm in Boring in February of 1952, the family lived in Gresham for a short time. Mary and her husband ran the farm together, raising dairy cattle and primroses. After Raymond’s death in July of 1967, Mary continued running the farm and worked at Heidi’s Bakery and Eve’s Restaurant. In 1976, Mary attained her GED at Mt. Hood Community College. In 1980, Mary and her family began raising greyhounds and boarding them. Central Cascade Kennel’s was known to be the largest greyhound boarding farm in the state of Oregon. At the age of 81, Mary and her son began a delivery service, delivering flowers and later lost luggage from the airlines. In October of last year, Mary slowed down and officially retired at the age of 94.
Mrs. Bernhardt loved flowers and gardening, listening to Polka Music and Johnny Cash, cooking Eastern Europe Cuisine, was a member in her childhood years of the Russian Orthodox Church and in the 1960’s was a member of the Primrose Society.
Surviving is her son, David Bernhardt of Boring; her daughters, Diane Dodge of Maupin and Donna Gage of Sandy; 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her son, Ray. Mary is the last surviving child of 9 siblings.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Legacy Hospice.