Trudy Meier Christensen

In 1902, a young man, Mike Kehrli, came through Ellis Island, arriving on a ship from Switzerland. He continued his journey, settling in Oregon. In 1910, Katharina Roth also traveled to the U S from Switzerland through Ellis Island and made her way to Oregon. They met, fell in love and a beautiful family story began when they married in 1913.

In 1926, they welcomed the youngest of their 7 children, Gertrude Helen. She was named after Gertrude Ederle, who just 3 days earlier had been the first woman to swim the English Channel. Trudy joined three sisters, Marie and twins Margaret and Rosa, and three brothers Walt, Mike and Andy. The children were raised on the family dairy farm in Gresham, located beside what is now Burnside. Those early years were filled with family, cousins, swiss socials, and church activities. Sadly, their mother died in 1940, when Trudy was only 14 years old. Trudy attended Gresham Grade School and graduated from Gresham High School in 1944. When she didn’t have a date for the senior prom, her brother Andy had an idea. While taking milk to the market, he had met a young man who was also there with milk from his family farm. He brought him home to meet her, not very happy when she met them at the door with curlers in her hair. But it worked, they attended the prom and on March 3, 1945 Trudy married Earl Meier. After farming in Corbett for a short time, Earl and Trudy joined his parents and brother, Larry and Arabel as partners in Meier Dairy Farm in Boring. The farm was the perfect place to raise their five children Janet, Carol, Curt, Ken and Colleen. Trudy was not only a busy mom but also helped with the farm business. The dairy produced raw milk which they delivered with other milk products to homes, schools, stores, and hospitals. She was active in Rebekah lodge, hospital volunteer, school PTA, church choir, Clackamas County dairywomen, the Meier Dairy bowling team, 4-H leader, and supported Earl and the children in their activities. Trudy was the one who hosted Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas Eve celebrations, and cabin picnics, events that brought family together. One of her favorite sayings was “we are making memories”. As her siblings passed away, she continued to gather the family, reaching out to nieces and nephews with love and comfort.

When Earl passed away in 1984, Trudy faced her loss with the comfort of her strong faith. She drew her children close with the courage and love they all needed. During those years she was involved in her many activities but also had time to spend with her growing number of grandchildren, the joy of her life.

In 1994, she met and married John Christensen. During their marriage of 15 years, they enjoyed traveling and spending the winters in Arizona. Together they enjoyed spending time with their families. John passed away in 2009. In the last few years she has enjoyed meeting her high school classmates and the Boring Bible Belles bible study for lunch once a month. These longtime friends were very dear to her.

Through the years there were many joys but also sorrows and hurts. Trudy mourned the passing of her daughter Carol, daughter-in-law Annette and grandson Travis. She would always draw on her faith in God and spread comfort and strength to those around her, especially her children.

Trudy was not only Mom to her children but, Grammi to her grandchildren and their spouses, and GiGi (“G G”) or MeMe to her 26 great grandchildren. Her presence and influence in their lives continues as they all draw together now to support each other and honor her. She was and always will be loved.