Brenda Darlene Winter

Brenda Winter was born on December 24th, Christmas Eve 1958 in Malin, Oregon. She was the best Christmas gift ever to this family who lived in Tulelake, California 10 miles from the hospital. She lived in Tulelake until 1965 when her parents moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon and this was her home until she married.

Brenda became a Christian in high school and while on a choir tour, was baptized in Flathead Lake in Montana by her brother-in-law Pastor Michael Hanford.

In all of her growing up years, Brenda said, “My dream is to be a wife and a mother.” Her dream came true when she met and married the love of her life, Damon Winter. They were married in the Klamath Falls Assembly of God church on September 10, 1977. They moved to Salem in 1980, then to Hillsboro in 1983 and lived there until 1990 when they purchased a home in Lake Oswego where they lived until 2018 when they moved to Tigard.

During those years she became a mother to two sons who were her greatest joys in life. She could never stop talking about how much she was so blessed to love and be loved by Damon and to be mom to Aaron and Nathan.

Brenda’s first job was at Woolworth’s in Klamath Falls, where Damon would come in and flirt with her on the job. Brenda’s career took off when she became the Personal Manager at Kmart in Hillsboro, then later began working for RFD Publications. As time went on, she also held positions at Interiors Northwest, and then later Customline Shower CO., in Lake Oswego.

Brenda had an incredible ability to connect with people of every kind and making them feel valued. She carried the ability to both listen and contribute brilliant perspectives that changed countless lives throughout her lifetime. Her timely wit and ability to make you laugh and turn you to faith in the heavenly Father as she had a way of always reminding you, “to whom much is given, much is required”. She will always be remembered for her bright, beautiful smile and her compassionate and caring heart. Even later in life when health issues constrained her, she would express her love through cards, and hunt down personalized gifts with items we didn’t even realize we needed. Even though a failing heart took her away from this world, her loving heart left a beacon of light for all of us.

She leaves behind her husband, Damon Winter of Tigard, sons, Aaron Winter of Auburn, WA and Nathan Winter of Springfield, OR. and sister, Yvonne Hanford of Monroe, WA. She was preceded in death by her mother, Nana Lee Chandler and father, Denver Chandler and brother, Ron Cross and Marchill (Mark) Earl Chandler.

She was a member of Manna House Church and served as the Human Resource Executive Director for Hearts of Fire International Ministries.