Marian Kathleen Boettcher

Marian Kathleen Boettcher, 93, died in the early morning hours of January 6 of acute renal failure. The child of James William Wilson and Theolina Gina Wilson (Pederson), was born in Kenmare, North Dakota and migrated to Oregon the year after her marriage. She graduated Minot State Teachers College in elementary education. She taught general education in Oregon schools to start, then moved to the love of her life, music, from which she never left. She received a Master’s Degree from Portland State University in the mid-1960’s.

As a child, she took piano lessons from a Catholic nun, Mother Marie Therese, whom she often credited with her excellence on the instrument. She went on to sing opera in college and later, took up singing the swing music of the 1940’s. After getting to Portland, she joined the Portland Chorale and was in the traveling group, a high distinction.

Her innate abilities of perfect pitch and instantaneous musical key transposition made her the ideal teacher and accompanist for any age or any audience. She taught school singing groups, both general and special small group. The Gresham and Barlow high schools were the recipients of the best singers in East County, having been tutored by Marian. She mastered the art of convincing grade school boys that it was okay to be in choir by approaching the school athletes to have them sing for her. Once those kids were in the choir, other boys would follow.

As a Catholic parishioner, she played organ and piano for services at St. Joseph The Worker Church in East Portland. She would also play for weddings and funerals. When she moved to Cascadia Village in Sandy in her 90’s, she continued to provide music for events and dinners, using her transposition skill, yet still intact, to lower the high notes printed in the musical scores so the older sopranos in the group could still belt them out. In her last Christmas outing with family, she took to the piano and, from memory, played a number of old Christmas favorites in full, luscious chords. She was singing Frank Sinatra with the family the day before her passing.

Marian is survived by her three sons: Rodney (Pamela), Richard (Julie), and Mark. Also surviving are grandchildren Logan, Rhiannon, Keir, Alex and Jillian, niece Sally Church and nephews Bob and Mike Wilson. She was also preceded in death by her brother, James Wilson

Mom was a feisty character who, up to and until the very end, would tell us what was what and how things were going to be. She had many of her extended family with her the night before her death and called them by name as she spoke with each. She was an ardent supporter of conservancy and nature groups and gave religiously to the Mount Angel Abbey/Monastery. This from a little lady who had found her voice in the kind and benevolent music of the church, thereafter never letting it be silenced.

The funeral, memorial gathering and entombment will be on Thursday, January 19, beginning at 12 noon at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, south of Foster Road on SE 112th Ave.