Velma Lucille Siegrist

Velma Lucille Brockway was born in Beloit, Kansas to parents Ernest and Sarah (Keeler) Brockway on December 9, 1911. She grew up on a farm and it was there that she learned the value of hard work, family, and cooperation. She spent a lot of time in the kitchen with her mother in her younger years and developed a love for cooking and baking. They cooked all day long preparing meals for the family and the farm help and anyone who visited them. She had one sister, Verda. She attended and graduated from high school in Kansas.

She married Harry A. Siegrist on November 4, 1929 in Simpson, Kansas. They had three children, Richard, Dorothy, and James. From Kansas, the family relocated to Waco, Texas where Harry was a civilian instructor to the United States Air Force. In 1937, the family packed up everything and headed out west in their blue Ford to the Portland, Oregon area. They made a home in Vanport and Velma and Harry went to work in the Portland Shipyards to support the war effort. Harry worked as a ship painter, and Velma worked as a welder. She was small in stature, so she was able to climb into the hard-to-reach spaces and often performed dangerous, precarious tasks.

On Memorial Day, 1948, the family lost their home and everything in it; victims of the infamous Vanport Flood. The family held fast during that difficult time and in 1950, they purchased a home on Baldwin Street in St Johns.

In addition to her role as wife, mother, and homemaker, Velma worked outside the home as a nurse’s aide; first for Kaiser Hospital in Vanport and later for Emanuel Hospital for seven years. She later worked in retail and was a housewares manager for Montgomery Ward, Olds and Kings, and finally, Liberty House, from which she retired in 1986. She and Harry attended North Baptist Church. Velma was also a devoted member of the Order of the Amaranth and she was a three-time Matron of Honor of her lodge. She enjoyed cooking and baking and her fried chicken was legendary.

Harry passed away in 1987 and in 1988, Velma and her sister Verda purchased a home to live together in Vancouver, Washington. As her sister Verda faced health challenges, Velma took great care of her. Velma continued to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Following the death of her sister, Velma’s son James came to live with her in her home in Vancouver. She had the blessing of being independent up until her very last days. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Velma is predeceased by her parents Ernest and Sarah; her loving husband Harry; and sister Verda. Survivors include her sons Richard D. Siegrist of Anchorage, Alaska and James E. Siegrist (wife Sherry) of Vancouver, Washington; her daughter, Dorothy L. Young of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren: Randy, Ron, Mike, Ken, Mark, Kevin, Stephen, and Karen; many great-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Velma's Life will take place in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Chapel, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Friday, December 21st, 2012, at 1pm. Please visit the guestbook portion of this online memorial.