Ivan Dorit Moffitt

July 14, 1920-June 12, 2005

Ivan was born at his family farm on July 14, 1920, to Clyde Byron and Bertha Vide Moffitt. He passed away at the home he shared with his wife of nearly 59 years, Mary Zoa Willson Moffitt. He is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughter, Karen Larson and her husband, Larry, of Gresham, Oregon; his daughter, Barbara Haugen and her husband, Karl, of Clatskanie, Oregon; his grandson, Brian Radke and his wife, DeeDee, of Battle Ground, Washington; his two granddaughters, Brynn Larson of Gresham and Kara Larson of Orlando, Florida; and his great-granddaughter, Cassidy Radke of Battle Ground, Washington. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Verla Christensen and her husband, Roy, of Shenandoah, Iowa; his sister, Mary Ruth Stevens and her husband, Johnnie, of Clearmont, Missouri; his sister, Effie Crawford of Osceola, Iowa; and his brother, Robert Leroy Moffitt and his wife, Barbara, of Atlanta, Georgia. He was proceded in death by his younger sister, Frances Briley and her husband, The Reverend Donald Briley, of Prescott, Iowa; and his brother-in-law, Jim Crawford, of Osceola, Iowa.

Ivan grew up on a farm in southwest Iowa and purchased his own farm a few years prior to his marriage in 1946. In 1952, he was hospitalized with polio and spent several months in the hospital battling the disease that left him a paraplegic. His amazing strength, fortitude, and desire to succeed enabled him to recuperate, after which he equipped both his car and tractor with hand controls so that he could remain independent and, with the help of his wife, provide for his two young daughters.

At the age of 36, he started college and earned a bachelor of arts in business administration. After graduation in 1959, he accepted a job with the Soil Conservation Service in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1968, he transferred to the Portland office.

Ivan retired in 1980 and spent his retirment years fully enjoying his grandkids, his love of reading, doing crossword puzzles, and traveling. All of us who knew Ivan are proud of the way he approached the challenges of later years in the same way he met earlier ones - with great strength of character, a positive attitude, an engaging sense of humor, and a tremendous love of family. He will remain in our hearts forever.