Dorothy Elizabeth Keifer

Dorothy Elizabeth (Nelson) Keifer, age 96, was born June 9, 1920, in Superior, Nebraska, and died July 7, 2016, in Portland, Oregon. She was preceded in death by husband Oswin Keifer, Jr., parents Herbert S. Nelson and Ada B. (Henderson) Nelson, brother Louis Nelson, and sister Avis (Nelson) Benson. Dorothy attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, and graduated from Presbyterian School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois. After nursing school, Dorothy worked at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago before joining the US Navy during World War II. During her career in the Navy Nurse Corps she worked at the US Navy Hospital, Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago, Illinois; Naval Air Technical Training Center Dispensary, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois; US Naval Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska; and the US Navy Hospital in Chelsea (Boston), Massachusetts. She was discharged from the Navy in October 1945 at the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG); she turned down a promotion to a higher rank because she did not want to pay for the new insignia.

Dorothy and Oswin married November 10, 1945, in Superior, Nebraska, four weeks before Oswin was discharged from the US Army. They lived in the small Nebraska towns of McCook, Indianola, Arapahoe, and Bostwick. In the spring of 1960, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, when Oswin took a new job. Dorothy worked in a variety of nursing positions while raising the family. Dorothy and Oswin moved to Beaverton, Oregon, in 1983. Dorothy moved to Williamette View in Portland, Oregon, in 2000.

Her love for quilting began as a child quilting alongside her mother and grandmother. Over the years she became interested in learning new techniques, and she attended many quilting conferences and workshops. She participated in many quilting groups and especially enjoyed her involvement in the PHD quilting group that she helped found in Portland, Oregon, 32 years ago. Her quilting legacy is continued by her quilter friends, and members of her family. There was never a Keifer household in want of the warmth of Dorothy’s quilts.

Dorothy is survived by four children: David Keifer of Dryden, New York; Nancy Hamilton (Michael) of Omaha, Nebraska; Stephen Keifer (Andrea) of Beaverton, Oregon; and Paul Keifer (Kellie) of Los Altos, California, four grandchildren: Sarah Keifer of St. Louis, Missouri, Kayla Keifer Anderson (Brandon) of Campbell, California, Jarrett Keifer (Aida) of Beaverton, Oregon, and Joseph Keifer Lindenwold, New Jersey, and daughter-in-law, Janet Keifer of Skillman, New Jersey.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life is planned at Willamette View, in the Commons, Tuesday, July 12th, 2016, at 2:00pm in Portland, Oregon. Family will attend a graveside service at the Willamette National Cemetery where Dorothy will be given full military honors as she is laid to rest next to Oswin.

The family suggests that donations in Dorothy’s memory be made to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation at: Women’s Memorial Foundation, Dept. 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560, http://www.womensmemorial.org/