Elizabeth "Betty" Schmidt Brinster

Betty was born on November 18, 1931 to John C. and Pauline (Miller) Schmidt. She attended elementary school through the ninth grade and then worked on the family farm. Being fiercely independent, Betty moved to town around the age of 18 where she worked until marrying Eugene Brinster in 1953. She and Gene started their family in North Dakota then lived a few years in Montana before moving to Portland Oregon where they raised their family.

Betty was a devoted wife and mother of five children who ran her household with precision and finesse. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do well from cooking, baking, canning, to sewing-all done to perfection. Whether getting her small children ready for church, going to the store, or out with family and friends, Betty always looked beautiful.

Betty and Gene were interested in traveling and knew the value such experiences would bring to their family so when their children were old enough, they began camping and traveling to see the sites. It was nothing for Betty to have everything a family of seven would need packed and ready to load into the station wagon for a two-week vacation, or a trip to see family in North Dakota. Betty made everything look easy. In later years, she and Gene continued traveling throughout the country in their motorhome, enjoying their time together, and making life-long friends along the way.

Betty loved to dance. She and Gene enjoyed many Saturday evenings polka dancing with family and friends. From the stories she shared, boy did they have a good time!

Strong and brave, Betty endured a number of hardships in her life. She faced challenges head-on never complaining. Her determination and strong faith saw her through.

Betty is survived by her daughters Denise Brinster and Colleen (Darren) Soderberg and son Allan (Michelle) Brinster; thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren; sisters Ann Buresh, Leona Godlevsky, Lena (Dean) Oberlander, Edna (Robert) Privratsky; brothers George (Gina) Schmidt, Edward (Pat) Schmidt and Leo (Margaret) Schmidt. Betty is preceded in death by her husband Eugene, three sons Edward, Gordon, and Clyde; three brothers, Frank Schmidt, John Schmidt, and David Schmidt; and one sister, Rose Schmidt Wolf.

In loving memory, beautiful wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, and friend, you will be greatly missed.