Muriel Joyce Lothes

Muriel Joyce Spangrud was born to Roy B and Bessie (Dagen) Spangrud on February 16, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. She moved as an infant with her father Roy and Bessie (Dagen—Spangrud) to Karlstad Minnesota to join other family members in a farming community. Next Sister Gloria and big brother Leroy joined the family.

Mother Bessie died from an explosion fire when Muriel was just eight. Roy later married a hired “girl” Rosella who added Brothers Harvey and Glen and sister Lorraine to the family.

In and around 1940, hearing of the promise of a good living in Portland, Rosella’s brother Albert convinced the family to join him out west to Oregon. Their first home was in the St Johns neighborhood of North Portland. Muriel recalled living in a big house behind Bottom and Currier clothes store. At the time their rent was $20.00 per month.

Muriel attended Roosevelt her freshman year and then left school to briefly work in the family restaurant “The Green Lantern.” She left the restaurant for a job that paid better than nothing. Muriel went to work for the Southern Pacific railroad. She was trained in Morse code to track the trains and grab mail or messages coming and going from trains.

Dyke Oregon was truly in the middle of nowhere. There was no town, no highway, and you had to order your grocery’s delivered by train. A kitchen crew train would come along the tracks to feed the crew, or you could ride the trains to town. She had enough of the hard living so she came back to Portland to work in the shipyards as a welder.

Muriel met her first husband while walking down the street in St. Johns; he was just off a merchant marine ship. The courtship was short.

Muriel was married to Vincent (Chico) Buen on June 25th, 1945 in Reno, Nevada at 18 years of age. Chico shipped out from the Port of Seattle while Muriel candled eggs for a living. She read of an opportunity to travel selling magazines so she joined a magazine crew. She traveled with a bunch of ladies through different cities making good money. When they headed to Salt Lake City, she jumped ship with a bunch of ladies to Frisco as she knew Chico would be getting off ship there. In San Francisco, Muriel worked off and on at the very first See’s candy shop doing packing and shipping. She thought dipping chocolates was too messy!

Pregnant with her first child Rick, Muriel returned to Portland.

On Memorial Day, 1948, a near 9 months pregnant Muriel experienced the VanPort flood where she lost all of her possessions. Ricky was born 10 days later. Ronnie was born in 1949, Randy 1952 and Rodney 1955.

Muriel worked Christmases for 11 years at the Post Office to provide presents for her children. She worked various jobs to make ends meet. Chico worked for the Portland Water Bureau and they lived in Columbia Villa or Guiles Lake location until they purchased a new home on N. Syracuse.

Muriel’s and Chico’s marriage was at an end and in 1959 Muriel met Joe Lothes while he was rooming at the Vaughn’s house across the street, later to become Joan and Austin Browns. Joe and Muriel married in 1959. Their daughter Rose Marie was born in 1960.

Joe and Muriel were married for 50 years and 2 days when Joe passed after many years of illnesses. During their time together they celebrated life as they always did by doing what they enjoyed, living the life they wanted to live. In 1976, Muriel told her daughter Rose of a motel for sale on the Washington coast. It sounded just right for them so Rose enlisted her then boyfriend now husband Randy to drive her up to look at it. It looked perfect for them to retire to and Rose came right home and told her mother to buy it. After a quick visit, the motel was purchased. This was a perfect fit for them and they thrived there. Daughter Rose learned to drive on the peninsula. As a family, they created many lasting memories and cherished experiences together there.

Muriel’s children grew up hunting, fishing, foraging, and growing food. They fondly recollect many weekends at the beach crabbing, fishing, and digging clams.

Joe passed away in 2009. Muriel’s son Randy passed away just a year before Joe in 2008. With the infrequency of family visits, it was time for Muriel to leave her coastal home in Washington and return to St Johns to be closer to family. In St Johns, Muriel spent most of her time with her best friend Brewster the long haired Chihuahua and Stormy the cat.

Muriel is predeceased by her loving husband Joe; son, Randy Buen; her parents; and brothers, Leroy Spangrud, Glenn Spangrud, and Harvey Spangrud.

Survivors include her sons; Ricky, Ronnie (wife Kathy), and Rodney Buen; daughter, Rose Crouchley (husband Randy); sisters, Gloria Bowman and Lorraine Calcagno; grandchildren: Stacy Meacham, Erica Schoen, Rhonda Buen, Kimmy Buen, Marlena Buen-Redman, Ronson Buen, Rory Buen, Robby Buen, Ricky “Little Rick” Buen, Ryan Buen, and Rochelle Buen; 21 great-grandchildren and 9 great –great-grandchildren, many extended family; and her loyal doggie companion, Brewster, the long haired Chihuahua.

A Funeral Service will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, December 21, 2018, at 12 noon. Visitation will be held one hour prior in Skyline Chapel.

Muriel will be privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens of Portland.

Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society. Thank you.

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