Mildred Louise Muoth

Our dear mom, Mildred Louise Muoth, always the lady, passes away from lung cancer December 12th in the company of her family. Mildred Muoth was born February 28th 1925, to Albert and Mary Bernert of West Linn, OR. She grew up in the small tight knit community of Willamette, Oregon. Mildred spent much of her childhood playing on the Willamette River and riding bicycles and exploring the area with her double cousin Jim Bernert.

Mildred attended McLaughlin institute in Oregon City until the 10th grade and went on to graduate from West Linn high school. She worked in the Oregon City woolen mills until she attended Marylhurst College. There she met Pat Muoth who introduced her to her brother, Leo. Mom and her family saw him as a wonderful, handsome, orchardist full of warmth and love. Leo and Mildred subsequently married and started a life in his bachelor pad outside of Wapato, Washington, where dad was building a fruit orchard. He introduced her to everyone as “Millie”. Our mother made their simple house into a beautiful home filled with love and fun. She surrounded it with gorgeous flowers and vegetable gardens. Neighbors were always welcomed. Together they had five daughters, Beverly, Mary, Barbara, Leanna, and Vicki. This was the era of post-World War 2 rationing of food, gas, tires, equipment, and parts. Many luxuries were forgone, yet we never felt deprived. Dad was exempt from the war since farmers were considered vital to the war effort. Mom enjoyed sewing pretty dresses and clothing for her daughters. Knitting, crocheting, and crafts were always a delight of her family. She found it a challenge to be resourceful by making cottage cheese, whipped cream, caning for the winter, and baking the most delicious treats. She also love music and poetry. When mom was a young woman, she and her sister Francis sang duets and recorded their songs on an old radio record played, Mom shared her love of music and songs with her children. We enjoyed listening to her play her accordion and Hawaiian guitar. After we acquired a piano, singing together gave us a lot of pleasure.

Mom was active in Parker heights school, Parker Heights Junior Women’s Club, the grange, was active in the Red Cross and a Blue Bird leader. Mom was also a parishioner of Saint Peter Calver Catholic Church in Wapato where she taught Sunday school for years and volunteered in the Saint Teresa Guild. She later volunteered for many years at the Wapato Food Bank. After we were mostly grown, Mildred worked in the office of the Bon Marche, now Macy’s for 13 years, from 1965 until 1979 when she retired to help with her youngest daughter’s new baby girl and to take care of her husband after a stroke. For a total of seven years Millie faithfully and patiently cared for her husband, Leo.

After dad died mom was comforted by her sisters and brother who enjoyed taking several cruises together. In 2012, she moved in with her daughter, Mary Muoth and her husband Mike O’Phelan of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Not only was mom close to the family and relatives, she also lived with her daughter, a nurse, who took excellent care of her through heart surgery and other health related challenges. Mom joined Saint Clare Catholic Church in Portland, OR. She always wanted to be useful, so she continued to volunteer into her 90’s at the Saint Vincent DePaul food bank at St. Clare. Mary and Mike frequently opened their home serving dinners, throwing parties, and having game nights for family and friends. Mom very much enjoyed an active and happy social life and was greatly loved through the years of her life, mom made many wonderful friends. She said near the end of her life, “what more could I ask for?”

Mildred Muoth is survived by 8 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Her daughter Barbra died of polio at age 7 in 1956: and her loving husband of 49 years of marriage died on February 10th 1993. Her sister Frances Grossnickel and brothers Bill and Bob Bernert had gone before her. She is survived by her sister MaryAnn Perlot, her brother Bob’s widow, Ellen, and Mildred’s daughters Beverly (Mike Oard), Mary (Michael O'Phelan), Leanna (Gary Luloff) and Vicki (Arlin Delp).

Visitation will be held at Young’s Funeral Home in Tigard, OR from 2:00pm to 4:30pm. Evening rosary will be at 5:00pm on Friday the 10th of January at Saint Clare Catholic Church in Portland OR. The next day a funeral Mass will be held at Saint Clare Catholic Church at 11:00 AM with a reception in the hall immediately afterwards. A gravesite service will be held at Calvary Catholic Church in Yakima WA on January 13th at 1:00pm followed by a gathering at Vicki and Arlin Delp’s home 8 miles away from Wapato, Washington.

Millie supported the St. Clare School and would have appreciated any contributions for the current and future students to grow in loving Christ in the world. We would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for the genuine care to mom in the last 3 months.