×

Gary Witteman

June 6, 1937-April 8, 2021

Gary Morris Witteman

of Portland, Oregon

passed away peacefully at

the age of 83 on April 8,

2021.

Gary was born to Ed

and Christine Witteman,

nee Wright, near

Westhope, North Dakota

on June 6, 1937. Ed and

Christine farmed land in

Bottineau County and

they later had homes in

Westhope and Minot.

Gary had an older sister,

Norma, an older brother,

Victor, and a younger sis-

ter Darlene.

Gary attended public

schools in Westhope, and

later studied electrical en-

gineering at North Dakota

State University. He took

a job with Boeing in Seat-

tle after graduation. In

Seattle he met Marcia

Ann Whalen. They mar-

ried in 1962 and they had

three children: Mike,

Mark, and MaryBeth. Gary

left Boeing after about a

year for a position with

the Federal Aviation Ad-

ministration and later

worked for the Bonneville

Power Administration. In

the early years of his

career he lived in Seattle,

Oklahoma City, and Great

Falls, Montana, but set-

tled in Portland in 1963

where all of his children

were raised.

Gary and Marcia di-

vorced in 1985. He mar-

ried Dorothy Mackie in

1990. Gary retired in

1992, and he and Dorothy

enjoyed traveling togeth-

er, along with various

volunteer work and politi-

cal activism. They were

active members of the

Parkrose Community Un-

ited Church of Christ.

They also enjoyed attend-ing their grand childrens’

athletic events, plus stage

and musical perfor-

mances. Dorothy passed

away in 2012.

Gary lived his final two

years at Russellville Park

in Portland, most of it in

their memory care unit.

Gary enjoyed the group

activities there, and his

children extend their gra-

titude for the warmth and

care the staff consistently

supplied, along with that

of Bristol Hospice.

Gary is survived by: his

three adult children,

Mike, Mark, and Mar-

yBeth, and their mother

Marcia. Gary is also sur-

vived by Dorothy’s three

children, who he loved

dearly: Mike, Jim, and

Dan, and by eight grand

children and three great

grandchild.

Gary is preceded in

death by: his parents Ed

and Christine, his wife

Dorothy, and his siblings

Norma, Vic, and Darlene.

There will be a memori-al service at Parkrose

Community United

Church of Christ, and

Gary’s remains will be

buried with Dorothy’s at

the Sunnyside Memorial

Gardens. A precise date

for burial and memorial

service has not yet been

set. In lieu of flowers,

please consider making a

donation to the

Alzheimer’s Association

or the Michael J. Fox

Foundation for Parkin-

sons Research.