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.