Ruth Christa Kretzinger

October 5, 1928 - December 11, 2018

Ruth Christa Kretzinger, October 5, 1928-December 11, 2018 Ruth’s parents, Kurt and Selma Weber, and her sister Elsie, had emigrated from Germany and settled in Oregon City. Ruth was born in Portland on October 5, 1928. Ruth grew up in Oregon City and graduated from Oregon City High School in 1946. She then attended Pacific University in Forest Grove. In 1951 Ruth married Loren Kretzinger. Ruth worked as a secretary at Firestone and later, both Loren and Ruth were employed at and retired from Tektronix in Beaverton, with over 20 years on the job. Ruth and Loren had two sons, Mark and Bryan. As a family, they were active in Cub Scout and Boy Scout activities. The family took numerous trips to Germany to visit relatives. In their retirement, Ruth and Loren enjoyed trips to Las Vegas and going on cruises with their friends and family. At home, Ruth and Loren spent much of their time restoring a 1957 T-Bird, which Ruth had painted her favorite color, red. Ruth and Loren were married for 54 years. Loren passed away in 2005. After Loren’s death, Emery Rohde, a family friend for over 54 years, got in touch with Ruth. In 1953, Emery had married Ruth’s best friend in High School and roommate in college, Elaine Knoefel. Emery had just lost Elaine the year before. Ruth and Emery began dating and were married in 2006. It was wonderful to see two people finding love for the second time, holding hands and laughing together. Ruth and Emery lived in Summerfield and then King City. Ruth enjoyed gardening and was especially fond of growing angel trumpet plants. Ruth and Emery traveled to Germany, Alaska, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC, as well as many trips in Oregon and Washington. Ruth and Emery were married for 12 years. Ruth passed away on December 11th due to complications from hip replacement surgery. Ruth is survived by her husband, Emery, sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Mary, and Bryan and Claudia, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, and her sister, Elsie Miller, along with many nieces and nephews and the entire Rohde family. Services will be held at Hillside Chapel at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 19th. Pastor John Schneider will officiate. Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery later on Wednesday. Donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s and Dementia research or to the Oregon Humane Society.