Mildred "Middy" Lewis
September 19, 1921 - April 5, 2020

Middy was born in 1921 to Isaac LeRoy Dale and Marie Alice (Card) Dale in Billings, Montana. She was an only child and when her aunt saw her name Mildred Irene Dale, she said, "look at that, MID." Hence her lifelong nickname "Middy."

She was born in a one-room house which now serves as the local post office. Middy had some wonderful childhood memories. Her father worked at the sugar beet factory and later at Ryan Wholesale Grocery/Cash and Carry in Billings. Middy's father was also a bootlegger and made his own bathtub gin, wine, and beer. At a very young age, Middy and several of her friends decided to do some sampling of the wine. Middy drank enough wine to make her very sick and she always said she never tasted the wine again, saying, "even the smell of wine makes me sick!" At the age of 2, Middy contracted infantile paralysis, which meant she wore braces on her legs throughout most of her childhood. At an eighth grade dance, Middy grew frustrated because she was not being asked to dance. So, she went home, threw the braces to the top of the closet and went back to the dance, where she danced the rest of the evening. Middy continued her love of dancing for the rest of her life.

Middy graduated during World War II in the very first senior class at Billings High School. She chose to serve her country by working at the Boeing Plant in Seattle. If you remember the expression, "Rosie the Riveter" then you know what Middy did for work at Boeing. She worked the graveyard shift because it added five cents to her $2.95/hour wage.

After a brief 11 month marriage to a sailor, Middy divorced and met John "Jack" Lewis in 1947. They were married for 33 years before Jack passed away in 1980. Jack worked as a land appraiser for the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). His career took the family around the Mid-West and Western states; Billings, MT, Palm Springs, CA, Pine Ridge, SD, Everett, WA and finally to the Portland, OR area where they lived primarily on Indian reservations. When the family arrived in Portland, Middy exclaimed, "That's it! We are staying put!"

Middy worked many jobs during her lifetime and finally retired as a banker. Middy had a real fondness for country music. Middy and her daughter, Claudia, taught country western dancing in Canby for seven years. Middy would take her grandson and her son with her when she taught because she needed a dance partner. Middy combined her love for travel and dancing when she and Claudia traveled to many states teaching country western dancing. Middy eventually conceded her dance partners to their wives when they dated and married their own dance partners that they met at the classes. Middy called Bingo at the Oregon City VFW club for many years. She was also an avid bowler and served as the league secretary for several years.

In 2014, Middy moved to Miramont Pointe Senior Living in Clackamas, OR. She joined her long time friend, Janice "Jan" Tracy. She visited a number of communities but the minute she walked through the door at MP, she was impressed with the beautiful grand piano and gorgeous, inviting entry-way and lobby. She was very proud of her custom 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette that she licensed as "Middy" which she drove up until last year.

Middy is survived by her four children; Claudia (Gary) Brayton of Woodburn OR; Barbara (Jerry) Wight of Belfair, WA; Rebecca "Becky" (Randy) Layton of Vancouver, WA, and Jonathan "Jo" (Renee) Lewis of Milwaukee, OR. Middy has 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, step-daughter, Jackie Bergstrom and granddaughters, Annette Witt Swanson and Desiree Bates.

Per Middy's wishes, there will be no final services but the family will join together, when possible, for a celebration of her long, loving and giving life.