Christine "Chris" Margaret (Vandyke) Sahlfeld Obituary (1913

Christine "Chris" M. (VanDyke) Sahlfeld, 104, a resident of the Hillsboro community passed away on Saturday evening, October 21, 2017 at her home. Chris was born on May 29, 1913 in Verboort, OR. She was the eighth of fourteen children born to Walter and Margaret (Joosten) VanDyke. She attended Visitation Grade School and Verboort High School graduating with the Class of 1931. Chris worked on the family farm, babysat for her nieces and nephews and worked in the Birds Eye Cannery. Later on, she worked atWaverly Baby Home, an orphanage, in Portland OR. She met her future husband, Edward Sahlfeld, while at a dance in Verboort. They were married on February 16, 1939 in Verboort. They made their home on Edwards's family farm in south Hillsboro until 1945 when they moved to their current farm on NW Hornecker Rd. in Hillsboro. They had six children; August (Gus), Theodore (Ted), Mary Jane (Jane), Joseph (Joe), John and Elizabeth (Beth). Edward passed away on November 1, 1999.Chris lived the rest of her life, as she wished, on the farm with the care and support of her children,to whom she consistently expressed her gratitude.Her wonderful and persistent sense of humor was enjoyed by many and continued through her final days. Chris was a loving and devoted wife to her husband and mother to her children. She was an accomplished farm wife; she tended the garden, canned fruits, vegetables and meats (before she had a freezer), sewed most of her family's clothing, and prepared meals for family and farm workers. She taught her children how to pray, work and strive for excellence to "earn diamonds in their crowns."Chris lived by the Golden Rule and taught her children to do so also. One of the most prized lessons was how to work or play together without fighting. Chris was very involved at St. Matthew's Church. She sewed many quilts, pillows, and baby clothes for the annual church bazaar.She was an active member of the Altar Society for over fifty years, and sang in the church choir for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward and son, August, her parents and eleven siblings; Joseph, George, Albert,Theodore, Raymond, Clarence, Howard, Wilhelmina (Holzmeyer), Cecilia (Duyck), Loretta (Vanderzanden) and Florence (Waibel). She is survived by five children and their spouses; Ted and Kathy Sahlfeld of Hillsboro, Jane and Dr. Latham Flanagan of Eugene, Joe and Becky Sahlfeld of Beaverton, John Sahlfeld of Hillsboro, Beth Sahlfeld and Paul Hepler of Cornelius;daughter-in-law, Kathleen Sahlfeld of Hillsboro; sister, Leona Puncochar of Hillsboro; brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Virginia VanDyke of Verboort, sister-in-law, Julie (Sahlfeld) Waibel of Hillsboro; twenty seven grandchildren, thirty nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in Chris's name be made to: St. Matthew School; 221 SE Walnut St, Hillsboro, OR 97123 http://www.stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org/support Visitation Catholic School's-New School Fund; 4189 NW Visitation Road, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 https://verboort.org/online-giving