Brenda Marie Elwonger was born November 19, 1959 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Clarence Gilbert and Evangeline Edna (Enziminger) Mittleider, and passed away after a long illness in Vancouver, Washington on April 9, 2024, age 64.
Brenda lived with her family in farmhouses near Tappen, North Dakota in her youth. She was a 1978 graduate of Tappen High School, where she competed at basketball and track, and earned a diploma from Hillcrest Christian College in Alberta, Canada in 1981. Having met Jonathan Elwonger at Hillcrest in 1980, the couple were united in marriage on June 5, 1981 in Jamestown, North Dakota, and stayed in Alberta briefly while Jon finished his own degree. They moved to Edmonds, Washington in 1983, where Brenda worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, and then to Milwaukie, Oregon, where Jon attended seminary school and Brenda furthered her career in the medical field, working as an RN and RCM and attaining a Bachelor’s degree in 2011 and a Master’s in 2013, continuing her hard work and studies even after her health began to be an issue in 2003. She worked for ten years at Clackamas Rehab and for 19 years at various locations in the Marquis Care network. Brenda and Jon welcomed their first child, Timothy, in 1984, and daughter Sarah in 1988.
Brenda and her family enjoyed camping and trips to the Oregon coast (Lincoln City and Seaside being favorite destinations). She loved elephants and collected elephant trinkets and accessories. She visited several wildlife safari attractions including Winston Wildlife Safari. Driving trips to visit family in North Dakota and Arizona, and family excursions to places like San Francisco and Disneyland were scheduled around her studies and work schedule. She loved tending roses on their property in Milwaukie and Vancouver. Volunteer work, including at her church and as P.T.O. president when her children were at school, was important to her, and even as her health began to decline, she still planned most of her daughter Sarah’s wedding in May of 2022.
Mrs. Elwonger was preceded in death by her parents, and by two great-nephews who died in infancy. She is survived by her husband of over 42 years, Jonathan Elwonger, and by children Timothy Elwonger and Sarah Elwonger-Wilson and her husband Michael Elwonger-Wilson. She is further survived by 2 brothers, Clarence Jr and Greg; 2 sisters, Melody and Lori; and their families. She is also missed by her faithful companion of 15 years, her dog Jack.
Mrs. Elwonger was privately interred at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.
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