Dolores Emily Sharadin died peacefully on February 13, 2021 at the age of 96, in Portland, Oregon. She had been recently living at an Adult Care Home. She was surrounded by her daughter Georgina, son-in-law Ken Sievers and granddaughter, Karen Sandor.
Dolores was born on August 8, 1924 in Hillsboro, North Dakota to Mildred and Carl Beltz. She was the eldest of 5 children. She was baptized on August 11, 1924 and confirmed on July 16, 1939 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, North Dakota. Dolores was an excellent student and graduated from Hillsboro High School in May 1941. During her 4 years of high school, she sang in Chorus and participated in the Glee Club. Dolores also served as the editor of the school newspaper her senior year. After her graduation she took a year off to work before heading off to Chicago to attend Concordia College River Forest, Illinois, receiving a three-year Teaching Certificate in 1945. In 1969 Dolores returned to Concordia College River Forest, to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education.
Dolores’ family lived and tended a farm near Hillsboro, North Dakota before moving to Spokane, Washington in the summer of 1945. As the oldest child, Dolores showed herself to be responsible, caring, persevering, hardworking, sweet, and kind, traits that followed her all her life.
After her college graduation in 1945, Dolores accepted a call to serve as a primary grade teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in Portland, Oregon. She began her teaching career with 35 first graders! She taught at Trinity Lutheran School from 1945-48. From 1953-54 Dolores served as the teacher in a one room school, grades 1-8 at St. John’s Lutheran School in Vancouver, Washington. She returned to Trinity, her home congregation, teaching at the school in the early elementary department from 1958-61, 1963-68, 1970-84, and 1993-94, the last time as Interim Principal. In 1983 Dolores received the Lux Christi Award from Concordia University, Portland, which recognizes an outstanding Lutheran educator who has served with distinction.
Dolores married the love of her life, Donald (Don) Sharadin on May 14th, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon and they were together for 52 years before Don passed away in December 2001. In December 1951 they moved into their home, built by Don, which still remains in the family. Don was from Pennsylvania and had served in the Navy. He introduced Dolores to traveling the country and the world, beginning with their honeymoon to Mexico. He taught her to drive and then encouraged her with confidence to drive by herself with 5 little girls from Portland to Pennsylvania in 1960, before he flew out to join the family and drive them home. Numerous trips followed throughout the years. Her last trips were to Arizona and then to Colorado the summer of 2019. Devotion to family and friends was an integral part of their lives. Within a six-year period, they were blessed with five daughters- Kathryn, Ruth, Georgina, Roberta and Susan. Needless to say – a very busy household!
Dolores and Don were strongly committed members of Trinity Lutheran Church serving in many capacities, as well as singing in the choir. Dolores loved the Lord and greatly enjoyed her women’s Bible Study group. They both volunteered tirelessly at Trinity and on the local and regional levels of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and were strong supporters of Concordia University, Portland.
Dolores was predeceased by her husband Don, her parents Mildred and Carl Beltz, her brother Ted Beltz, and two sisters – Eileen Funk and Marjorie Rizzuto. She is survived by sister – Phyllis Berger; daughters Kathryn (Chuck) Gerken, Scottsdale, AZ; Ruth (Ken) Rohrer, Lakeland, FL; Georgina (Ken) Sievers, Portland, OR; Roberta Beck, Kimberly, ID; and Susan (Stephen) Winkler, Littleton, CO. She is also survived by her 15 loving grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
Dolores’s confirmation verse taken from II Timothy 3:14-15 is a true and fitting witness to the life of Dolores Emily Sharadin. She will be forever remembered and cherished with great love and fondness.
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