Roswitha K. Bamford

Roswitha K. Bamford

March 30, 1954 – April 15, 2025

Roswitha K. (née Freres) Bamford, born in Trier, Germany, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025, with family by her side at home in Portland, Oregon, after battling a long-term illness.

Roswitha is survived by her daughters Christina and husband Matt of Oregon, Ellen of Germany, and Sonja and husband Patrik of Sweden; her three cherished grandchildren Lucas, William, and Sophia; and her loyal dog Fritz. She was preceded in death by her father Martin and mother Maria; her sister Cilli; and by her husband of 38 years, Timothy, just last year.

The beloved daughter of Martin Wilhelm Freres and Susanna Maria (née Braun) was born in Trier, Germany, on March 30, 1954. Roswitha was shaped by strength and resilience from an early age. After the passing of her father when she was just 17, she stepped up to help support her family, by earning her driver’s license early under special circumstances and working hard to contribute. That sense of responsibility and tenacity never left her.

Her parents were well known in their rural community for their hard work. Her father worked as a truck driver during WWII, and after retirement, became a taxi driver. After her father’s death, Roswitha and her mother owned and operated a local taproom that became a gathering place for neighbors and friends. They also owned and managed rental properties, and when a young USAF officer stationed at the Spangdahlem Air Base rented one of those apartments, she had met her future husband. Roswitha and Timothy married in 1985 and were blessed with three daughters: Christina and twin girls, Ellen and Sonja.

As a military spouse and mother, Roswitha continued to serve her community throughout her life. She was recognized with awards for her contributions as a parent volunteer in her children’s schools and participated in local community events such as the weekly flea markets on base, where her friendliness and work ethic were always evident.

She was fluent in Bitburger Platt, a dialect unique to the Eifel region of Germany, often sharing colorful expressions she’d heard through her own parents:

“Cherche die Kuekelsche aus dem Jardin!”

(“Go get the little chickens out of the garden!”)

Roswitha also enjoyed quoting the playful blend of German and English as it emerged in conversations between American GIs and locals. One of her favorite tongue-in-cheek sayings was, “I put you in the Kellerloch, that you nimmer see the Tageslicht anymore!”—a line always delivered with a twinkle in her eye and a teasing smile.

Roswitha was a gifted cook and baker, and her Goldtröpfchenkuchen (a meringue-topped cheesecake with golden, sugary droplets) was legendary among family and friends. She also loved to garden, finding peace and joy in nurturing flowers and plants. She had a fondness for animals, especially cats and dogs, often trying to adopt strays as a child.

Though she faced many hardships, she remained steady and strong—except when it came to spiders! A treasured family memory still brings laughter: during one of her husband’s TDY assignments, she confronted a spider as large as her hand, ultimately trapping it under a stainless-

steel pot and placing a wooden spoon on top for good measure! There it remained until her husband returned home to “dispatch” the spider.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with a viewing beginning at 1:30 PM, at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 333 SW Skyline Blvd, Portland, OR 97221. A livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person (link to follow). Flowers and condolences may be delivered directly to the cemetery or by contacting +1-503-292-6621.

Contributions may be made to Christina Bamford to help cover funeral expenses and medical bills. For details, please contact Christina at +1-971-275-7581.

An old German saying cherished by Roswitha and passed down through generations, brings a smile to those who remember it:

„Schinken ist ein gutes Essen.

Ich selber hab’ es noch nie gegessen.

Aber meines Vaters Bruders Sohn

hat in seiner frühesten Jugend schon

neben einem dicken Herrn gesessen,

und dieser hat zugesehen,

wie ein And’rer hat den Schinken gegessen.“

Roswitha will be remembered for her boundless determination, her fierce independence, her generosity, and the many lives she touched with her presence.