Erma LitscherBieler Reed

Erma Reed

Erma was born in Portland, Oregon. She was the second daughter of Ernest E. and Mary (Galbraith) Litscher. She attended Woodlawn Elementary School and Jefferson High School in Portland before moving to Eugene and graduating from Eugene High School. She attended the University of Oregon for two years and then transferred to Oregon State College (now University) where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics in 1935.
            She married John R. Bieler on June 1, 1936, and they settled on a remote cattle ranch south east of Klamath Falls. Erma taught briefly at Henley and Bly High Schools. John and Erma raised three children: Bob, born in 1937; Barbara, born in 1939; and Marycile, born in 1941.
            When the Great Depression made ranching unprofitable for small ranchers, the family moved to Bly. They moved next to Eugene, Oregon, in 1945, where Erma continued to live until she had a serious stroke at age 90. She then moved to Olympia, Washington, to be near her daughter and family. Erma said she had been born an Oregonian and found it difficult to be a Washingtonian. In her heart she was always an Oregonian and will be interred there.
            Erma began cooking full meals for her family at age 8. She was always interested in food. She was an excellent cook and saw that her food looked as good as it tasted. She loved to organize banquets and meals for family gatherings and holidays. She used her great skills in organization and planning, and her knowledge of foods and nutrition professionally when she began working for the Eugene School District’s school lunch program. She was hired as a substitute cook and six months later became assistant director. Two years later she became director of the school lunch program in Springfield, Oregon, which became, under her direction, one of the outstanding programs in the state. She served as president of the Oregon School Lunch Association. Upon her retirement she organized a local retired school cooks organization to continue friendships and interests she had developed over her career.
            Erma was interested in genealogy and writing.  She wrote two books about unusual experiences in her life. She enjoyed word puzzles and read widely. She loved to travel, whether to exotic places or just camping locally. She was a collector, especially of miniature tea sets, folk dolls, pull toys, and old kitchenware and muffin pans. She disliked being idle and believed a person should contribute to society. She made numerous quilts for missions in Alaska, created beautiful religious banners, and —right up to her death— cut out countless pictures for preschool children’s early learning activities. John and Erma were founding members of Trinity United Methodist Church and were active in the church for more than 50 years.
John died in 1989. In 1990 she married Leo L. Reed, a long-time family friend. She gladly became stepmother to his sons Dale, Steve and Doug and their families. Erma and Leo enjoyed 17 years of marriage before he died in 2007.
Erma is survived by her children Bob and Elisa Bieler of LaPine, OR, Barbara Bieler of McMinnville, OR,  Marycile and Dave Olexer of Olympia, WA; grandchildren Michelle Fitzpatrick, Ron Bieler, Shane Bieler, David Olexer, and Laurel Dickason; and 9 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her stepsons, their children, grandchildren, and great –grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Margaret Anderson, and husbands John Bieler and Leo Reed.
Her family will miss her good sense, her stubborn determination, her good humor, and her abiding love and interest in her family.
The family requests that remembrances be directed to the Family Development Center, 300 Jerry’s Drive, Roseburg, Or 97470 or to another children’s program.
A celebration of Erma Reed’s life will be held on May 22, 2010, at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 515 SW Maplecrest Drive, Portland, OR  97219 at 1:00 pm. A luncheon will follow at the church.