OBITUARY

Terence Jay Ramseth

FEBRUARY 19, 1942 – NOVEMBER 10, 2022

IN THE CARE OF

Bateman Carroll Funeral Home

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend

Terence (Terry) Jay Ramseth passed away at the age of eighty years old on November 10, 2022 from a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Terry was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin and was the only child to Einar Jay and Pearl Doris Ramseth. The family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1956 and Terry graduated from Reynolds High School in 1960. Terry was a member of the band and played the Coronet. He enjoyed building things and exceled in shop classes. In high school he loved fast and shiny cars, a passion that continued for the remainder of his life. Terry attended Oregon State University and had initial plans to be a dentist. Those plans changed along the way after meeting his high school girl friend Joanne. His first job was working nine years for Electronic Specialties (now Boeing) in the milling department. In 1972 he started a long and successful career with the City of Gresham retiring from his position as the Superintendent of Parks in 1999. Terry was instrumental in the creation of many of the parks now enjoyed by so many. In his retirement letter to the City he wrote “The Gresham parks system is like a huge blank canvas and I just started creating a portrait of what’s to come by adding a little color to it. There is still a world of color and creativeness still to be added to this portrait from where I left off and will continue to need and add many more broad and vivid colors to it.” Terry’s love for landscaping and creating a canvas was evident in his personal yard. It was a showcase and a legacy he will always be remembered for.

Terry and Joanne raised their family in Gresham. They spent many summers camping with large groups of friends and spending time on his jet boat. Terry loved home entertainment. He was an expert with sound and video equipment and always had the latest technology on display for family and friends. As a young boy, Terry started a fascination with train sets. In retirement, he was able to realize a lifetime dream of getting his original Lionel train sets out, adding in many new pieces, and building an RV garage sized train environment. It was always a special treat for the grandkids when Papa ran the show for them and mesmerized them with all of the many engines, accessories and fun of this unique hobby. Terry had a special place in his heart for the pets that were a part of his life over the years. For many years, Terry and Joanne had multiple bunnies that had the fanciest enclosures ever built that included mini-blinds, heating and cooling! In 2008, Terry and Joanne bought a second home in Gearhart, Oregon where they built many more memories with family and friends enjoying the Oregon Coast. It also gave Terry a whole extra acre to landscape and show off his talents in the yard.

Terry is survived by his wife Joanne Marie (Schmidt) Ramseth of almost sixty years, son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Julie Ramseth, daughter and son-in-law Renee and Mike Russell, and his grandchildren Madison, Brianna, Kennedy and Samuel and his loyal dog Bentley.

No service is scheduled at this time and the family plans to host a celebration of life in Spring of 2023. The family requests that donation remembrances can be made in his honor to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network www.pancan.org. Arrangements by Bateman Carroll Funeral Home