Kathryn Emma Savaloja

Kathryn Emma Savaloja passed away on Oct. 28, 2009, in Portland, Ore.

Kathryn was born in Nelson County, N.D., on May 16, 1929, to Chester and Florence (Strassburg) English.

Being the only girl in a family with three boys, her mother had her spend her early years with her Aunt Cara and Uncle Jack Kelley in Portland.

She attended St. Helens’ Hall in Portland in 1944 and 1945 before returning to Cut Bank, Mont., where she graduated from high school in 1947.

Shortly after graduation she married Joseph R. Fisher Jr.

Together they had twin boys, Jerome and Daniel. They divorced in 1971.

 In the early 1970s she moved to Hillsboro, Ore., where she worked for many years at Intel in their quality control department.

In the early 1980s, she met Kenneth Savaloja Sr. and they were married Nov. 25, 1982.  From 1982 until 2007, the two of them traveled extensively from Alaska, Minnesota, Utah, Arizona and all points in between, but they called Sandpoint, Idaho, home for the last 18 years. 

Kathryn is survived by her husband, Kenneth Sr.; son and daughter-in-law, Jerome and Mary Fisher; grandchildren, Rebecca and Jared (spouse) Haight, and John Fisher; stepson and daughter in-law, Kenneth Jr. and Sharon Savaloja; brother, John English; and many nieces and nephews.

The service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 9800 SE 92nd Ave., Happy Valley, OR 97086-7088.