Loree Ann Krieves

Loree Ann Henderson Krieves was born Sept. 27, 1927, a descendent of the Lage family of Hood River, Ore., and the Larsen family of White Salmon, Wash. Her father was dentist and orchardist, James Warner Henderson, known as Warner or “Doc” Henderson. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren called him Grandpa “Doc.”

Loree’s mother was Irene Larsen Henderson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who settled on a farm outside of White Salmon. Loree had one sibling, brother J. Allan Henderson, a physician and orchardist in Hood River.

Loree spent her childhood years in the house on Belmont Road, which was then surrounded by the family orchard. Camping at Lost Lake was a favorite activity and she especially enjoyed camping and canoeing with her high school friends.

For many years she was involved in Camp Fire Girls and was a counselor at Camp Yallani west of Oak Grove. She loved dancing, whether it was ballet or tap dancing, and in her adult years enjoyed modern or “jazz” dance.

As a young girl, she was thrilled to dance on stage at the high school auditorium. One of her crowning glories was dancing the role of the “Sugar Plum Fairy” when she was 5 years old.

There were many performances over the years, and Loree studied dance as an adult and enjoyed being in dance recitals into her 50s. In her 60s and 70s, Loree switched to aerobic dance classes and kept fit throughout her life.

During World War II, Loree was in high school. She and her mother, Irene, kept the orchard running while her brother, Allan, went off to train as an aviator and her father, Warner, went to France to work as a dentist for the Allies.

Loree was able to attend the University of Washington, where she earned a degree in interior design. She was amazed at the world beyond the Columbia River Gorge, and traveled after college to Europe with a group of friends.

Her years as a Kappa Kappa Gamma at UW were some of the best years of her life, and it was during this time she met her husband, “Fritz,” who was a fraternity brother of her own brother, Allan, who joined her at UW.

Fritz and Loree were married at Riverside Church on June 17, 1950, and a reception was held at what is now the Columbia Gorge Hotel. Her first child, David, was born in late 1951, and then daughter Connie in 1954.

The Krieves family moved to Portland, where son Christian was born in 1957. Fritz worked for Boise Cascade, and Loree was a homemaker and was very involved in her children’s activities. She eventually worked part-time in an interior decorating business.

Entertaining friends and family was the highlight and focus of Loree’s energy, and she loved to plan and prepare incredible displays of culinary delight. There was always the appropriate decor and ambience created.

Loree and Fritz were members of a dance club for many years, and later a gourmet group. Although Loree enjoyed making interesting recipes from faraway lands, she was also pleased to provide homemade bread, cherry pie for Presidents Day, a casserole called Taglerino and traditional Norwegian cookies as the family’s soul food.

When Dave, Connie and Chris were grown, Loree and Fritz traveled to Europe several times, and took many fun trips with friends.

They loved the Metolius River area in central Oregon, camping and fishing with the Kirsch family, and eventually had a vacation home at Black Butte Ranch. Family and friends enjoyed spending time biking, golfing, playing tennis, swimming and walking around Aspen Lake with Loree and Fritz. The grandkids knew the house at the Ranch was a very special place.

Loree came back to Hood River to live a few years ago as her health declined. Her husband, Fritz, preceded her in death in August 2002.

She is survived by her son David Krieves and his wife, Katie, daughter Connie Burton and her husband, Bruce, son Christian and his wife, Heather, and grandchildren Michael, Jeff, Travis, Bret, Megan, Lindsey, Kelly and Tim. She is also survived by her brother, Allan Henderson, and his family.

Loree’s ashes will be laid to rest next to Fritz’s at Finley-Sunset Hills Memorial Gardens in Portland.

Memorials can be given to Northwest Medical Teams, for which both Loree and her brother Allan volunteered, in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031.

Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to leave a condolence for Loree’s family.