Baker City, Oregon
Betty Chadsey Roumpf, 87, a former longtime Baker City resident and community volunteer, died April 7, 2003, after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for more than a decade.
She was lovingly cared for by many compassionate caregivers at St. Aidan’s Place in Portland and by Sandy and Dave Renfrow of Hammond.
At her request, there will be no service. Arrangements are under the direction of Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary at Astoria.
She was born on April 10, 1915, at Los Angeles to Orville and Amy Chadsey. She was one of four children. She attended elementary school and high school at Beaumont, Calif., graduating in 1933. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands at Redlands, Calif., in 1937 and her master’s of arts from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1943.
As an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church, she was the first woman to offer prayer at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA. She served in mission fields of the Presbyterian Church from 1943 to 1947 at Tonopah, Nev., and Bryce, Calif., and San Francisco.
In 1947, she married the Rev. Larry Roumpf of Stanford, Mont. Together from 1947 to 1971 they served churches at Stanford and Hamilton, Mont.; Quincy, Wash.; and Baker City. They raised two daughters, Margaret and Judy.
She was a secretary for a circuit court judge, a home health agency, and Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. She was an active community volunteer for the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, PEO, Community Concerts, Laubach Literacy and Meals on Wheels. She hosted an American Field Service Peruvian exchange student, Sonia Perez-Leon.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Wayne Blake of Astoria, and Judy Roumpf and Jerry Powell of Portland; a grandson, Chad Powell of Portland; a sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Franz Wichman of Medford; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to any local hospice, Alzheimer’s care center or Presbyterian Church.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 11, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
