Erling William Yontz Obituary (1957

Erling William Yontz, 66, a resident of the North Plains Community passed away on March 20, 2024 at the Providence St Vincent Medical Center in Portland. Erling was born on May 22, 1957 in Apple Valley, CA. He was the oldest of two children born to Joe and Malefried (Nielsen) Yontz. His family eventually settled in Beaverton OR at an early age. He attended Hillsboro High School and graduated with the Class of 1975. He enlisted in the USMC in 1975 and served his country until 1979 when he was honorably discharged as a Corporal. Erling met his future wife, Brenda Skeels, on her 21st birthday. They dated for about five years and married on September 9, 1989 in Portland, OR at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. They made their home in Hillsboro until 1996, when they moved to Gaston, OR. In 2006 they moved to Vernonia, OR for a brief time until 2009. They then settled in North Plains, OR. As a young man, Erling had worked in the family business, Busy Bee Landscaping, with his father Joe. Erling then worked as a heavy equipment operator, for several companies including his own, Nordic Construction, and retired as a foreman for Phil Construction. He enjoyed water skiing, fishing, and snow skiing. He liked a good campfire, telling good stories and visiting with his friends and family. He was an avid sports fan and followed the Blazers, Chicago Bears and Oregon Ducks. He liked working in his yard, eating out and spending time with his grandchildren. Erling was also a big WWII history buff and made a lot of RC airplane models. He is preceded in death by his parents and two nephews, Kevin and Nicolas Yontz. He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda and their three children, Ashton Higby and her spouse Dustin, both of North Plains,along with their 3 children Kody, Kasey, and Kory, Zachary Yontz of North Plains, Rachel Yontz of North Plains, his sister, Julie Yontz of Hillsboro, and a nephew, Tyler Yontz of Hillsboro.