Sylvia Ellen Schlichting

Sylvia Ellen Bokelman was born on February 21,1935 in Genoa, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm near the Loop River with parents, Sylvia Alice (Grossnicklaus) and Ernest Bokelman, brother Arden and sister Lois. When Sylvia was in sixth grade the family moved to an 80 acre farm near Platte Center. After graduating high school she attended summer school at Wayne State, and then Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska. In 1957 Sylvia earned her Lutheran Teaching Diploma from Concordia. Her first assignment was Christ Lutheran in Murray, Utah where she taught for three years. Sylvia returned to Seward, to complete her Bachelor of Science in Education and graduated in 1961. She accepted the call to teach at Redeemer Lutheran, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While visiting her mom’s family in Oregon, Sylvia met Paul Schlichting. They married on June 26, 1963 at Grace Lutheran Church in Platte Center. The newlyweds moved to Daggett, California in the Mojave Desert where Paul began working for the Federal Aviation Administration. The couple enjoyed spending time with Uncle Henry and Aunt Doris (Schlicting) and welcomed their daughter Susan. In 1969 Paul received a transfer providing an opportunity to return to Oregon. They made their home in Sherwood and soon embraced son Mark. Sylvia and her family were active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School, directed Midweek School, organized Vacation Bible School, and was on the Board of Education. Paul was often away for work; Sylvia and the kids spent many of those hours with her Uncle Mike (Grossnicklaus) or Aunt Peggy and Uncle Bill (Rupprecht). Summers involved vegetable gardening, picking fruit, canning and making jelly. In Fall everyone helped pick up walnuts at Uncle Bill’s. When the kids were in elementary school, the family purchased a house in Lincoln City. They began spending weekends and summers at the beach—fishing at Devils Lake, watching Fireworks at Taft, enjoying hot dog roasts, fish n’ chips and clam chowder. As her children grew older Sylvia worked as a teachers aide, first at Hopkins Elementary and then at Sherwood High School. Later she enjoyed helping Margaret and Don Wachlin at their farm stand—Gramma's Place Paul passed on in 2003. She deeply grieved the sudden loss. Sylvia moved to a smaller home in Summerfield (Tigard) enjoying the birds and flowers in her garden. She transferred her church membership to Living Savior Lutheran in Tualatin; remaining active in LWML and Good Shepherd Auxiliary. She began attending choir concerts, plays and quilting shows with friends. Sylvia was an avid reader with a well used library card. She worked tirelessly on jigsaw puzzles and adored home improvement shows. Her children and their families were one of her greatest joys these past 20 years. In 2006 her first grandchild was born, Sylvia loved being “Amma” to Alex, Delia and Paul. She helped raise all three—caring for them while their parents worked, attending sporting or school events, baking banana bread, supplying doughnuts and reading with them. Sylvia is survived by daughter Susan Rawls (husband Brad), son Mark (wife Emily), her grandchildren Alex, Delia and Paul; also brother Arden and sister Lois. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Paul. Sylvia lived as a servant of God teaching children, tending to the needs of others and caring for them. She is loved and will be deeply missed.

Sylvia Ellen Schlichting

February 21, 1935 - June 19, 2023