Obituary: Rita Jo Bartosh Sporseen

Published 12:15 am Thursday, May 25, 2023

Vancouver, Washington

Jan. 30, 1945 — April 19, 2023

Rita Jo Bartosh Sporseen, 78, passed away on April 19 in Vancouver, Washington, with her husband, John, and youngest son, Ron, at her side. Rita, who was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother fought a brave battle with dementia-related issues over the last few years.

She was born in Portland to John and Loretta Bartosh on Jan. 30, 1945. Most of her younger years were spent in northwest Portland while her father was employed by Libby’s foods.

Rita attended Marycrest High School, a private Catholic high school in Portland, until her father’s job transfer took the family to California. She graduated from Holy Cross High School in Mountain View, California, in 1964. One of her biggest thrills during her school years was meeting Sen. John F. Kennedy in 1960, who was making a campaign stop in Portland.

On Nov. 26, 1966, after a short stint in a convent training to become a nun, she married her childhood friend and neighbor John Sporseen. Rita had two sons, Stan and Ron. While raising their sons, they lived in Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Scio, Heppner and Knappa. Rita mostly worked in the banking industry when her children were old enough to attend school.

Rita was not only a devoted mother, she was a wonderful grandmother to her grandchildren Kody, Brett, Simon and Pia. She rarely, if ever, missed her kids’ or grandkids’ events, no matter where they were.

When she and John retired, they moved to Nahcotta, Washington, where they could be next to the ocean. Rita fell in love with the beach! She became a collector of anything that had a lighthouse or blue heron. She was at most peace walking or hanging out with her grandkids near the water.

Before moving into a memory care facility in Vancouver, she and John spent a decade in Beaverton. Rita was a loyal friend, voracious reader, lover of Goodwill stores, garage sales and an expert Skip-Bo player. She was also known for her baking prowess, most notably pies, rolls and cookies.

Rita is survived by her husband of 57 years; sons, Ron (Kelly), of Vancouver, and Stan (Shanon), of Warrenton; sisters, Mary and LuAnn, of San Diego; and grandchildren, Pia, Simon, Brett and Kody.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and sisters, Judy and Nancy.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the folks at The Hampton Vancouver for their expert care during her final year, and to the hospice team at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for their help as well.

In lieu of donations, Rita would want you to take your favorite walk, read your favorite book or, as she would always say, simply do something nice for somebody. If you do wish to donate, giving to your local hospice would be greatly appreciated.

Her celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. June 3 at All Saints Parish.The church is at 3847 N.E. Glisan St. in Portland.