Renata Rosemarie Marga Bielitzer Lautenschlager

Renata Rosemarie Marga Bielitzer Lautenschlager died on Monday, March 2, after a courageous battle with multiple health issues. Funeral services were held March 7 at Endicott Bible Church and burial followed at the Endicott Cemetery.

Renata was born August 15, 1936, in Kiel, Germany to William H. Bielitzer, a German Naval Officer, and Elfrieda S. Meyer Bielitzer, an Oregon farm girl. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Germany, during the WWII era.

Being in Germany in this time of turmoil brought many hardships and they were forced to move frequently as the battles of war came nearer to them. Renata had her own little suitcase always packed and ready to grab when the air raid sirens sounded, fleeing to the nearest bomb shelter. As the war came to an end, Renata, her mother, and her younger brother, Wilfried, were allowed to come to the United States, as Elfrieda was a U.S. Citizen.

They sailed from Bremen, Germany, for 10 days aboard the U.S.S. Marine Flasher, arriving on July 15, 1946, in New York City. They traveled by train to Portland, Oregon, and stayed with relatives who lived in the Helvetia area.

Her father was forced to remain in Germany for two more years until he was able to come to the U.S., as he was a German citizen. Renata attended grade school at Helvetia School and West Union School, having to learn English as her new language.

She then attended and graduated from Beaverton High School. She went on to work in secretarial positions in Portland and later in southern California, where the family eventually settled in Santa Barbara.

In 1955, the Bielitzers took a family vacation up to Oregon and Washington, which included a side trip to Endicott to meet a cousin’s in-laws, who had a farm with horses, where she met her future husband, Elmer. Renata and Elmer corresponded by mail for the next two years and were married on July 6, 1957. She quickly adapted to the farm life where she took up gardening and helped her husband raise cattle, hay and wheat. She fed many bottle calves in her day. She became very skilled at cooking, canning, and freezing the many types of fruits and vegetables that she grew in her garden. Besides cooking, she also enjoyed sewing and caring for her flowers and fruit trees.

Their lives were blessed with the birth of each of their four children, Loretta, Carol, Carl and Scott.

After having lived through the trials of WWII, Renata was very adamant on her views of freedom and independence. Throughout her adult life, she did all she could to protect those God-given rights through her involvement with many organizations that promoted conservative ideas and Christian values.

She was a Republican precinct committeewoman and attended the 1976 Republican Convention as a Washington state delegate. She was a member of the Whitman County Cowbelles. Renata was a very generous individual and made it her project on many occasions to help out friends or families in need.

During her lifetime, she enjoyed the arrival of eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Her husband Elmer preceded her in death on July 6, 1991.

She is survived by her younger brother Wilfried (Birgit) Bielitzer of Santa Ynez, CA and four children and their families: Loretta (Keith) Paulson of Colfax; Carol (Ron) Newton of Ritzville; Carl (Jodi) and Scott Lautenschlager all of Endicott. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Marie (Brandon) Borth of Ritzville; Lindy (Zach) Rebro of St. Simon, GA; Colleen Paulson of San Francisco, CA; Philip (Shaylee) Newton of Colfax; Kelly (Kyle) Hill of Bonners Ferry, ID; Cody, Lucy, and Katy Lautenschlager of Endicott; as well as great-grandchildren Cameron and Paige Newton; Claire and Grace Borth; Atticus Rebro; a niece and three nephews.

She lived at The Rose Garden Estates in 2013. Throughout her life, Renata struggled with many health issues, which took their toll in recent days. However, she passed peacefully surrounded by her family, knowing that her work on this earth was done.

Memorial contributions in Renata’s honor are suggested to the Endicott Bible Church or the Endicott Cemetery. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.