| We
both grew up in the high desert country of Central Oregon in the
small town of Prineville, but didn’t know each other until we
met at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. It didn’t
take long to decide we were meant for each other and we married
in July of 1976. We never could have imagined ourselves leaving
Central Oregon—we both still love it there. However, a
downturn in the lumber industry sent us first to the Willamette
Valley for a short time and then to Northern California for
three years, before we decided to return to Oregon. We had lived
in Corvallis when Dolf attended Oregon State University for his
first degree in business, so we immediately thought of that
familiar little city when we selected a place to live. Once
here, Dolf pursued a post-bacc. in accounting at OSU, while Ella
worked. Ella returned to school after a few years and completed
her master’s degree in applied anthropology
at Oregon State University in 2009 (specializing in
historical archaeology).
Returning
to Corvallis for school turned out to be a boon for our two
kids, Cole who was born in 1978, (the first time we lived in
Corvallis) and Sara who was born in 1981. The small schools in
Central Oregon and the huge overcrowded schools in California
didn’t quite fit their needs. At Corvallis High School the
kids each found a comfortable niche and thrived. We brought our
enthusiasm for swim team to Corvallis and Sara competed for CHS.
She was also active in theater. Cole played football for a year.
Both kids found it convenient and less expensive to eventually
attend OSU. Sara graduated with two degrees—Chinese and
English, and began teaching English as a second language right
after college. Cole left Corvallis for the bright lights of Las
Vegas and is finishing his degree in Computer Engineering at
UNLV (but wishes he had done so at OSU).
We
have traveled extensively taking long road trips through the
Southwest, much of the South, the Midwest, and the Rocky
Mountain states. Internationally we have been to Canada, Mexico
and Japan. We’re
still dreaming of Great Britain, Russia, much of Europe and New
Zealand. A good deal of the time however, our recreational
activities are right here in Oregon—there is just so much to
do here!
Dolf
has been an agent for 12 years now. He and Keller Williams found
each other five years ago and he is now Reviewing Broker. He is
also a three year member of the Willamette Association of
Realtors board of directors. Ella is a newbie but is learning
fast and eager to be of service. Years of working with the
public before coming to real estate are an asset as are many of
the classes she took in her field.
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