Herbert Lawrence Camenzind

Herbert "Herb" Lawrence Camenzind, 91, a resident of the Gales Creek community passed away on September 14, 2025.

Herb was born on November 19, 1933 in Hillsboro, OR. He was the second of four children born to Carl and Marie (Fischer) Camenzind. He was raised in Hillsboro and later attended Forest Grove High School graduating with the Class of 1951.

He enlisted into the US Army and served his country for two years having been honorably discharged in 1955 as a Private 1st Class.

Following his military service, he began as a long-haul truck driver before he transitioned to the lumber industry, working in the woods above Forest Grove. A dedicated farmer, he also raised cattle and a substantial herd of up to 1,500 hogs a year. Later, Herb bought and ran Hillsboro Appliance and Parts. Herb built apartments and then managed those apartments, he also built homes with his last being built in 2011.

Herb's greatest role was being a father and provider to his four children. He taught them important values like hard work and integrity.

He met his future wife, Lavilla Spooner, at a Catholic singles group at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Beaverton. They dated for four years and married on October 11, 1997 in Portland. They made their home in Gales Creek.

He enjoyed dancing with his wife at the Elks Lodge, traveling abroad to Europe including Switzerland, the Mediterranean, Alaska and Hawaii. They also enjoyed their RV club at the Elks and had traveled all over the Pacific NW. Herb loved to talk and tell stories, he was an avid fisherman, and liked to go camping. Herb was a gardener of flowers and vegetables, and he was generous with the garden's bounty. He enjoyed football (Go Seahawks) and baseball (Go Mariners) and reading mysteries and westerns.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two siblings.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lavilla, four children and their spouses, Carol Holden and Steve Howard both of Buckley, Washington, Kathy and Mike Watson of Cinebar, Washington, Tony and Amy Camenzind of Portland, Sandy and Chad Humphrey of Beaverton, a sister, Rose Newton of Hillsdale, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.