Ross Maurice Degerstedt

Ross M. Degerstedt of Vancouver, WA passed away from cardiac arrest August 24, 2019, at PeaceHealth SW Washington Medical Center. He was 61 years old. Ross was born in 1958 in Portland, Oregon. He was adopted a few months later by Dean and Patricia Degerstedt and raised in Northeast Portland. Ross attended Benson High School and obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portland. He later earned his MBA with an emphasis in technology and innovation management from Pacific Lutheran University. Ross's engineering career included 16 years in Alaska first with the US Air Force, then Coffman Engineers, and eventually the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company working on utility, construction, and pipeline projects. He was proud of the papers he co-authored at that time about the effect of the Northern Lights on pipeline corrosion. Upon leaving Alaska, Ross worked in the pulp and paper industry, HVAC consulting, and ended his career with British Petroleum and Kinder Morgan. Ross's interests included several years of supporting Lutheran church youth groups, cooking, baking, sailing, fishing, successfully completing home repairs, and hosting dinner parties so he could visit closely with family and friends. He enjoyed travelling, especially when the possibility of good food and wine were part of the itinerary. Ross was extremely proud of his adoptive Scandinavian heritage, which he exhibited by making Swedish meatballs and both Hardanger and cardamom bread seasonally. In 1986 Ross was reunited with his biological mother and discovered that he had a half-sister and half-brother. Ross is survived by his wife Connie (Mathias) Degerstedt and his siblings Kris (Tia) Degerstedt, Ann Hurley (Tim), and Neil (Linda) Degerstedt. He was preceded in death by his parents Dean and Patricia Degerstedt. Ross is also survived by his biological mother Carol Smith, half-siblings Zaneta Smallwood and Kevin Smith, as well as several nephews and nieces on both sides of his family. In lieu of flowers, Ross preferred charitable contributions be sent to the organization that facilitated his adoption, Boys and Girls Aid, www.boysandgirlsaid.org , 9320 SW Barbur Blvd #200, Portland, OR 97219, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association. A Graveside Memorial for the family will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon where Ross will be interred. Ross lived every day just trying to keep his corner of the universe tidy.

Ross Maurice Degerstedt

June 18, 1958 - August 24, 2019