Brent Bernard Bode

Brent Bode, 77, the best brother, uncle, dad, and Papa/Grandpa left this earth on April 9, 2024. He was born in Walla Walla, Washington on February 13, 1947, to Kenneth and Irma (Danielson) Bode. He grew up on a farm in Gresham, Oregon with his parents and two sisters. Brent married Karen Sue Reid on January 2, 1971. That same year they moved to Willamina where they, along with Brent’s parents, owned and operated Gold Creek Ranch. He worked 36 years at Kriegsco Mfg before his retirement in 2022. He was part owner of Kriegsco from 2005-2012.
In 1986 the Bodes moved just South of Monmouth, Oregon on a smaller farm where they raised beef cattle.
He graduated from Centennial High School, where he was voted shy boy of his class, and Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He was a farmer at heart therefore chose to stay with his dad and farm. Brent played football in high school; his football career was cut short by a broken collar bone. He was in many 4-H clubs, showing his Herefords and pigs (Grand Champion) at the Gresham Fair. He was in the Boy Scouts and took dance lessons. In his teens he and his sisters were in the Squarecrows square dance with friends and danced at the Oregon State Fair.
He loved dancing with Karen, they would dance together at every opportunity. Both he and Karen liked to square dance and after some years of marriage were able to join the Wagon Wheelers square dance club. They enjoyed it so much that their two kids were made to learn square dancing as well. Things he enjoyed were teaching and then taking his kids and grandchildren fishing. He loved camping, hunting, beach retreats, traveling abroad, spending time on the farm with family around him and going out with friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen in 2003. He is survived by his daughter Aimée Whitney (Matt) of Salem, OR: son Travis Bode (Amy) of Turner, OR: sisters Janice Spielman (Ray) of Gaston, OR and Paula Runnells (Jim Oravetz) of Newberg, OR: Grandchildren Caitlin (Jared), Shoshawna, Leslie, Alyssa and Kailee: Great-grandchildren Everett, Henley, Kailyn, Emery and Adelayn.
A celebration of Brent’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Farnstrom Mortuary, 410 Monmouth St, Independence, OR 97351