Cynthia was born July 18, 1948, the eighth daughter of Jacob and Gertrude Wickre of Veblen, South Dakota. She died August 10, 2023 in Beaverton, Oregon after a long illness.
Because Cynthia was the youngest of the family with seven older sisters she often referred to herself as an “only child” with eight mothers. There most certainly were advantages and disadvantages to that position in the family.
She attended elementary and high school in Veblen, South Dakota, graduating in 1965. Cynthia graduated from South Dakota State University in 1969 with a major in languages.
Cynthia’s work history reflected her many interests and her creative mind. Her older sisters believed that as the youngest child, she ended up with all the intelligence and creativity in the family.
She was an excellent writer and editor which served her well in organizations that needed someone to oversee communication and compliance issues. Later in her career she navigated to her creative side working in a sewing center teaching classes and spending time learning the art of machine embroidery and quilting, producing many beautiful and artistic designs. One of her designs was published in the Quilting Arts Magazine in 2017. Her inspiration was a line from a song by Leonard Cohen “There are cracks in everything, that’s how the light gets in” and a photograph of an aging pole barn on the Wickre Farm taken by her husband Bill. Cynthia loved to bake pies, cakes and bread and she was good at it. One summer when she worked at Lutsen Resort in northern Minnesota she was called into service to make the bread for the next day because the pastry chef had a medical emergency. Typical of all her endeavors the bread was a hit with the resort patrons. Gardening was her passion, just as it was her mother’s. Bill and Cynthia’s backyard is large and sunny, perfect for a rose garden. She nurtured every rose bush, allowing them to grow as tall as trees. She generously shared the many varieties of roses and other flowers from her garden with beautiful flower arrangements for family and friends.
Cynthia met Bill in Portland, Oregon and he became her soul mate and the love of her life. They were married November 26, 2000 and lived in Beaverton, Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Gertrude, sisters Marilyn, June, Ardamae, Betty, infant sisters Arlene and Arlis, brothers-in-law Jim Oakins, Gordon Markley, Paul Gilbarg and father and mother-in-law Robert and Marion Cangley.
Surviving are her husband Bill Cangley, sisters Lois Markley, Lyla (Joe) Dramise and Faye Gilbarg; nephews and nieces Jeff (Lori) Markley, Jennifer (Tim) Byrd, Joe (Mary) Dramise, Angelina (Jim) Vogt, sister- in-law Lori Backiel and brother-in-law Mike Cangley, cousins Ralph (Judy) Wickre, and Ona (Mark) Ebsen, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
Cynthia was a loving, caring, gentle soul with many talents she generously shared with others. She will always be in our hearts and memories.
Celebration of her life will take place in September, date to be determined. Arrangements are being made by Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Oregon.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Audubon Society of Portland, International RoseTest Garden of Portland, Nidaros Cemetery Fund administered by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Veblen, SD; All Classical Radio, Portland, OR.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Cangley family.
