L. Jill Schasker Ford Obituary

    L. Jill Schasker Ford, 80, died in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
    Jill was born Aug. 24, 1939, in Vandalia Ill., and the Schasker family moved to Lake City in the early 1940’s.  They became active in the town as members of the Swedish Lutheran Church and raised and sold fruits and vegetables from their large gardens. Jill’s father, Forrest, met many people in the Lake City area because he worked for the Soil and Water Conservation Department.  Jill’s mother Lois and he also worked at the Terrace Supper Club.
    Jill graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957.  She participated in band, choir, golf, student council, yearbook and newspaper, and Girls’ Athletic Association (GAA). As GAA members, Jill and her best friends, known as the “Big Six” due to their unusual height, enjoyed success as a girls’ intramural basketball team, years before varsity sports for girls existed.
    Jill attended Gustavus Adolphus College after high school; she transferred to the University of Minnesota and graduated in the same 1961 ceremony as her brothers, Jon (Lake City class of 1956) and Phil (Lake City class of 1955). Jill earned a four year degree in elementary education; Jon was a five year engineering student, and Phil, a six year graduate in engineering and business.
    With her degree, Jill moved to Portland to teach.  She married  Bob Ford, of Portland, in 1964.  Jill and Bob traveled extensively  and retired as City of Portland employees.
    Jill and her brothers said they were very fortunate to grow up in Lake City. They looked forward to, and faithfully attended, their Lincoln High School reunions.
    She is survived by her brother, Philip (Shirley) Schasker; two nephews and their families in California; one niece and family in Colorado; one niece and family in Oregon; 11 Schasker cousins in various states; five Honeyman cousins in North Dakota and Arizona; an aunt in Illinois; and many beloved friends. Jill was preceded in death by her father, Forrest in 1987, her mother, Lois in 2001, her husband, Bob Ford in 2005, and brother, Jon in 2018.