Gretchen was born in Grand Island, Nebraska March 9, 1928 to Oscar and Ella Roeser. She had and older sister, Mae, and a younger brother, Jim. After graduating from High School, she moved to Salt Lake City with her sister Mae. There she met Vernon Portsche. They were married at St. John's Lutheran Church October 11, 1948. Gretchen was an accomplished pianist, and before she was married, studied fashion illustrating. In 1959 the family moved to Boise, Idaho where Gretchen was very active at St. Paul's Lutheran church for 40 years. After St. Paul's closed, she and Vern joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In 1964 Gretchen started working part time at J.C. Penney's eventually becoming Office Manager. She worked there for 22 years. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Vern, two daughters, Karen Vogler Beck (Harvey) and Cathy Worcester (Richard), four granchildren, Philip Vogler, Shaun Vogler (Dawn), Benjaimin Worcester and Elizabeth Bacon (Daniel), and four great grandchildren, Cody and Kailey Vogler, and Amy and Michaela Vogler.