I  misquoted Ellen describing herself & her brother as being the "bookmarks" of the family.  She actually liked to say they were the BOOKENDS of the family with she, the oldest at one end & Lou, the youngest, at the other end;  & at the time she said this, they were the only two siblings surviving.


The beginning of my friendship with Ellen began in 1974, when she interviewed me for her former position as receptionist at Mercer island Pediatric Associates.  This tiny lady was so dedicated in doing the best possible job each minute of each day;  no detail was too small, & many were repeated because of her spirit of perfection.  She was a wonderful example!

Over the years of working side by side, our roles of co-workers deepened into a cherished friendship that continued after we had both left the clinic to enjoy retirement days & more personal times together with lunches at The Lodge & visits in her apartment to share crochet patterns for the afghans we both enjoyed making.  One of her goals was to make an afghan for every member of her family; & as more & more grand & great-grandchildren arrived she ws kept busy!  I remember her excited phone calls when a new one was expected & her choice of yarn colors for that new baby.

Ellen loved to tell stories of her family history, & that she & her brother Lou were "the family bookmarks":  Ellen the oldest & Lou the youngest.  It was always a special occasion when he could visit her from California.  She also liked to tell of her mother being a professional seamstress who made all Ellen's beautiful clothes & made her the best dressed of all her peers.  The pictures in this photo gallery is evidence of that.

Ellen was one of the most thoughtful persons I ever knew.  On the trips that she & Dick took while she was still working at the clinic, she always returned with little gifts that were significant to her & where she had been.  She had thought of us while thousands of miles away.

Our lives were woven together in another way:  my mother in AZ was one year older than Ellen.  She always kept track of this each year when her own birthday was to be celebrated by asking me about my mother & was she the older or was Ellen.  Altho they never met, they knew & inquired about each other frequently from my conversations & letters.  Such was Ellen's sweet way with her friends, taking everyone under her wing in friendship.

I feel so honored to have had her as my friend.  Thank you to all the Lindblad family, for putting together such a wonderful photo album of her life.  It was so enjoyable to view & remember Ellen!

Dear Donald and Doug, 
I would like to send my condolences to you and your families.
 I remember sitting in your kitchen many times enjoying your parents company. 
Ellen was like another mom to me and I always enjoyed her stories about our mom.

Ellen was like a sister to our Mom and the person we all wanted to see when we visited Mom at Covenant Shores. 

The simplest occasions - picnics, sharing coffee and cookies, or just talking, were always made more special due to Ellen's warmth, humor and wit.

We like to think Ellen and Mom are laughing together even now, and maybe reminiscing about their trip to the fjords.

With sincere sympathy for your loss,

Jane Robinson, Greg Durbin, Meredith Durbin

Ellen was one of the first persons I met when I began my job as Covenant Shores chaplain three months ago. We hit it off immediately! When she told me she was a lifelong Lutheran and bragged about how old she was, I asked her if she had met Martin Luther. I kidded her that perhaps she was old man Luther's wife. She played along with me. Ever since I called her Mrs. Luther. I was amazed by her sense of humor and love of the Lord. Her Bible was at her bedside and a word of witness was always on her lips. I was out of town moving my daughter to grad school in Tennessee when I got the word that Ellen had moved to Heaven. I felt cheated a bit that I didn't get to say goodbye. (Ellen had lived at Covenant Shores since 1979. She was the most senior member of our community in more ways than one.)

From Ellen's Burg to Heaven 

Yes, Ellen's burg is where she lived.
A room on Mercer Isle.
It was a peaceful joyful place
made clear by Ellen's smile.

This little woman had a way
with words and charm and grace.
She kept the faith and fought the fight
and finished well her race.

Her marathon of life was long
but near the finish line
she heard her Savior whispering
"Your mansion 'waits. It's time!

"It's time to claim My burg as yours.
My Heaven is your home.
So come, my daughter,come with me
and reap the faith you've sown."

Donald, Doug and families, 
    Sorry to hear your Mom passed away recently. She was always a second mother to me and saw that we kids were on track and not getting into too much trouble. I was able to see her at apartment a few years ago after running into Dougal at a High School reunion, ...(actually the Roanoke). She certainly set a record for perseverance, longevity and the Lutheran way of life.. Her high school friend, my mother's cousin Sylvia Rauch, is 100 and living in Moses Lake.  She sends her condolences as well. I visited Sylvia just last month. I've been in Flagstaff, Az the past 25 yrs., but plan to return to the PNW this next year after my wife retires. We will make a point of coming by the house your dad built and visit Danald when we are next around.  I never will forget the treat of coming over for breakfast and eating Ellen's Swedish pancakes.  May you all be blessed as your mother would have wanted.  Mike McDonald (2909 N. Steves Blvd. Flagstaff, Az 86004)

Ellen was a mentor to me. She taught me how to work - how to be efficient, to organize my tasks, and manage my time. I was blessed to learn from her in my first non-babysitting paid job at age 11 and on to my adult years.  She was a dear woman.

We are deeply sorry to hear of Ellen's passing. We celebrate a life well lived and will cherish the memories forever.

OBITUARY

Ellen T. Lindblad

26 March, 1911 – 4 August, 2013

Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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