Andrew (Bud) Hjellen passed away peacefully June 21, 2018, after his third bout with cancer. Born on June 4, 1928, in Seattle. He was the second of four children born to Olaf & Elsie Hjellen. After Ballard High School, he joined the Marines and married Janet McBean. They lived at Camp Pendleton, CA until his assignment to Guam. After the Marines, they settled in Mountlake Terrace and had two sons, Greg and Doug. Later, with his second wife, he had two more children, Andrea & David.
After working as an auto mechanic, he worked as a crew member and cook on an Alaskan salmon-fishing boat, as well as a marine diesel mechanic. He was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, hunter, and Ham Radio operator (K7QDK). When getting deer, bear and elk became too easy with a rifle, he tried something more challenging; hunting with bow and arrow or a black powder rifle. Competing regularly in local archery club 3-D animal "shoots", he often won 1st or 2nd place. Also, catching his limit while fishing seemed to come easy for him. He enjoyed paragliding with the Northwest Paragliding Club at Tiger Mountain in Issaquah until he was about 80 years old. Fiercely independent, he was not afraid to take chances and to try anything. He loved telling stories of his adventures and near-death experiences, saying that God saved his life many times. Some people wondered whether or not his stories were "embellished" a bit. Well, maybe, just a little.
He was preceded in death by his sister Lucille Loos, his son, David Hjellen and his grandson, Daniel Hjellen. He is survived by two of his sisters Joann Gibson & Corrine Kenney; his sons, Greg Hjellen (Sharon Hofferber) and Doug Hjellen (Robin); his four grandchildren, Amie Marshall (Jeff); Laura, Matthew and Nathan Hjellen; and two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Josephine Marshall.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 30th at 11:00 AM. Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills, 409 Filbert Rd, Lynnwood, WA 98036.
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