Bjarne Stangeland

Bjarne Stangeland was born in Sola, Norway, on February 6, 1930. He was the tenth child in a family of 12 children. His family moved to Sandnes, Norway, when he was five years old, and he was nine years old when the Nazis invaded Norway. He started working at Sandnes Sykkelfabrikk, at the age of 16, assembling bicycles. He served in the Norwegian Air Force and met his wife Kari Oddbjorg Borhaug, at a dance, while he was in the Norwegian Air Force stationed in Lista, Norway.

Bjarne emigrated to the United States on the Queen Mary, where he traveled from New Castle, England, to New York, and then took a Greyhound bus to Seattle. He took up residence on Capitol Hill in Seattle with his twin brothers and uncle. He began working at Burke Lumber Company but was drafted into the United States Army in 1955. He married his wife, Oddbjorg, in Vanse, Norway, in 1958, and returned to the United States, while his wife stayed in Norway. In 1961, he returned to Norway to accompany his wife as they both made the journey back to the United States. At this time, they resided in Ballard, Washington, for a number of years. Bjarne became a commercial fisherman and fished for halibut and crab, in Alaska, and worked as the ship’s engineer. In later years, he owned his own commercial fishing vessel.

He and his wife and their two daughters moved to Shoreline, Washington, in 1969, where he resided, in the same house, until his death. He never really retired, as he spent his later years managing his properties. Bjarne was a tough, no nonsense Norwegian who worked his fingers to the bone. He had a love of family, nature, and the sea. He was generous and disciplined, and he always found a way to make it work, despite the hardships and tragedies that happened during his life. He never gave up and he never complained. He just got back to work. Bjarne was a member of the Seamen’s Association for 36 years, as well as a member of Sons of Norway for over 50 years. Bjarne loved a good party with his family and friends, and he took great joy in planting flowers and feeding the many birds that visited his birdfeeders. He lived life on his own terms, and he will be forever missed and loved.

Bjarne is preceded in death by his wife, Kari Oddbjorg; his daughter, Mary Ann and his first born, a son, Arian. He is survived by his daughter, Bente Karin Stangeland-Mullally; son-in-law, Paul Mullally; and granddaughters, Bente Annelise and Ise Solveig Karin.

A private burial will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery in Seattle, Washington, on April 22, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life will follow at Leif Erickson Lodge (Sons of Norway) in Ballard, Washington, on April 22, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.