Sylvia Anne Vikingstad

Sylvia Anne Vikingstad, age 88 passed away after a brief period of hospice care with her family by her side. Sylvia was born in Seattle on March 21, 1933 the daughter of Vera (Hendrickson) and Michael Feeley. She was the youngest of 2 children following 3 years after her big brother James "Jim".

Sylvia graduated from Ballard High School Class of 1951. Then continued her education at the UW earning her Business Degree in 1955. She worked for United Airlines as a stewardess and supervisor, then as a substitute history teacher at Broadview Thompson Jr. High.

In 1965 she met Leiv Vikingstad, a builder from Karmoy, Norway at a dance in Ballard and married him a short time later. She helped Leiv finance his own construction company and balanced the books while raising their 2 kids Erik and Karen. She returned to the work force as a realtor for Coldwell Banker in the eighties. She was a successful real estate agent representing buyers/sellers as well as assisting her husband in the sale of homes that he built. She became a widow in 1992 after Leiv died of pancreatic cancer and never remarried. After retiring from real estate she managed an apartment building of her husband's in Ballard into her eighties.

Sylvia led a very active life in her later retirement years. She would travel often, making many trips to Norway to visit her son and his family in Bergen, as well as numerous cruises and international trips with her good buddy Pat and family vacations with her kids and grandkids. She was an avid walker and belonged to a walking group for years. She would organize numerous blood drives for Ballard First Lutheran and would volunteer time and donate to the Compass Center. She was a regular attendee of the Seattle Symphony and Taproot Theater and was a longtime member and volunteer at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard.

Most notably she was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunty, cousin and friend. She is survived by her two children Karen (Johnny) and Erik (Theresa) and three grandchildren: Emma (24), Sander (20) and Hannah (13) who lovingly call her Bestemor. She is also survived by her 91 year old brother Jim (Ulla) and their three kids: Lisa, Shaughna and Mike and their families, as well as relatives from her late husband Leiv's family in Norway and her mother Vera's family locally.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved by family (immediate and extended) and many friends. Donations in memory of Sylvia Vikingstad can be made to the Compass Center - Compass Housing Alliance or the National Nordic Museum - Seattle. Arrangements are yet to be determined but will be made available in time through Evergreen Washelli.