Kathryn Viken Kern

Kathryn Viken Kern, age 97, of Vancouver, WA passed away Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Touchmark of Fairway Village. She was born in Tacoma, WA to parents, Victor and Mary (Harberg) Viken as the youngest of eight daughters. She graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma where she prepared for a secretarial career.

Following graduation she became a secretary for Dr. J.W. Kalkus, Superintendent at the WSC Agricultural Experiment Station in Puyallup prior to being the secretary for the CEO of Seattle’s Frederick & Nelson Department Store. Later she worked as a secretary for Dr. Gus Norwood of the NW Public Power Association in Puyallup, WA.

After her marriage to Harold S. Kern on Feb. 22, 1947, she moved to Vancouver, WA. Here she worked as a legal assistant in attorney offices until her retirement.

She was active in the League of Women Voters, a past president of the Historical Covington House’s Auxiliary and secretary for the WA State Retired Public Employees Chapter 9. She was a member of the Vancouver First United Methodist Church.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Victor & Mary Viken; her husband, Harold S. Kern in 2011; her six sisters, Elizabeth, Victoria, Helen, Amy, Alice & Dorothy; brother in law & sister in law Phillip & Muriel Kern; nephews Ronald & Douglas Kern. She is survived by her elder sister, Bernice Lexa of Arlington, VA; brother in law, James (Rena) Kern of Vancouver, WA; sister in law, Corinne (Clarence-d) Kern of Sequim, WA; nieces, Linnaea Phillips of San Luis Obispo, CA, Miriam (Fred) Keller of Redmond, WA, Patty (William) Kelly of Puyallup, WA, KatheJo Kern of Seattle, WA, Claudia (Miki) Tokola of Vancouver, WA, Nancy and Laurel Kern of Sequim, WA; nephews, William (Jan) Bearse of Winlock, WA, Christopher (Laurie) Kern of Torrance, CA and cousin, Melvin (Lila) Kern of Vancouver, WA.

The family extends special thanks to Peace Health Southwest and the Touchmark for their compassionate and loving care.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Methodist Church Foundation or the charity of choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Vancouver Funeral Chapel.