Sylvia Johanne Ferchen

Sylvia Johanne Torget Ferchen, 91, formerly of Lynnwood, WA, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2019. She was born April 9, 1927 in Ballard and graduated from Ballard High in 1945. She worked as a riveter on bombay doors for the Boeing Company during WWII to support the war effort. Her life work was spent in banking (37 years) retiring from the Bank of California (Seattle) & Key Bank (Ballard). While most moms of that era were housewives, she was working to help support our family. Mom’s first banking job was as a messenger between banks. Later as children, it made us so proud to go into the beautiful bank in downtown Seattle and see our mother behind the tall marble windows working as the main teller. She was very sharp with numbers and had great people skills. Drive-in banking was a brand new experiment and mom was one of the first two tellers in Seattle. She would come home bearing flowers and chocolates from her favorite customers. My dad would just smile at his beautiful, smart wife. She went on to work as a foreign exchange teller learning about currencies and exchange rates. It was a very challenging job. I think she got the bug to travel then. After retiring, she did income taxes for clients (family & friends).

She was a loving and faithful wife to H.E. Ferchen (Jim) for 48 years. She said she knew that he was the man she would marry the day she met him. They had a long and wonderful marriage. He preceded her in death in 1995. They had three children: Sandra Ferchen (Dan Kier); Mary Lambert (Wayne); Arne Ferchen, deceased. She had 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. We all loved how her eyes would light up any time she was around children. She loved her family and her home was the central core at holidays until she got her illness.

She is also survived by her older brother, Henry Torget, and sisters: Jenny Walvatne and Betty Abbey & numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom loved her Norwegian Heritage. She was a member of Daughters of Norway Breidablik Lodge #2 (Past President) and Valkyrien Lodge #1. In 1996 she was their Grand Lodge Treasurer. She was a Golden member of Sons of Norway and a Charter member of Edmonds Lodge #2-130 & also past Treasurer. Mom always enjoyed her heritage, whether it was working at a pancake breakfast for our lodge, marching in the Edmond’s 4th of July parades & the 17th of May parades, taking Norwegian language lessons, going to Scandinavian and international dances or making Norwegian cookies. Other affiliations: Lynnwood Eagles, Edmonds Garden Club, Sno- King Int. Folk Dance Club & the Nordic Heritage Museum. During her life she also bowled on many different leagues (Bank of California, Sons of Norway & Senior leagues) winning trophies. My mom and I (Mary) took two first place trophies bowling with The Bank of California leagues. She was a real team player. She also stayed active in politics. For many years she volunteered at the polling station in Lynnwood during the elections.

She was baptized and confirmed at Ballard 1st Lutheran (Seattle) & a member of Trinity Lutheran Church (Lynnwood). Mom was a devout Christian and loved our Lord. She always taught us to be faithful, pray & follow the Lord. I think that is what truly gave her strength when dad had his strokes and she took care of him for so many years.

After his passing, she met a lovely man from Norway and fell in love. To everyone’s surprise, she moved to Norway at the age of 70 to be with her new love, Knut Ronning. They lived on a dairy farm at the end of a fjord in a beautiful valley surrounded by snow covered mountains and waterfalls. We missed her so, but knew she was happy there. She had many adventures there: learning to use a spark to go through the snow, riding with Knut on his motorcycle through the mountains, hand feeding little sheep when triplets were born, reindeer hunting in the tundra, hiking up the mountain to their cabin and fishing in the fjord. She was a very happy lady. Many family members and friends went to Norway to visit her and she opened their home to them like she had always done here (cooking, baking, and entertaining).

She had to return home once she was diagnosed with dementia. I think it broke both of their hearts, but we were so happy to have our mother home again to take care of her like she always took care of us.

I know everyone will always remember her beautiful smile, loving ways, helpful spirit, honesty, kindness and enthusiasm for life, but especially the love she had for her family and the Lord.

There will be a small family service at Evergreen Funeral Home in Everett followed by a “Celebration of Life” on Sunday, March 10, 2019 from 2-5 at the Bothell Sons of Norway. In lieu of flowers: Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.