Dorothy L. Cook

Dorothy L. Cook died on October 8 at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington.

Dorothy was born in Seattle on October 22, 1924. Her father, Ole Locken, was a tailor who emigrated from Norway to Washington State in 1907. Ole settled in Seattle and married Cora Pedersen, also of Norwegian descent, in 1923. Cora died of complications from rheumatic fever just a few weeks after giving birth to Dorothy. Ole never remarried and Dorothy, his only child, lived with her aunt Margit and uncle Ed Nygard until she was nine years old.

Dorothy graduated from Mt. Vernon High School with honors and soon after met her husband-to be, Chester A. Cook, at a Skagit county social event. They married in 1946 and had two children. But for the seven years they enjoyed living in the San Francisco bay area during the 1950s, Dorothy and Chet resided in or near Seattle. They were married for fifty-six years. Chet died in 2002 and Dorothy spent her remaining years at Covenant Shores on Mercer Island.

Dorothy was an avid hiker and naturalist, an accomplished writer, an expert with needle and thread, a joyful observer of Norwegian customs, and devoted student of Nordic languages and culture. She was a charter member of Ballard's Nordic Heritage Museum and attended worship services throughout her life, most recently at Seattle First Baptist Church. In her later years she traveled to Norway several times to visit relatives; in 2000 she traveled to Iceland, Norway and Greenland to attend millennium anniversary celebrations of Leif Eriksson's journey from Norway to South Greenland.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Susan Delzell, her son, Jeffrey Cook, and by her granddaughter, Cameron Cook. Dorothy's ashes will be interred with those of her husband at Evergreen-Washelli. At Dorothy's request, no memorial service will be held, but her family encourages Dorothy's friends and relations to visit her online memorial at www.evergreen-washelli.com. Remembrances are suggested to the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th St., Seattle, WA 98117.