Jennie A. Egaas

Jennie died peacefully at home on April 18, 2015. She was born on her grandparent's farm in Northwood, Iowa on July 2,1921. She was the first child of Jens and Luvina Thorson. She grew up on a farm in Albert Lea, Minnesota with her sisters Eleanor and Jeanette and her brother Theodore. They all learned a strong work ethic by helping on the farm at a young age. She did very well in the rural one room school and skipped a grade in grammar school. She graduated from Mankato State Teachers College with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Seattle. She loved teaching and continued at every opportunity including many years of Sunday School.

She met her husband of 53 years, Thomas, while dancing at the Prom Ballroom in St.Paul, Minnesota. He was handsome, kind, great fun and like her he was the child of Norwegian immigrants which was helpful when she took him home to the farm to meet her family. They were married in 1956 and after a move to Seattle, settled in Ballard near Tom's family.

She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and especially enjoyed Kaffe Stua at the Ballard Sons of Norway Lodge for many years. While raising her family she was very involved with PTA, Camp Fire Girls and

managing the family business.

She particularly enjoyed travel and prior to her marriage traveled widely around the US with her best friend Carole during summer breaks from teaching. Family vacations often included camping and traveling to Minnesota to see her family and friends. One of her favorite family trips was to Norway. In 1970 she and Tom were able to take their children to join her parents in her dad's hometown of Vik i Sogn, Norway where she had a large extended family. On the same trip they also traveled with Tom's mom to visit many of his vast extended family in Sunde, Haugesund and Karmoy.

In retirement she and Tom went on many cruises all over the world with friends and family. They loved cruising. She did not have to cook and Tom got to talk to dozens of new people. Gardening was a favorite hobby, growing raspberries, blueberries, vegetables and most especially flowers. She loved reading and traveling to Colorado to see her grandchildren.

Jennie was predeceased by her husband Tom who was the love of her life and by her parents, sister Eleanor and husband Oskar, sister Jeanette, sister and brother in law Louise and Olav Lunde and her beloved granddaughter Kristin.

She is survived by her children Susan, Nancy (Matt), Brian (Korina) and grandchildren Taryn, Lauren and Eric. She is also survived by her brother Ted (Janet), brothers in laws Richard Navratil, Kenny Egaas (Marilyn), Ben Egaas (Dorothy) and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and will miss her so very much.

Jennie was a kind, sweet, gentle person who always saw the best in everyone. Her smile could light up a room. She struggled with dementia and is now free and reunited at last with her loved ones in Heaven.