| Ellinor
Ekenes was born on Nov. 17, 1923, at her beloved
farm, Ekenes, in Dypvag, Norway. She was the
youngest of 10 children born to Thorvald and
Johanne Ekenes.
Ellinor was married and gave birth to her
first child, Helge, who sadly preceded her
in death. He was followed by Johanne, Jan
Martin and Ase.
In 1956, Ellinor made her first trip to
America, traveling on a freighter through
the Panama Canal to Seattle to be with her
sister, Alfhild, and brothers Henry and Thoralf.
She returned to Norway in 1957 and lived
in the Oslo area. In 1958 she gave birth
to Rolf and then returned to Canada in 1960
and gave birth to Erik in Vancouver, B.C.
Ellinor, Jan Martin, Rolf and Erik immigrated
to Seattle in 1964 where she worked as a
nurse. In 1974 she moved to her 10-acre farm,
Gjessheim, in Woodinville. In 1975, she adopted
a granddaughter, Tulle.
She attended Shoreline and North Seattle
Community Colleges, earning her associate’s
degree. After graduation, she enrolled at
the University of Washington, where she earned
a master’s degree in Scandinavian languages
and literature. She became an activist in
the Bothell Sons of Norway Lodge, where she
served as cultural director for many years.
Ellinor taught the Norwegian language at
the lodge for over 30 years. She was still
teaching at the lodge at the time of her
passing.
She enjoyed traveling, going on two cruises
and annual trips to Norway to visit family
and friends, and to work at Ekenes. One of
her passions in life was writing. She has
written two novels, a language book and countless
poems.
She is survived by her daughters, Johanne
Hauge (Torbjorn), Ase Sjurso (Hans), Tulle
Featherston (Mark), sons Jan Martin (Patti),
Rolf and Erik. She has 23 grandchildren at
the time of her death: Morten, Kathrine,
Solveig, Joanna Cornejo (Carlos), Rebecca,
Erik, John Benjamin, Spencer, Kristian, Alan,
Elisabeth, Marianne, Andreas, Jenifer, Kristine,
Rachel, Rolf Jr., Kari, Kristopher, Kristian,
Jonathan, Timothy and Tyler. Ellinor was
also great-grandmother to Sebastian, Carlitos,
and Kaia. She has many nieces and nephews,
cousins and other relatives both in Norway
and the United States.
She died April 12, 2006. Internment will
be at Dypvag Kirke near Ekenes.
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1976-2007
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