PEOPLE
In 2020 our community lost Lois Unseth, a l beloved member. Lois was laid to rest June 3, with Pastor Dan and Pastor Erik of Ballard First Lutheran presiding at the gravesite. A memorial for Lois will be planned for a time when we are all able to gather together once more. Pastor Erik Wilson Weiberg of Ballard First Lutheran gave a brief remembrance, as Lois was closely connected to that congregation while her husband Pastor Malcolm Unseth served there.
A Note from Pastor Erik: Lois Unseth died on the morning of May 23, 2020. This is the transcript of remarks that I made in the early evening hours of that same Saturday. I filmed it as something of a coda to the worship service that would go online the next day, Sunday morning. It was at the end of a day of recording and it came about very spontaneously. For obvious reasons, I wanted to film it with the Ballard First Lutheran Church Child Care Center as a backdrop. It was getting dark so I did not have time to prepare a script. But I had an idea of what I hoped to say. And, as I look back on my words, there is so much more that could – and should – be said about Lois. Yet, as I thought about her legacy at Ballard First Lutheran, this is what was on my mind and in my heart at that moment….
Normally this – the front play yard of our Ballard First Lutheran Childcare Center – is not nearly so quiet. But, on this Saturday night, I’m glad that it is. It gives me a chance to reflect on my good friend, Lois Unseth. Lois lived a full life, and you can’t really talk about the fullness of her life without including the years she spent here as the founding director of this childcare center. In September of 1976 she opened the place and served well into the 90’s.
When I came here, following my predecessor and her husband, Malcolm Unseth, as pastor, Lois was one of the first people to welcome me and show me every kindness. And those kindnesses continued all through the years. I’m going to miss her and I am thankful for the foundation that she established. I’m glad that her legacy lives on, Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
God bless her memory and God bless us in our remembering of her.
Erik R. Wilson Weiberg
In 2019 our community lost Ed Bossart.
Edmund Belfour Bossart, Jr. died Wednesday, 11 September 2019 in Mill Creek, Washington, where he had made his home for the past 11 years. Ed attended the Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1955 as a member of the 6th Company. After completing several destroyer assignments, he was assigned as Flag Lieutenant to the Commander Cruiser Division 4 and embarked on several Atlantic fleet cruises. His 30 years of active service in the Navy included serving as Chief Engineer on the aircraft carrier Enterprise, Commissioning Commander Officer of USS Downes and Commanding Officer of the Nuclear Powered Cruiser USS Longbeach.
Ed’s most cherished moment while serving in the Navy occurred on the South Sea. While on routine deployment, his ship happened upon Vietnamese refugees with few survival supplies. The rescue saved countless lives and made a tremendous impact on Ed. When his granddaughter asked as part of a school project what his greatest moment was, he told this story without hesitation and with great satisfaction.
After his Naval service, Ed completed his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at US Naval Post Graduate School, after which he studied at MIT and Harvard and earned a second Masters Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He eventually moved to Seattle where he worked on military aircraft at Boeing for 13 years.
Ed enjoyed attending and listening to opera and he loved singing at church and other venues. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his son Ed Bossart III and daughter-in-law Laurie, along with 2 grandchildren, Lindsay and Alli.
Burial, with full military honors, took place at Tahoma National Cemetery on Monday, October 7.
In 2018 our community lost Florence Ekstrand and Don Sobeck, Scroll down for their obituaries.
Donald L. Sobeck, 1925-2018
Don was born in Bellingham to Gunhild and Joseph Sobeck on March 22, 1925. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Seattle and a brother, Francis, and a sister, Sandra, were added to the family. Don attended public school in Seattle, and graduated from Queen Anne High School. After one year at the University of Washington, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served three years before his honorable discharge in May of 1946. While a student at Seattle University, his brother Francis introduced Don to Patricia King, and it was an instant connection between them. They were married in May of 1948. Don received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in 1950. He held a long and enjoyable career as an underwriting engineer in the commercial insurance industry. Don and Pat raised three children, Susan, Steven and Garry in Seattle, Yakima and Tacoma. After the children finished school, for a short time Don and Pat lived in Orange County, California and finally returned to Seattle in 1972.
Don held leadership roles at Queen Anne Lutheran Church for many years. He served on the Board of Directors at Hilltop Children’s Center, a non-profit child care center housed at the church where he demonstrated quiet, efficient leadership for fourteen years and was instrumental to the success of the Center. Upon retiring from his working career, he took up volunteering at Queen Anne Helpline, cheerfully taking any and all assignments and directions from his wife who served as the Director of the agency. Don tutored math for MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement) classes at McClure Middle School and often accompanied the classes on field trips. Don also found time to serve as an escort volunteer at Foss Home taking residents to Northgate, medical appointments, the zoo and the Seattle Center. To celebrate his heritage, he spent many years volunteering once a week at the Nordic Museum. Throughout his life he has demonstrated his willingness to get involved, give of his time, and help encourage others. Don had many long and loyal friendships throughout the years.
Don leaves behind the love of his life, Patricia, his wife of 70 years, daughter, Susan Burroughs (Bruce), sons Steven Sobeck (Morgan) and Garry Sobeck (Pamela), sister Sandra Swenson, sister-in-law Donna Hegstrom, grandchildren: Sarah Ceteras Gross (Steve), Amy Beard (Kyle), Ian Sobeck, Adam Sobeck, Travis Sobeck, Justin Sobeck (Angelica), Madison Sobeck, Kate Beeson (Steve), Theresa Kegebein, Nicholas Kegebein, great-grandchildren: Jack, Hudson, Kendall, Mauria, Suri, Brandon, Skyler, Haley, Cole, and many nieces and nephews, especially John Sobeck, MD and Kathleen Rowan, who lovingly provided care and attention to Don in the last few years of his life.
Our father leaves a strong legacy of faith, love of family, love of country, volunteer service and a very close extended family who will miss his presence each and every day.
Florence Ekstrand, 1917-2018
Florence Lind Ekstrand, beloved member of Queen Anne Lutheran, died peacefully on December 14, 2018 in Mount Vernon, WA, at the age of 101.
Florence Ekstrand, says Karen McCullough, was a “wise woman of the church.” She was involved in the QALCW, led Forums, spoke at Sweetheart luncheons, and was the hostess of some of our “Progressive Dinners”—Karen recalls that Florence accepted hosting duties even when she was 85, saying, “Sure, I’ll do it, just don’t tell my kids about it!” Delicious Swedish meatballs ensued. Florence convened several writing groups at her home, one for poetry and another for those writing their memoirs.
A faithful Christian, her home was always open to others. Her daughter Kris recalls, “Support for refugees and the homeless was probably the thing that was closest to her heart and is especially timely right now. Recently, I heard from a woman who said she was a checker at the Queen Anne Safeway store where Florence shopped. They chatted and my mother learned the young woman was losing her apartment. Florence invited her to stay at her house until she was back on her feet. This happened many, many times over the years when Florence had room in her house and others needed help.” Kris graciously provided us with Florence’s obituary:
The youngest of five siblings, Florence was born on Oct. 18, 1917, on a farm near Cokato, MN, to Swedish immigrant parents Edward and Alma Lind. Because she had already learned to read, she was promoted to third grade within two weeks after starting school. Consequently, she was only 15 years old when she graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1933 at Cokato High School. She studied journalism for two years at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, before taking a job as a reporter at her hometown weekly newspaper, the Cokato Enterprise.
On Sept. 18, 1938, Florence married Mauritz A. Ekstrand, who was also of the Cokato area. They lived in several communities in Minnesota and Montana during the early years of their marriage before settling in Kalispell, MT, in 1950. Florence raised her four children while working as a free-lance writer, placing numerous stories in youth magazines published by church organizations and poems in various publications. When the family settled in Seattle in 1963, Florence went to work for Murray Publishing Co., where she served as editor for the weekly Queen Anne News and Magnolia News, plus a monthly trade publication for the Northwest mobile home industry. She also wrote and self-published her first book, Scandinavian Home Cooking, a small volume of stories and recipes that sold more than 250,000 copies. Florence retired in 1981 to devote full time to her publishing company, Welcome Press, eventually producing 10 books of her own and two by other authors, mostly on topics related to the Scandinavian culture. During these years, she traveled to Sweden and Norway several times.
After Mauritz died in 1981, Florence began making space available in her home for young people to live, including college students and refugees from the Eritrea-Ethiopia war. The refugee community came to her aid for several months in 2005, after Florence suffered a debilitating stroke. When it became no longer practical for Florence to live in her Seattle home, she moved to Mountain Glen Retirement Center in Mount Vernon, WA, where she lived out the remaining years of her life. The family extends its appreciation to the staff for their support and care throughout the last chapter of Florence’s life.
Florence is survived by her four children: Mary Ekstrand of Poulsbo, WA, and her partner, Jack Kent; Steve Ekstrand and his wife, Linda, of Mount Vernon, WA; Kris Ekstrand Molesworth and her husband, Carl, also of Mount Vernon; and Heidi Ekstrand of Ketchikan, AK. Her grandchildren are Nat Seavy and his wife, Jenny Tamayo, Forestville, CA; Andy Seavy and his partner, Ingrid de la Jara, Seattle; and Claire Molesworth and her husband, Nathan Siedman, Bolinas, CA. She also leaves great-grandchildren, Ritzy and BB Davidson and Atticus and Sybil Siedman.
A private family memorial will take place at a future date. Gifts in Florence’s memory are suggested to Queen Anne Helpline, Seattle; Washington Talking Book and Braille Library; or a community food bank.
Help Tent Community “Camp United We Stand”
One of our long-time church members is living with her son at Camp United We Stand. The document linked below gives details about this tent community for unhoused people, and its current needs.
Care and Upkeep of Prayer Requests
Do you have a prayer request? You can always write a request on the blue pew cards during worship, and place them in the offering plate or give them to the pastor. You may also call or email the church office at any time to leave a prayer request, and it will be given to Pastor Dan. When we receive a prayer request, it is helpful to know if you would like this prayer to be included during Sunday worship in the weeks following, and/or if you would like the request sent out to the church e-mail Prayer Chain.* Pastor Dan will reach out to you when he sees your request, and he will not make it public unless you ask to do so.
Please help us keep prayer requests up to date. You can renew or discontinue the requests by contacting Pastor Dan or the church office. If not updated, prayer requests will be removed after four weeks.
Please obtain permission from the person concerned before publishing his/her name.
*What is the Prayer Chain? It is simply an e-mail group of members who have asked to receive prayer requests, so that they may each include them in their personal prayers at home.The church office contacts by e-mail all those on the Prayer Chain whenever a member requests the support of prayers. If you would like to become part of our Prayer Chain, simply call or email Barbara at the church office and she will add your name to that group.
Pat Sobeck honored by Metropolitan King County Council
The Metropolitan King County Council has presented a distinct honor upon 12 citizens living across King County. The volunteers are the recipients of the inaugural MLK Medal of Distinguished Service, an accolade recognizing those who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make a difference in communities across King County. The MLK Medal of Distinguished Service will be used once a year to thank those who made a particularly strong impact on the county and encourage others to renew their dedication to serve their community.
“The recipients of the first annual MLK Medal of Distinguished Service awards represent our best selves—they are individuals who give their time and energy to feed, clothe, and house their neighbors,” said Council Chair Joe McDermott. “In doing so, they show us not just that a single, committed person can indeed make a difference, but that these individuals are necessary for building strong communities that raise us all up.”
Today’s recipients were selected by the Councilmembers in each respective district.
The honoree in District 4 was our very own PAT SOBECK—for her service with the Queen Anne Helpline and her volunteer contributions throughout her community. “As Director of the Queen Anne Helpline for 30 years, Pat Sobeck’s legacy is sure to live on through the many volunteers who embody her spirit of service and the countless recipients of her tireless advocacy,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles.
Thelma Westberg
Thelma Westberg passed away on Saturday, December 20. Please keep Carol Bonenko, her daughter, and Carol’s sister Andrea in your prayers. A memorial service for Thelma will be held here at Queen Anne Lutheran on Saturday, January 30. More details will come later this month.
Thanks from Sister Clare Josef-Maier
Sister Clare would like to thank Queen Anne Lutheran for their support and celebration of her consecration to the ELCA roster on Sunday, December 20th. She expresses gratitude especially for those able to attend and/or participate, and for the gift of the beautiful Advent stole presented to her during the service. What a surprise! She looks forward to our ongoing partnership in ministry and in Christ’s love.
A “Bishop Sandwich!”
Bishop Kirby Unti, left, and former Bishop Rev. Dave Brauer-Rieke, (Clare’s dad) at right.
Below: Many rostered clergy were present at Clare’s Consecration Service, including Pastor Doug, freshly arrived in a tux after performing in a choral concert.
Harold Robertson Honored by Community Lunch on Capitol Hill
An enthusiastic crowd applauded as Community Lunch on Capitol Hill honored our own Harold Robertson with a Community Service Award at All Pilgrim’s Church on Broadway E. Dinner, wine, and music made it a festive affair. Harold has been a regular master chef one or two Tuesdays per month through-out the year, so chef’s hats off to Harold!
