Marguerite Thiemens Strandrud

Marguerite Thiemens Strandrud passed away July 7 in the Alzheimer unit at Park West Care Center in West Seattle at age 89. She was born Aug. 25, 1916 in Ephrata — a land of sagebrush and jackrabbits during her childhood, now a land of green fields.

She worked as a beautician until the 1939 beginning of a 66-year devoted marriage. She and her husband, Halvor Strandrud, lived in nine different states before settling down to their West Seattle home for half a century. They had no children but owned several beloved cats and dogs.

Marguerite's talents were expressed in sewing clothing for herself and others, gardening, ceramics, and "Japanese Embroidery." She raised award-winning African Violets and attended and judged at shows of African Violet and Gesneriad Societies around the United States and Canada.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Halvor, in 2005, her parents, Dirk and Kate Thiemens, her sister and brother-in-law Frances and Lowell Stack. She is survived by her brother-and-sister-in-law Bill and Dorrine Strandrud of Woodinville, her brother-in-law Ted Strandrud of Shoreline, her niece Judy Rodeen (Paul) of Spokane, her nephew James Stack (Jeneffer) of Arizona, her cousin Kirk Tesdahl (Carol) of Everett, and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was hospitable, generous and loving with a good sense of humor. She will be truly missed.

Family graveside services will be at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave. N, Seattle at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 18. Memorial services will be held at 3 pm the same day at Bethany Community Church, 8023 Green Lake Dr. N. (one block east of Aurora), Seattle, WA 98103-4446. All are invited. For more Bethany ministerial information, call (206) 524-9000.