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- Bio: LEAH G. (HAWKINSON) TORKELSON (1916-2011)
- "She walks in beauty" (Lord Byron, 1788-1824) could sum up the life of Leah G. Hawkinson Torkelson. She inspired countless people, including her five children, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her women's Bible study group. Early mornings found her with coffee by her fireplace, prayer list in hand and remembering the needs of her close circle and loved ones around the world. After years of coping with a slowly failing heart, Leah died on July 14, 2011, surrounded by her family.
- Leah was born in Frog Lake, Northern Alberta, the seventh of twelve children born to Sigrid and Gerhard Gunderson. Ten of those children survived. They were homesteaders.
- She met and married Lewis J. Hawkinson in 1936 and loved to tell the stories from their early years managing a power plant in Alaska including her "pioneer woman" act of shooting a duck through her kitchen door screen, preparing and roasting it for dinner.
Leah and Lewis went on to live in Seattle where Lewis became an airline executive and she a devoted wife and mother, known as well for her love of gardening and her exquisite hats. Lewis died in 1975.
- In 1981, Leah married Henry Torkelson and lived in Stanwood where they were well known for their garden, honey bees and frequent, sometimes surprising, deliveries of vegetables, honey and fresh bread. Henry died in 2003.
- Recently Leah remarked, "I have had a wonderful life - so much more than I had anticipated. People can get discouraged by life, though, so I want to be an encourager." This, and the radiant life she lived, is now her legacy.
- Leah is survived by her sister, Ruth Bakke, and four children, Randy Hawkinson, Jan Haaken, Linda Israel and Don Hawkinson. Daughter, Joan Hawkinson Bohorfoush, died in 1997.
- Leah will be buried at Bay View Cemetery in Bellingham at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 28th. A memorial will follow at 2 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Stanwood at 27201 99th Ave. NW.
- In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Leah G. Hawkinson Nursing Scholarship, Skagit Valley College Foundation at 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on July 26, 2011
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1916 - 2011 (95 år)
