Mabel O. Engebo, 96, a resident of Mount Vernon, died September 4, 2004 at the Mountain Glen Retirement Center.
She was born Sept. 30, 1907, in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota to Norwegian immigrants, John and Ingeborg Foseide. The family later moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she attended public schools and during summer vacation attended church school to learn the Norwegian language.
In Grand Forks, she met Oscar Engebo, who emigrated from Norway in 1926. They were married in Seattle on Aug. 27, 1927, and raised a family of four children. He preceded her in death in 1991.
She was a gifted homemaker and a kind and loving mother who took pride in her children. Living on a small farm south of Seattle, she helped to provide for her family during the depression years by sewing, cooking, gardening, baking and canning large quantities of food. When World War II came along, she heeded the government’s call and became a Coast Guard-certified welder in Seattle’s shipbuilding industry. She enjoyed reading and embroidery work and visiting with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Engebo is survived by two daughters, Gloria Brandt of Mount Vernon and Marian Thompson of Seattle; two sons, Ronald of Federal Way and Gerald of Longview; fifteen grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
Private family services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Friendship House in Mount Vernon would be appropriate.
Arrangements under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Share memories of Mabel and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com