Jean Lenora Elven
July 16, 1920 - October 2, 2017
Jean Lenora Elven, 97, of Preston, WA died October 2 in Edmonds, WA where she had lived the last three years. She was born July 16, 1920 to Nels and Karin Nelson who lived in High Point. She was a 1937 graduate of Monroe High School. She was a homemaker and member of Preston Baptist Church for 75 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, who died in 1995. Jean is survived by Charles N Elven of Edmonds and Marjorie Stenstrom of Winchendon, MA, five grandchildren, Peter (Lois), David (Pollianne) and Matthew (Nicole) Stenstrom, Carynn Lindsay (Chris) and Eric Elven (Aileen) and 10 great grandchildren, Jordan, Micah, Maxwell, Jacob, Hannah, Isabella, Judah and Boston Stenstrom and Evan and Hayden Lindsay.
Jean’s father Nels immigrated from Sweden at age 19, and in time became the logging superintendent for the High Point Lumber Mill. Her mother Karin came from Sweden to work in the cook house at the mill. Jean had two older brothers, Egan and Vincent, a sister June who died as a child and two younger sisters, Marion and Nancy. They all attended the High Point elementary school and then went on to Issaquah for high school.
As one drives East on I-90 and come to the underpass at High Point we literally drive over where their home was located.
In the summer of 1932 Jean attended Lake Sammamish Bible Camp and it was there that the Lord did a work in her heart and she submitted her life to Jesus Christ. The Bible became her guide and prayer a must. Belonging to Him was who she was and that is what we saw lived out in her life.
Jean's family of 4 moved back to Preston from Monroe in 1942 and it was there that she joined the church. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School classes, was involved with Girls Missionary Guild, and was a camp counselor at Lake Retreat Bible Camp. Jean loved her church.
She loved bringing people together at their home. She was most noted for her loving heart for all people and had a gift for hospitality. She loved to cook and folks enjoyed her food. Swedish pancakes and Rye bread were two specialties.
Neighborhood kids would come to the back door and say, “Auntie Jean, do you have cookies for us today?” And, she generally did. She was also quite a seamstress.
In 1993 they began going to Venture Out in Mesa, AZ for portions of the winter where she loved being in the sun; she did not like being cold. She did like going to the pool for water aerobics each weekday morning. She had a church home in AZ, Desert View Baptist Church, which was the hub for her AZ activities.
To prepare for a 21 day trip to Europe she took Swedish classes so as to converse with Swedish relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 15 at 2:00 P.M. at Raging River Community Church, 31104 SE 86th St, Preston, WA 98050
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 15 at 2:00 P.M. at Raging River Community Church, 31104 SE 86th St, Preston, WA 98050
DONATIONS
Any memorials may be sent to Raging River Community Church, P.O. Box 948, Preston, WA 98050