Helen L. Eklund

Helen L. Eklund, born June 12, 1922 to Roy Harvey Skafte and Lillian (Uvaas) Skafte in Larsen, Wisconsin, passed away on October 5, 2018 in Centralia, Washington.

Helen was a joyful, happy and smiling person. Her family treasured her nurturing nature. She was a devout Christian and lived her faith by taking care of all those who were lucky enough to be part of her life.

Helen started school in a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Neenah High School in Neenah, Wisconsin in 1940. She went on to graduate from the Columbia Hospital School of Nursing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1943. She proudly served during World War II as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in Cleveland, Ohio.

She met her husband, Al Eklund in Cleveland and they married after the war in Hoquiam, Washington in 1946. They were married 33 happy years until his death in 1979. The couple loved to dance at The Elks Club and go camping with their kids. Helen was also very involved in and supportive of Al’s coaching career.

Helen worked as a registered nurse and supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1985. She was an active volunteer in the Cancer Clinic, organizing the Look Good, Feel Better program and also volunteered in the multi-specialty clinic for many years. For several years she delivered Meals on Wheels on the Harbor. At the time she was older than many of the recipients.

She was an active member of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Aberdeen for over 70 years, involved in Joy Circle and singing in the choir. She was also involved in the PTA, Zonta, the Jaycee Auxiliary and Activettes, American Nurses Association, YMCA Auxiliary, and member of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society. She was honored as The Aberdeen Daily World’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2000.

Her hobbies included playing bridge in three clubs at a time, sewing and needlework, traveling and later attending Elder hostels.

She is survived by sons: John (Nancy) Eklund of Chehalis, Dan (Cheri) Eklund of Issaquah and daughter Nancy (Dennis) Stark of Kennewick. She also leaves four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Monday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, followed by a reception in the Church parish hall.