Ellen Blair Fredrikson, 96

Ellen Blair Fredrikson passed away June 4, 2012. She was born Sept. 3, 1915, in Indianapolis, Ind., and grew up in Fargo, N.D., with her two sisters.

She graduated from Fargo Central H.S. in 1932 and North Dakota State U in 1936 with a degree in home economics. In 1937 she earned a master’s degree in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin.

She married her high school sweetheart, Lynn C. Fredrikson in 1938 while he was a medical student at Northwestern U Medical School in Chicago, Ill.

Upon the end of World War II, Ellen, Lynn and their two young sons moved to Spirit Lake where Lynn established a medical practice. They were joined by a third son in 1953. The family moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1959 where Ellen was elected to the School Board for two terms and was instrumental in establishing the Department of Microbiology at North Idaho College. Ellen and Lynn moved to Estancia, N.M., in subsequently moved to Port Orchard, Wash., in 1998.

Ellen was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Martha, and by her husband of nearly 70 years, Lynn.

She is survived by her youngest sister, Jane of Asheville, N.C.; three sons, Peter of Placitas, N.M., Steven of Port Orchard, Wash., Keith of Hayden; as well as two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

The family wishes to express its thanks to the staffs and Kitsap Hospice Care Center and Stafford at Belmont for their kindness and care during her final months. Online memorial at rill.com.