Elsie M. Hegland

Enumclaw resident Elsie Meta Hegland, age 93, died March 24, 2018 in Federal Way. She was born on June 29, 1924 to parents, William and Augusta Hangsleben in Shiloh, Illinois. She was the 8th child of 11. She grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, there she met Olaf P. Hegland. She followed Olaf and his sister to Seattle where they married on March 20, 1943. While in Seattle, Elsie worked as a Rosie the Riveter for the Boeing Company during WWII. She worked for many years as a waitress at Nifty’s on Harbor Island and retired from Container Corporation of America after 22 ½ years.

Elsie and Olaf were blessed with 5 children, Carolyn, William, Diane, Anita and Rick. Elsie was known for her many family meals. She could make something out of nothing! She was one of the best cooks and taught her children and grandchildren to make traditional lefse, Christmas cookies, scalloped potatoes and baked chicken. She enjoyed gardening and was a part of the Burien Garden Club. She spent many years volunteering, was involved with the Kent Eagles and was named Eagle of the year in 1990, the White Center Food Bank, and as the Vice Chair of the Grandmothers Club. Elsie attended the Enumclaw Senior Center where she met many wonderful and caring friends. She enjoyed spending time with her precious family, doing crafts, sewing and spending time in her garden. Elsie and Olaf were longtime members of St. James Lutheran in White Center until they moved to Enumclaw in the 1990’s and joined Trinity Lutheran Church.

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Olaf; children Diane and Rick; her parents; 8 brothers and 1 sister. She is survived by her children Carolyn (Raymond/Pat) Seelbach, William (Vicki, deceased), Diane Hegland, and Anita (David, deceased) Johnson; brother Alfred (Vivian) Hangsleben of Warroad, MN; sisters-in-law Barbra Hangsleben and Bernice Hangsleben both of East Grand Forks, MN; 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews spread across North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and the Mid-West.

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