Ella Simonsen

Ella Simonsen, 93, of Salem, formerly of Astoria, died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in Salem.

She was born Jan. 8, 1919, in Taars, Denmark, to Hans and Magda Olsen, the seventh of 10 children.

She received her education in Tranget and Norre Taars Skole in northern Jutland, and apprenticed as a baker in Kalvehave, Zealand, Denmark.

In 1955, she met and married Laurence Laurits Simonsen, of Lonstrup, Denmark, in Edmonton, Alberta. He preceded her in death in 1988.

Mrs. Simonsen worked as a cook, housekeeper and household manager at Lekkende Manor, Liselund Castle, and elsewhere in southern Zealand and on the island of Mon, Denmark. In 1952, she immigrated to Edmonton. In 1957, she and her family moved first to Minot, N.D., then settled in Blair, Neb. In 1962, they moved to Eugene, and in 1965, to Astoria. In December 1978, she opened the Nordic Butik, a Scandinavian import and handicrafts store in downtown Astoria. There, she taught classes in hardanger embroidery, counted cross stitch, bobbin lace-making and other specialized needlework used in Scandinavian homes and folk costumes.

She was active in the Downtown Merchants Association until she retired in 1994, and very active in the Astoria Scandinavian community. She was a founding member of the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Association, the Viking and Nordic Folk Dancers, the Scandinavian Workshop and the Lower Columbia Danish Society. She was also a member of the Astor Lodge No. 215 of the Vasa Order of Sweden since 1967.

In the early years of the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, she served as the chairwoman of the publicity and princess committees, and brought the Scandinavian Festival court to TV stations in Portland and Salem to spread the word about the festival. While working with the Viking and Nordic Folk Dancers, she encouraged the use of folk costumes from different regions of each of the five Scandinavian countries, and over the years spent countless hours helping generations of local Scandinavian Americans make authentic Scandinavian folk costumes.

The Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce awarded her with the George Award in 1975 for her assistance with the Girl Scout program, the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, the Viking and Nordic Dancers, the Scandinavian Workshop, a sewing and handcraft class at Alderbrook Community Hall and the Order of Vasa’s mid-December Festival of Lights (Lucia) program.

She is survived by a daughter, Doreen Simonsen of Salem; a sister, Bodil Bundgaard of Vejen, Denmark; and several nieces and nephews and their extended families throughout Denmark.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 9, at Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria. A reception will follow at First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 725 33rd St. in Astoria.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Greenwood Cemetery Restoration Fund, 91569 State Highway 202, Astoria, OR 97103.

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com