Lorna V. Glastra (nee Hjelle)

Monday, October 24, 2016 2:01 pm

Lorna V. Glastra (nee Hjelle) was born Dec. 16th, 1921, on a homestead near the village of Monitor, Alberta.  She passed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on 10-14-2016.  At the time of her death, she resided near Seattle in Bothell, Wash. A memorial service is at Northlake Lutheran Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. Remembrances may be sent to the Marjorie Bly fund at Northlake Lutheran, located at 6620 NE 185th Street, Kenmore, WA  98028.

Lorna was the youngest child of Sigurd W. and Jane Likness Hjelle. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Arnold Hjelle, M. Ed., brother Lester Hjelle, MD, and husband Jacob (Jack) Glastra. She is survived by her sons Jon and Peter, grandchildren Jacob, Emily, Laura, Joshua and Jazz, and one great-granddaughter, Annika. Lorna immigrated with her family to the Hjelle family farm at Siewer’s Springs in Dec., 1930. She was confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Decorah. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1939, then attended Luther College the 1940-41 academic year, becoming acquainted with former ALC synod president David Preus and long-time Luther music director Weston Noble. She began nursing school in the fall of 1941 at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. The Fairview experience was a central part of Lorna’s life. She was class president, and formed friendships there that lasted until her death. She gained knowledge and skills that enabled her to readily gain employment when she moved to the Seattle area in 1944. Lorna worked as office nurse for psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Stolzheise and prominent Seattle urologist Dr. Dean Parker. She also briefly worked for long-time north Seattle pediatrician Dr. James Tucker. She met her husband Jack Glastra in an Americanization class. They married in 1950. Jon and Peter, the two sons born of the marriage, reside and work in the Seattle area. Starting in late 1953, Lorna became bookkeeper for Jack’s fledgling boiler and oil-burner service business. She worked in this capacity until 1980. Jack and Lorna loved to travel. Visiting relatives in the Netherlands and Norway in 1952, they transited the Atlantic on famed Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. In later years they traveled together to S.E. Alaska, the Pribiloff Islands, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and Hawaii. Lorna traveled independently to Vatican City, the Holy Land and many destinations in North America. Lorna and Jack were charter members of Northlake Lutheran Church in Kenmore, Wash. She was an avid Bible student, taught Sunday school and served on pastoral call committees and the church council. Her life was focused on service to God, her family and church community. With her death, the Greatest Generation loses one of its true gems.