Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Ingebjørg Gursli, born July 25, 1930, went to be with Jesus and her eldest son Gordon Gursli on March 11, 2023, at the age of 92.
(Lull) as she was known in her hometown of Røldal, Norway, was born in a modest hillside home. She was the eldest of seven children.
She grew up in the beautiful mountain community in west Norway with many fond memories, even during the German occupation during WWII when it was a time of uncertainty and rationing.
Upon graduating from school and being confirmed in the local Stave Church (dating back to circa 1100) Ingebjørg, at the age of 13 to 14, left home to work with goat herds on a farm in a nearby valley (Valdalen) for a year.
At the age of 17, she left home again and joined her sister Gerd in Olso, where they took on maid/assistant jobs, Ingebjørg for a famous artist, Agnes Hiorth, painter of the King of Norway, which was unveiled in 1948 and currently hangs in the Oslo City Hall.
Both Ingebjørg and her sister Gerd enjoyed their time together at dances, and both eventually moved to Odda, near their home in Røldal, to work. Here they met their future husbands.
The couples spent time together before Ingebjørg immigrated to Canada in 1952 with her lifelong love, Reidar. Reidar traveled first in April 1952, and then Ingebjørg arrived Aug. 29, upon which they were immediately married the following day, the 30th of August. They had a marriage of 70-plus years.
Ingebjørg (also known as "Inga") remained with her husband in Vancouver, B.C., eight years before seeking opportunities in Seattle in spring of 1960, settling in Seattle first and then moving to Edmonds in 1962, where they built a home and raised their family.
Ingebjørg was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a true friend to many – known for her beautiful smile and infectious laugh and loved by all in Norway and her adopted family here in the Pacific Northwest
Surviving are her husband Reidar Gursli, son Roy Gursli, and wife Debbie E. Gursli; Ted Allen Gursli; grandchildren Erika N Gursli, Justin Gursli and wife Angie Gursli, and Kristian G Gursli; great-grandchildren Taylor Gursli Pichler, Preston, Carolyn, Adelyn, and Celia Gursli; sisters Gerd Schaatun and Aslaug Solbakken; and brother Oddbjørn Lynghammar.
She was preceded in death by son Gordon Gursli; brothers Gunnar Lynghammer, Toralf Lynghammer; and sister Borghild Lynghammer
Celebration of life to be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023, 2 p.m., at Maple Park Lutheran Church, 17620 60th Ave. W., Lynnwood.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alzheimer's Association.
