Obituary of Elmer Lewis Bjornsen

ELMER LEWIS BJORNSEN Elmer Lewis Bjornsen, age 95, passed away October 9, 2008 in Vancouver. HE was born December 6, 1912 in Colome, SD to Enoch and Josephine Bjornsen. He grew up in South Dakota and got a teaching degree from Southern State Normal School in Springfield, SD. He taught in a one room schoolhouse in White River, SD for 1 year. He married Mabel Delfs and they moved to Yankton, SD where they lived until moving to Vancouver in 1937. Elmer worked in the shipyards during WWII and they would move to Washougal in 1945 and open Elmerâ??s grocery store which he operated until 1956. He later worked for NW Wholesale Grocers until retirement in 1974. He belonged to Zion Lutheran Church and Orchard Hills Country Club. He loved traveling and spending time with his grand and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel; daughter, Jackie Cadd and grand daughter, Jyl Cadd. Survivors include his son, Dean Bjornsen of San Diego; daughter Connie Alexander of Washougal; 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 15, at 11am at Straubâ??s Funeral Home in Camas. Vault interment will be at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery at 2pm. Memorial donations can be given to either the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund or the Alzheimerâ??s Assoc. Please sign the online guest book at www.straubsfuneralhome.com.