Harold Soderstrom Obituary

Harold G. Soderstrom, age 85, died February 14, 2006, at Lake Chelan Community Hospital. He was born in Seattle and grew up in Happy Valley, near Redmond. After high school, he trained in carpentry and sheet metal. In 1941, he married Barbara Bosdock of Carnation. Since he worked on the Victory ships at the Houghton shipyards, he had a draft deferment but chose to join the Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific.

After the war, he returned to the family homestead on Stillwater Hill. In 1952, he moved to Kirkland and went to work for King County Public Works, eventually becoming supervisor of signs and striping. He loved driving, buying recreational vehicles, fishing for steelhead in the Skykomish River, deer hunting in the Teanaway Valley and helping other people with their projects.

After retirement, he built a home on the river in Index. They traveled to Arizona in the winter time. Later, Harold and Barbara lived full time in Sun City West, Arizona. Barbara developed Parkinson's disease. He cared for her until he suffered a stroke late in 2000 and they came to Chelan. Barbara died in 2003. Since he was unable to drive, Harold became well known for his frequent walks around town. The people of Chelan showed him the love and helpfulness that he had always given others.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Nels and Patty Soderstrom, of Chelan; daughter and son-in-law, Jan Soderstrom and Mike Moone, of Indio, California; grandchildren, Michael Moone, Matthew Moone, Erik Soderstrom, and Maggie Soderstrom; and great grandchild, Ripley Purdy.