Kenneth Emmett Salmonson

Age 81, of Roseburg died January 30, 2008 from melanoma cancer peacefully at his home with his daughters at his side. He was born on July 23, 1926 in Graceville, MN in Big Stone County of his Welsh-Scots-Irish mother, Laura Jean Williams Salmonson, and his Swedish father, Emmett, the son of immigrant Peter Salmonson. He grew up in Chokio, MN and was educated at Worsham Mortuary College in Chicago. Afterwards he worked as a funeral director in Charleston, IL where he met his first wife, Helen Stortzum, the mother of his four daughters: Sharon Salmonson Brown, Beaverton; Rev. Linda Salmonson Olson, Oceanside, CA; Elaine Salmonson, Redmond; and Mary Collins, Monroe. In 1954, Ken moved his family to Roseburg to become the Funeral Director at Long & Shukle Memorial Chapel, first working at Roseburg Lumber Company while awaiting his Oregon Funeral Director’s license. Later, after he retired from the funeral business, he worked for the City of Roseburg until his second retirement. He married Phyllis Oltman Paige Salmonson in 1969. They enjoyed RV camping and family gatherings. He lived a life of generosity participating in many church and civic activities including active membership at Faith Lutheran Church since 1954, where he held various positions, such as Sunday School Superintendent when the roster was over 100 children. He witnessed Faith Lutheran grow from the small church on Malheur to the larger structure on Roseburg’s west side. He loved to volunteer at the church making sausages at the Scandinavian Smorgasbord, taking care of maintenance projects and volunteering with Phyllis at the Friendly Kitchen. Ken enjoyed gardening both at home and at church. Friends were appreciative of the beautiful roses and petunias he grew and of the abundant vegetables he provided them. Ken also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and as a docent at the Douglas County Museum. He was a former member of the Roseburg Lions Club. For 37 years he had reserved seats at Legion baseball games and was an avid UO Ducks football fan, sometimes even traveling on the team plane to away games. Ken is preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Phyllis Salmonson, and his sisters, Leona Michalek and Virginia Lembke. He is survived by his sister, Marion “Jackie” Anderson, of Torrence, CA, and 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, his beloved pet Milo the Cat, and numerous nieces and nephews. As a veteran of World War II he served in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Merchant Marine Service in the Pacific and Caribbean. He will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Monday, February 4 at 12 noon with full military honors. His memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Roseburg Monday, February 11 at 2:00 P.M. Memorials may be sent to the Ken Salmonson Memorial Sunday School Fund at Faith Lutheran Church, 820 W. Kenwood, P.O. Box 2349, Roseburg, OR 97470, (541) 672-2231.