Lynn Elvestrom

Friday, August 21, 1942 


Dear Sally and Lefty: 

Today our little boy arrived. Blonde, fat, 7 . lbs. Andy and baby are fine. We haven’t decided what we will call him, may be Benjamin. We’ll write again soon. He sure is a fine little fellow. 

Love Ben E. (I found this letter in his baby book) 

And what a fine man he became. He was named Lynn Erling at his baptism. Lynn grew up in Battle Ground, Washington. He had a chance to be a pen pal to a friend in India. He participated in 4H club, Future Farmers of America, worked on various shop projects in High School. As a youth he helped build his home church (Elim Lutheran in Hockinson, Washington). The day after High School graduation he moved away from the farm and went to work for Ray Lagler on his dairy. 

On June 7, 1964 Lynn and Marilyn were joined in holy matrimony and raised two children: Eric and Heidi. 

In 1972 Lynn graduated from Green River College in Auburn, Washington with an AA in Forestry Technology. He found work as a Logging Engineer at Weyerhaeuser Company in Snoqualmie, WA. In 1987 he left Weyerhaeuser to start our surveying company. 

In 1976 we moved to Valley Camp Retreat Center in North Bend, WA. Lynn had numerous skills that kept him busy: woodworking, restoring antique vehicles, gas pumps and tractors, building model trains, and refinishing antique sewing machines. 

Lynn loved the Lord and life. He loved people. He loved to tell people stories of his life experiences. He loved to bring humor to the Model A club newsletter. He loved to use his hands to help others build things. He loved to sing, tap his toes to good music, and play his upright bass. He loved to travel and see new places. He also loved to test people with his inquisitive mind. 

Lynn is survived by his wife Marilyn, his son Eric and daughter Heidi, his brother Michael and sister Jo Ann. He has four grandchildren: Jared, Sarah, Rebekah and Joshua. He also has one great grandchild: Otti.