Mary Ann Striggow, much-loved mom, grandma and great-grandma, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in her home in Olympia, Washington, following a two-month battle with acute leukemia.
Mary was born in Ruskin, Nebraska, on March 1, 1933, to the late Christian and Mabel Hansen. She was the youngest of three children. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1951. Mary began writing to a lonely sailor by the name of Allen Striggow that year, while he was serving in the Navy. After dating for just 30 days while he was home on leave, they became engaged and were married on August 31, 1952, when he came home on his next leave. They had just celebrated 66 years of marriage when Allen passed away on December 25, 2018. Prior to moving to Olympia in 1965, her first three children were born, son, Mike; and daughters, Gloria and Diane. After moving to Olympia, her son, Bruce, was born.
Mary and Allen were very active with their kids in school activities, especially sports. They were active members of the North Thurston Booster Club. They enjoyed attending their children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's band and choir concerts and sporting events. This past spring, you could find Mary at a local baseball field cheering on her great-grandchildren playing baseball.
Mary was a member of Olive Chapter Order of Eastern Star #63 in Superior, Nebraska, for over 70 years. She served as Past Guardian for Jobs Daughter's Bethel 66 in Superior and Bethel 51 in Olympia. In 1982, she and Allen served on the committee to begin the Lacey Presbyterian Church and were charter members of the church. She was a member of the church for the remainder of her life and served on various committees at the church.
Mary and Allen began square dancing in 1989 and were members of the Do-Si-Dos and Square Ones clubs. She remained active in the square dance community, even when dancing became impossible for her. She met many good friends through square dancing and enjoyed this activity with her daughters.
Mary and Allen enjoyed traveling and camping with friends following Allen's retirement. Mary enjoyed growing beautiful flowers in her yard, decorating her home for all the holidays, and making her special cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren every Christmas. She was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, Washington State Cougar fan, and Seattle Seahawks fan. All of her friends and family knew not to call her on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall as she would be cheering on one of her favorite football teams.
However, nothing made Mary happier than spending time with her family and friends. She leaves behind children Mike (Sarah) Striggow from Spokane, Gloria (Bill) Wilson from McCleary, Diane (Curtis) Leigh from Lacey, Bruce (Becky) Striggow from Lynden; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Mabel Hansen; her husband, Allen; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald (Mona) Hansen and Kenneth (Donna) Hansen.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Lacey Presbyterian Church, 3045 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, WA 98503.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Lacey Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.
Mary was born in Ruskin, Nebraska, on March 1, 1933, to the late Christian and Mabel Hansen. She was the youngest of three children. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1951. Mary began writing to a lonely sailor by the name of Allen Striggow that year, while he was serving in the Navy. After dating for just 30 days while he was home on leave, they became engaged and were married on August 31, 1952, when he came home on his next leave. They had just celebrated 66 years of marriage when Allen passed away on December 25, 2018. Prior to moving to Olympia in 1965, her first three children were born, son, Mike; and daughters, Gloria and Diane. After moving to Olympia, her son, Bruce, was born.
Mary and Allen were very active with their kids in school activities, especially sports. They were active members of the North Thurston Booster Club. They enjoyed attending their children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's band and choir concerts and sporting events. This past spring, you could find Mary at a local baseball field cheering on her great-grandchildren playing baseball.
Mary was a member of Olive Chapter Order of Eastern Star #63 in Superior, Nebraska, for over 70 years. She served as Past Guardian for Jobs Daughter's Bethel 66 in Superior and Bethel 51 in Olympia. In 1982, she and Allen served on the committee to begin the Lacey Presbyterian Church and were charter members of the church. She was a member of the church for the remainder of her life and served on various committees at the church.
Mary and Allen began square dancing in 1989 and were members of the Do-Si-Dos and Square Ones clubs. She remained active in the square dance community, even when dancing became impossible for her. She met many good friends through square dancing and enjoyed this activity with her daughters.
Mary and Allen enjoyed traveling and camping with friends following Allen's retirement. Mary enjoyed growing beautiful flowers in her yard, decorating her home for all the holidays, and making her special cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren every Christmas. She was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, Washington State Cougar fan, and Seattle Seahawks fan. All of her friends and family knew not to call her on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall as she would be cheering on one of her favorite football teams.
However, nothing made Mary happier than spending time with her family and friends. She leaves behind children Mike (Sarah) Striggow from Spokane, Gloria (Bill) Wilson from McCleary, Diane (Curtis) Leigh from Lacey, Bruce (Becky) Striggow from Lynden; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Mabel Hansen; her husband, Allen; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald (Mona) Hansen and Kenneth (Donna) Hansen.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Lacey Presbyterian Church, 3045 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, WA 98503.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Lacey Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.
Mary Ann Striggow, much-loved mom, grandma and great-grandma, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in her home in Olympia, Washington, following a two-month battle with acute leukemia.
Mary was born in Ruskin, Nebraska, on March 1, 1933, to the late Christian and Mabel Hansen. She was the youngest of three children. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1951. Mary began writing to a lonely sailor by the name of Allen Striggow that year, while he was serving in the Navy. After dating for just 30 days while he was home on leave, they became engaged and were married on August 31, 1952, when he came home on his next leave. They had just celebrated 66 years of marriage when Allen passed away on December 25, 2018. Prior to moving to Olympia in 1965, her first three children were born, son, Mike; and daughters, Gloria and Diane. After moving to Olympia, her son, Bruce, was born.
Mary and Allen were very active with their kids in school activities, especially sports. They were active members of the North Thurston Booster Club. They enjoyed attending their children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's band and choir concerts and sporting events. This past spring, you could find Mary at a local baseball field cheering on her great-grandchildren playing baseball.
Mary was a member of Olive Chapter Order of Eastern Star #63 in Superior, Nebraska, for over 70 years. She served as Past Guardian for Jobs Daughter's Bethel 66 in Superior and Bethel 51 in Olympia. In 1982, she and Allen served on the committee to begin the Lacey Presbyterian Church and were charter members of the church. She was a member of the church for the remainder of her life and served on various committees at the church.
Mary and Allen began square dancing in 1989 and were members of the Do-Si-Dos and Square Ones clubs. She remained active in the square dance community, even when dancing became impossible for her. She met many good friends through square dancing and enjoyed this activity with her daughters.
Mary and Allen enjoyed traveling and camping with friends following Allen's retirement. Mary enjoyed growing beautiful flowers in her yard, decorating her home for all the holidays, and making her special cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren every Christmas. She was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, Washington State Cougar fan, and Seattle Seahawks fan. All of her friends and family knew not to call her on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall as she would be cheering on one of her favorite football teams.
However, nothing made Mary happier than spending time with her family and friends. She leaves behind children Mike (Sarah) Striggow from Spokane, Gloria (Bill) Wilson from McCleary, Diane (Curtis) Leigh from Lacey, Bruce (Becky) Striggow from Lynden; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Mabel Hansen; her husband, Allen; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald (Mona) Hansen and Kenneth (Donna) Hansen.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Lacey Presbyterian Church, 3045 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, WA 98503.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Lacey Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.
Mary was born in Ruskin, Nebraska, on March 1, 1933, to the late Christian and Mabel Hansen. She was the youngest of three children. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1951. Mary began writing to a lonely sailor by the name of Allen Striggow that year, while he was serving in the Navy. After dating for just 30 days while he was home on leave, they became engaged and were married on August 31, 1952, when he came home on his next leave. They had just celebrated 66 years of marriage when Allen passed away on December 25, 2018. Prior to moving to Olympia in 1965, her first three children were born, son, Mike; and daughters, Gloria and Diane. After moving to Olympia, her son, Bruce, was born.
Mary and Allen were very active with their kids in school activities, especially sports. They were active members of the North Thurston Booster Club. They enjoyed attending their children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's band and choir concerts and sporting events. This past spring, you could find Mary at a local baseball field cheering on her great-grandchildren playing baseball.
Mary was a member of Olive Chapter Order of Eastern Star #63 in Superior, Nebraska, for over 70 years. She served as Past Guardian for Jobs Daughter's Bethel 66 in Superior and Bethel 51 in Olympia. In 1982, she and Allen served on the committee to begin the Lacey Presbyterian Church and were charter members of the church. She was a member of the church for the remainder of her life and served on various committees at the church.
Mary and Allen began square dancing in 1989 and were members of the Do-Si-Dos and Square Ones clubs. She remained active in the square dance community, even when dancing became impossible for her. She met many good friends through square dancing and enjoyed this activity with her daughters.
Mary and Allen enjoyed traveling and camping with friends following Allen's retirement. Mary enjoyed growing beautiful flowers in her yard, decorating her home for all the holidays, and making her special cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren every Christmas. She was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, Washington State Cougar fan, and Seattle Seahawks fan. All of her friends and family knew not to call her on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall as she would be cheering on one of her favorite football teams.
However, nothing made Mary happier than spending time with her family and friends. She leaves behind children Mike (Sarah) Striggow from Spokane, Gloria (Bill) Wilson from McCleary, Diane (Curtis) Leigh from Lacey, Bruce (Becky) Striggow from Lynden; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Mabel Hansen; her husband, Allen; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald (Mona) Hansen and Kenneth (Donna) Hansen.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Lacey Presbyterian Church, 3045 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, WA 98503.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Lacey Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.
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