Elwyn F. Elerding, 91, passed away at Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, Tuesday, September 1, 2015. He was born in Bellingham, Washington, November 21, 1923. He was preceded in death by his parents Laverne and Frances Elerding, a sister, Lorraine Clement, a son, Steven Elerding and a stepson, Donald Frieze.
Elwyn is survived by his children Laura, David, Nancy and Bonnie; 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. There are also his step-children Doug, Denny and Deanna and 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, and a sister, Judy Gold.
Elwyn grew up in Aberdeen where his parents owned and operated Elerding Mortuary. He graduated from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, the class of 1941. He attended Washington State University and then served in the US Navy during World War Two from 1943-46, receiving the American Area Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre and World War Two Victory Medal.
In 1951 he graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and then settled into a career in the U.S. Forest Service, first as a ranger, then a forest fire fighter and would later retire in 1983 as a Purchasing Agent in the Olympia office.
Elwyn married his first wife, Jeanne Carlson, June 15, 1945. Elwyn was a mountaineer who first climbed and named Primus Peak and Tricouni Peak in the North Cascades with his wife, Jeanne Elerding, and his brother-in-law, Les Carlson, in August 1951.
On May 5, 1973 he married Arline Frieze and moved to Tacoma where he lived until July 2015. Arline and her family spent many great years with El. The last 8 years Arline cared for El due to his ailing health with dementia. Arline’s dedication and tender loving care allowed El to live a happy life up until his last months on Earth. Due to Arline’s health Elwyn moved to Olympia his last 3 weeks where his children were able to spend some quality time and cherished memories.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, September 5th, in the Chapel at Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Fern Hill Cemetery.
A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, 2208 Roosevelt St., Aberdeen.

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