Condolence: it was suggested that i share what i posted on my facebook page about my dad. it was quickly written after i had been reading articles and looking at pictures from boxes i had stored after my dad moved from his apartment in tacoma to arline's in fircrest.

i'm sure i'll have more to share the more i read.

here is my post:

September 1 at 6:09pm

my dad, elwyn elerding, passed away at 7am this morning at saint peter's hospital in lacey. he would have been 92 on november 21. my dad was a mountaineer, downhill skier (with many accolades and articles of his accomplishments in both careers) and hiker. he also graduated from the san francisco college of mortuary science in 1951, attended the university of washington, served in the u.s. navy during the war in 1945 (don't know his exact service dates) receiving the american area medal, asiatic-pacific theatre and world war II victory medal. he settled on a career in the u.s. forest service first as a ranger, forest fire fighter and as a purchasing agent in olympia. he lived a very long life, but it is still an amazing sense of loss at his passing. it is also made so much more difficult when the elderly suffer from dementia and arterial issues that make this time so traumatizing. he was listed as "failure to thrive" and was on pallative care in the hospital. they tried to make him comfortable as they could with pain medication, but he was no longer eating or drinking water. thank god he left this world for the next one relatively soon after he was admitted to the hospital (on saturday i believe). thank god you are at peace and without pain and are with mom, brother steve, uncle les, aunt norma and everyone else. now is your time to rejoice and take in all that the next life has to offer. i love you dad.

Condolence: Great sympathy to the family in your loss of your Dad, Grandfather. I had the pleasure of working with your Dad in Olympia for the Olympic National Forest from 1976 - 1980. He was a great mentor during my time as supply clerk.

Condolence: Elwyn and I grew up together in Aberdeen and were good friends thru high school. We regret missing him for our last Class of 41 gathering at my home in Olympia last year.

Our condolences to his family.

Marv Reiner