...who built two homes for his family and left a legacy of delight
Elmer Emerson Stordahl mentioned numerous times in his early and mid-80s that he thought it would be nice to live to be 90. He came very close. Mr. Stordahl, a resident of Magnolia for more than half a century, died Sept. 24; tomorrow, Dec. 20, would have been his 90th birthday. Family and friends celebrated his life at a memorial service at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church on Sept. 27, and on what would have been his 90th anniversary, family members plan to gather and celebrate his memory.
Born Dec. 20, 1917, to Norwegian immigrant parents Bard and Rose Stordahl, Elmer, his brothers Harold and Raymond and their sister Irene were raised in the Phinney Ridge area of Seattle. They attended Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and Ballard High School.
At the age of 16, Elmer began working part-time for B.H Stordahl, a commercial painting contracting firm founded by his father in 1912. He later became a partner with his father and his brother, Harold, and the business name changed to B.H. Stordahl & Sons. Eventually, Elmer's oldest son Dave and Harold's son Gary also worked for the company.
The family business had started with Bard Stordahl riding Seattle streetcars with his ladder and paint
buckets; it eventually grew to employ more than 500 people during World War II. The firm did work in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, and projects included the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, Boeing plants, the 520 Bridge and SeaTac airport. In the 1960s and early '70s, the business was located at 505 Third Ave.
on Queen Anne, then relocated to a building purchased near Fishermen's Terminal (4225 23rd Ave. W.).
Elmer married his sweetheart, Doris "Dorie" Brothers, in 1940 following a whirlwind courtship. In the ensuing years he built a home for his growing family on
Halls Lake, doing most of the work himself. During World War II he entered the army and served as part of an occupation force in Yokohama, Japan. Following
the war, Elmer resumed working for B.H. Stordahl &
Sons and moved his family to Magnolia, which would be home for the next 54 years. Dorie and Elmer had four children: Joan, Dave, Dan and Christy.
Elmer liked working with his hands. In addition to building the family home on Halls Lake, he helped construct a large swimming pool in the back yard of their next home on Magnolia, which brought great delight to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through the years. He built a beautiful 16-foot cedar
and mahogany boat, and loved to fish. In earlier years, Elmer and Dorie enjoyed ballroom dancing; he was an excellent dancer. He was also a savvy businessman and invested well in real estate over the years.
Though a quiet man, Elmer freely expressed his love to his family and responded to needs of those around him with great generosity, a warm smile and a twinkle in those kind, intensely blue eyes. His family fondly recalls that "he touched each of our lives in so many special ways!"
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and Dorie, his loving wife of 54 years, who passed away in 1994. He is survived by his four children: Joan (Dahlbeck), Dave (and Beth) Stordahl, Dan (and Linda) Stordahl and Christy (and Mike) Farrell, and by his ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is deeply missed, but family members look forward to the joy of a heavenly reunion one day. Peace to his memory.
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