Elsie Swan Olkonen, Elsie Swan Olkonen was born on the Swan family farm in the Deer Lake area of Clinton on Oct. 30, 1917.

She died Oct. 22, 2010 in Everett.

She was the youngest of the five children of Evert and Anna Swan. She attended Deer Lake School, skipped two grades, and graduated from Langley High School in 1934 at the head of the class. The superintendent denied her honors of valedictorian, giving it to another girl stating, “Elsie was too young and small, (she was 5 feet and 72 pounds) and someone bigger and older would appreciate it more.” Later, the student assembly at the 25th reunion acknowledged her achievement.

Elsie worked on the farm during the Depression, and got a job with Whidbey Telephone Company in 1939 for three and a half years. She married Al Olkonen in June 1942 after meeting him in Langley in 1941, before the war. He was inducted into the Army Air Force, and they moved to LaJunta, Colo. Al served 39 months and was to be transferred, so Elsie moved back to the island with their son Gary and daughter Selma Ann.

Elsie again worked at Whidbey Telephone until her son Evert was born in 1954. She later became a correspondent for the Whidbey Record under editor Ace Comstock, who taught her to be a reporter. She then became a staff correspondent for the Everett Herald, and a real estate agent for

22 years until retiring.

Elsie was well-known on Whidbey Island and was often featured in the paper for one of her many activities.

She fought for causes, for people and the community. She was recently seen cutting the cake for the Clinton Progressive Association’s Centennial; her big smile was always present.

Elsie was the longtime Island County Democratic Chairman, organized and was president of the Whidbey Island Democratic Women’s Club, State Political Action Chairman of the State Federation of Democratic Women, 10th District State Committee person and Vice President, named to “Who’s Who of Women in American Politics” and “Who’s Who in American Politics,” being nominated by U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson.

Elsie reactivated the Clinton Businessman’s Club, which became the Chamber of Commerce, of which she was chairman. She worked to get the new post office in Clinton and facilitated the establishment of Island Savings and Loan in Clinton and Whidbey Island Bank.

She worked tirelessly for the Clinton Library, of which she became a trustee, and represented the Clinton Progressive Association Club’s interests in Dan Porter Park and the county agreement. She was Past Matron of the Eastern Star, and a member of American Legion Auxiliary, South Whidbey Historical Society, Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club, Chevron Retiree’s Association and vice president of the Clinton Cemetery Association.

Elsie was a Lutheran and took great pride that her father helped build and rebuild Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clinton, where she was active. Elsie even got it in writing from two governors that Whidbey Island would get a college sometime in the 1960s.

She leaves behind her oldest son, Gary Olkonen; her daughter, Selma Ann Delgado; and youngest son, Evert Olkonen; grandchildren Ausencio Delgado, Quenby Delgado, Cyril Delgado, Una Delgado, Angela Delgado, Peter Herbst and Pablo Guzman; great-grandchildren, Laina Delgado, Deirdre Delgado and Hawkeye Delgado; niece, Mary Ellen Latham; nephew, Ron Latham; great-nephew Philip Latham; her special kids Jim Izett, Craig LeRoy and Dennis Smith, whom she always referred to as “her other sons,” and also their wives Yvonne, Tracy and Stephanie; also Janet Parton, who is new to the family.

Her parents, Evert Anders Swan and Anna Nymann Swan, preceded her in death, as well as sisters Ellen Satcher (Douglas) and Inez Flynn (Horace), brothers Ivar Swan and Edwin Swan and her husband, Albert M. Olkonen. Also preceding her in death were her daughter in-law Judie Olkonen and son-in-law Simon R. Delgado.

A funeral service was held Friday, Oct. 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. Burial followed at the family plot in Clinton at the Clinton Cemetery.

Friends and famliy may view an online obituary and sign the guestbook at www.visserfuneralhome.com.

Remembrance donations can be made to Friends of the Clinton Library or the Clinton Progressive Association.