Nels O. Lindh
Port Hadlock, Wash.
Sept. 21, 1931 – Mar. 17, 2017
Nels Okerberg (Oke) Lindh of Port Hadlock, Wash., died on March 17, 2017 in Bremerton, after a short hospitalization. He was born in Port Townsend, Wash. on September 21, 1931, the only child of Nels G. and Ellen O. Lindh.
His early years were lived in Port Townsend, attending school there until the family moved to Edmonds, Washington in 1945 to own and operate the Edmonds Lumber Co. He was active in Boy Scout Troop 460, which led to a lifetime love of the outdoors, hiking, skiing and mountain climbing. He graduated from Edmonds High School in 1949 in the top ten, academically.
He then entered the University of Washington, was involved as manager for the Husky rowing crew, and was a member of the Army ROTC. He graduated in 1953 with a degree in Business Administration and commissioned as a 2nd Lt. He served two years in Korea and honorably discharged as a 1st Lt. in 1955.
Oke's occupation was controlled by his creative nature and the need to be independent, which led to establishing Okerberg Products for the design and production of custom metal products.
He met Beverly Lynch through mutual friends; they married and lived in Edmonds. During their marriage, they hosted many family events and reunions at Oke's property at Thorndyke Bay on Hood Canal. These were memorable times for the many cousins, friends and extended families, experiencing the rarity of solitude in the forest, fields and beach. Their marriage ended in 1991.
Oke then moved to his property at Thorndyke Bay, living there until moving to a house built near Port Hadlock on land purchased in 1998. With a sweeping view to the east that extended from Mt. Baker in the north and to Mt. Rainier in the south, it was a special place in which to live out the rest of his years. He met Margie Monroe in 1994, and they were companions until her death in 2010. After 16 years of being together, that was a great loss for Oke. He had marvelous neighbors and friends throughout the region to help fill the void of losing Margie.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by many cousins. At his request, there will be no memorial service. Final arrangements were handled through the Neptune Society with ashes to be spread on the beach at Thorndyke. A marker will be placed at the family plot located at IOOF Cemetery in Monroe, Wash.
