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Bertha Schuman Jenkinson
4/21/1907 - 3/27/2002
Bertha Schuman Jenkinson, 4/21/1907- 3/27/2002, died after a brief illness.
Retiring from the publishing business in 1972, she moved from San Francisco, to Bellingham, when the Alaska Ferries moved here from Seattle.
She volunteered extensively in the community and helped catalog and reorganize the Whatcom Museum of History and Arts' library.
She continued to give advice and assistance to authors and budding authors until a few years ago.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Russian (Brest-Letovsk) immigrant parents, as the 2nd of 5 children.
Her father was a tailor, who taught his children pride in their work.
She had polio when less than 2 years old, but the family was too poor to afford the sort of doctors who could recognize it for what it was.
She didn't learn she'd had had it until she was 29.
She had to use her body like an Olympic athlete for all her life as a result.
When her father died in an accident, her high school teachers saw too much promise in her to allow her to leave school.
They got her part-time two jobs in different branches of the Chicago Public Library (the second being illegal, under the child labor laws) so she could support the family but continue high school.
She became active in the suffrage and labor movements and at Jane Adam's Hull House.
She helped organize in the Chicago Public Libraries as member of the rank and file.
She met her future husband, Karl, at the library.
The son of immigrants from the Isle of Man, he and his brother had moved from the coal-mining town of Gardiner, Illinois, to work in the steel mills to earn money to put himself through night school.
Karl eventually earned four degrees.
He had been an organizer in the rank-and-file in the mills, and became an organizer in the rank-and-file in the Chicago Public Schools.
After her only child was born in 1946, she went to work as an editor at Follett Publishing, continuing her activity in the Union, civil rights, and peace and freedom movements.
In the mid-50's, after the death of her husband, she moved first to Mill Valley, California, then to Oak Park, Michigan, where she became head Children's librarian and single parent, while continuing her work in the civil rights and peace movements, hosting such luminaries in her house as Rosa Parks.
In 1963, she returned to Chicago and to Follett Publishing, rising to senior editor for Children's books, while resuming and increasing her activities in the civil rights and anti-war movements.
Her stable of authors became long-lasting and devoted friends.
After retirement, she removed to San Francisco, continuing in the movements, but adding senior citizens rights.
She won a signal victory for seniors to keep pets in federally-financed housing.
She also eventually rose to chair the committee for the Jane Adams Children's Book Award for Peace.
It was during her tenure, that she related that it requires infinite sensitivity to correctly edit and judge children's books, so that they didn't repeat the stereotypes and prejudices of the past, that you have to admit mistakes and then rectify them.
Her doctors were convinced that the only thing that kept her walking into the 90s was the fact that she had given up her car in 1972 and walked everywhere, even in San Francisco.
By the time she reached Bellingham, her body was beginning to betray her.
With the help of many generous Bellingham citizens, she continued to get out and about.
She staved it off far beyond the medical predictions, but spent her final 3 years at Shuksan.
She survived her sisters, Annie, Fritzi, Emma, and brother, Morrie.
She leaves behind one brother-in-law, Bernard Nathan of the Chicago area, one niece, three nephews, one son, (Leif Jenkinson of Ketchikan), one grandson, and two great-grandchildren.
At her request, there will be no funeral, and she will be cremated and the ashes scattered from a vessel on the Inside Passage that she loved.
The family requests that any memorials be donations to the Whatcom County Historical Society or the Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom.
Westford Funeral Home& Cremation Center, Broadway and Eldridge.
Beatrice Josephine Ballard
4/10/1918 - 4/2/2002
Longtime Bellingham resident Beatrice Josephine Ballard, 83, died Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at St. Joseph Hospital.
Born in Spring Green, WI, April 10, 1918, she was fifth of six children born to Walter A. and Antonia Kratcha Cork, both Wisconsin natives.
All have preceded her in death.
Her husband, Herbert N. Ballard, preceded her in death in 1982.
She married Herbert on May 1, 1946 in Seattle, WA.
The Ballards moved to Bellingham, in 1948, where their sons all attended Assumption School, and graduated from Bellingham High School, and her husband worked for Puget Sound Power and Light for 42 years.
Mrs. Ballard was a bank teller early in her career, served on the Bellingham Library Board, and was an active member of Assumption Church Parish in Bellingham, for as long as she was able.
She is survived by her three sons: Col. (USAF Ret.) Robert H. Ballard of Fairfax, VA; Thomas G. Ballard of Tacoma, WA, County Engineer for Pierce County; and Donald A. Ballard of Everett, WA, Boeing Aircraft Design Engineer.
She leaves four granddaughters, five grandsons, one of whom currently serves in the Middle East, with U.S. Air Force as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
She also leaves three great-granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and vigil services at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Westford Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be Friday morning, at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption.
Burial beside her husband, will be at Greenacres Cemetery in Ferndale.
Memorials may be made to Assumption School in Bellingham, WA.
Westford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Broadway and Eldridge.
Mary Margaret Sahlin
10/5/1911 - 6/11/2002
Mary Margaret (Buchanan) Sahlin, age 90, of Bellevue, WA, passed away June 11, 2002.
She was born Oct. 5, 1911 on San Juan Island, to William and Annie (Madden) Buchanan.
She was a graduate of Friday Harbor High School and married Carl V. Sahlin, June 15, 1930.
She was a member of Chapter A.P. of P.E.O, a lifetime member of the Bellingham Yacht Club (First Mates) and The Aftermath Club.
She enjoyed her family, fishing and boating with her husband.
Preceded in death by her husband, Carl.
She is survived by her son, C. Roger Sahlin and wife, GerryAnne of Bow, WA; daughter, Karen and husband, William Buchan of Medina, WA; seven grandchildren, Heather Ann Sahlin, Carl Roger "Skip" Sahlin, Jr. and wife, Linda, Sigrid Ann Sahlin, Christopher Lane Sahlin, Carl Buchan and wife, Carol, Mara Bohman and husband, Brian, Jennifer Ledbetter and husband, Brian; and six great-grandchildren.
Marg was her husband, Carl's beautiful companion during their many years together, and was admired by all for her beauty and grace.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of WA, or a favorite charity.
