OBITUARY: Richard A. Ekstrom

ENUMCLAW, Wash. – Richard A. Ekstrom, 71, of Enumclaw, Wash., died peacefully at his home Wednesday, June 10, 2009. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 18 at the Hope Lutheran Church in Enumclaw.

Mr. Ekstrom was born Aug. 8, 1937, in Portland to Herbert R. and Pansy M. (McClain) Ekstrom. The family later moved to Ione, where he went to school and graduated from Ione High School with the class of 1955. He continued his education and graduated from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

In 1960 he began his professional career as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration. As his career advanced, he worked in several Social Security offices in Oregon, Washington, California and in Baltimore, Md. In 1995 he retired from the Social Security Administration as an assistant regional commissioner in the Seattle regional office. Mr. Ekstrom is survived by his wife Debbie of Enumclaw, Wash.; children Vickie Turrell of Heppner and Karen Saunders and Kathyrn Manahan, both of Seattle (all daughters of Sue Coleman Matthes); stepdaughter Renee Lombard of Maple Valley, Wash.; brother Roland Ekstrom of The Dalles; sister-in-law Nancy Ekstrom of Ione; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Herbert.

Memorials may be directed to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Road, Building B, Hillsborough, N.J. 08844; or Hope Lutheran Church, 1316 Garfield Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022.

Arrangements by Weeks’ Enumclaw Funeral Home; friends and family may visit www.weeksfuneralhomes.com to sign the online guest book.