Thorleifson will be remembered as a special man

Dear Editor,

The terms “special man” and “loved by all who knew him,” how appropriate.  I want to personally congratulate Pam Stevens, Managing Editor of the Lake Stevens Journal for her outstanding article on recently deceased George Thorleifson, a 23-year transplant to Lake Stevens.
George graduated from Seattle’s Ballard High School in 1936 and Pacific Lutheran College in 1942 where he was a regular on the football and baseball teams.  Very few people are still here who remember that guard George Thorleifson (played both ways) opened up the holes for PLU’s fullback Marv Harshman to run through to help him become a “Little All-American” and for the PLU football team to become a national champion. 
In 1942 George and his wife Edna both became teachers and enjoyed many years in that profession before retiring.
Pam Stevens did an outstanding job of covering George and his last 23 years living in Lake Stevens and with space permitting could have added much more. 
However, the quote of George’s fellow Lions Club member Tonya Christofferson who said that George was “one of the sweetest and kindest men here on earth” pretty much says it all about George.  I also want to heartily endorse all of these kind words said about George.
However, I want to add one little story about George that further emphasizes the kind of man he was.  The story is as follows.
I had met my good friend George in about 1946 while playing semi-pro baseball for Everett in the Northwest League.  He was living in Seattle, but was our regular catcher and I was the regular shortstop for the Everett Blue Jays from about 1948 through 1958. 
So George threw a lot of guys out trying to steal second base on us, George was the most popular guy on the team. 
Moving forward to about 15 years ago, both George’s family and our family were living in Lake Stevens.  I was an ongoing old time member (42 yrs.) of the Everett Central Lions Club and George was a relatively new member of the Lake Stevens Lions Club. 
George called me one night and said that there was a two-day Lions Club district meeting coming up in Tacoma, Wash. and asked if we could go down together and stay one night together in a hotel room in Tacoma.  I said sure and the day came and away we went. 
On the way to Tacoma we talked about a lot of things and I found out that George was an avowed, moderate Christian and during one part of the conversation he said that he had read the bible from front to back. 
I was astounded and said, “What! George, you didn’t do that! How time consuming,” and he said, “Yes, I did.” 
Well, you never doubt George’s word so I asked him, “Why did you do that?”  His answer was “I just wanted to find out what Christianity was all about.”  I congratulated him and that was all that was said about Christianity on the trip.
The above little episode is a part of George Thorleifson that I thought you might like to hear about.

Merlin R. “Boody” Gilbertson
Lake Stevens

 Please help locate lost wedding ring

Dear Editor,

My mother-in-law, a Lake Stevens resident of over 40 years, lost her wedding ring on Saturday, June 9.
She has been married over 46 years and her wedding ring included diamonds that belonged to her mother. I helped her look all over for it today and she is absolutely heartbroken.
She may have lost the ring at Safeway in Frontier Village today. It is a gold ring with three diamonds and a unique hinged design that allows the ring to be opened at the side.
If the ring was found, we would very much like to have it back. Perhaps publishing this letter in the Journal will help her ring find it's way back to her.
If someone finds it please call me at 425-737-7687. Thank you.

Robert Hand
Lake Stevens

Local business thanks community for supporting school

Dear Editor

NW Auto Recyclers extends a special “Thank You” to all the businesses and individuals who donated scrap metal to help fund the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls School Districts through our Year Round Metal Donation Drive.
A total of 37 participants donated $1,289 in recyclable metal - either dropped off at the donation bins onsite or scheduled for pick-up from their location.  A check for this month’s collections will be sent to each school board for donation to the general fund.
If you would like to help support a local school district, there is still time! Bring in that old BBQ, lawn mower, hot water tank, car, truck, or other scrap metal. Donations can be dropped off at NW Auto Recyclers located at: 2317 N. Machias Rd., Lake Stevens, WA 98258. To schedule a pick-up, or for more information, please call Alex Petrakopoulos at (425) 327-9064
Once again, a big “Thank You” to all the contributors:
American Touch Flooring  Barry Saunders, Josh Saunders, Audrey Carnell, Glen Webster, Carole Nelson, Ulla Johnson, Blake Engnes, PM Beardsley,  Jennifer Battaglia, Mary Hughes, Paul Symonds,  Jennifer Hazeltine “Ford Explorer”, Dorthy Jubb, Lisa D. , Wendy Husers,  Jim Tagart, Todd K, Joe Bagocki, Fred Lewis, Jennifer Hockensmith,  Ryan and Lindsy Thompson,  Emily Davis, Keith Houle, Larry Freidig, Earl Whitney, Lorie Hammel, John and Misty Thompson, Lonny Corley, Ken and Ilene Kutz, Steve Goshorn,  Andy and Melanie Aguinaldo, Robb Stanton, and Kurt Ostlund .
 
Alex Petrakopoulos
Lake Stevens