Elsie Mabel Rockness

Elsie Mabel Solberg was born in Kvinesdal, Norway on March 19, 1928. She grew up in Norway and came to the United States to visit her father’s family in Carnation, Washington, at the age of 18. Initially Mabel was lonely and homesick, but she soon made friends with other Norwegians in the Ballard area. She and Olaf had seen each other at the Swedish Club dances, but they officially met on a blind date in 1948. They were married on March 24, 1950. Together they were blessed with three daughters, Judith (1951), Anita (1954) and Lisa (1963), and were happily married until Olaf’s death in 2005.

While raising their family in North Seattle, Mabel was very active in her community. She was a Girl Scout leader, drove for FISH (an organization that drove people to appointments throughout the city), and volunteered at the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church food bank. She was a volunteer in Café Stua, a member of the Leif Erikson Lodge of Sons of Norway, Valkyrian Lodge of the Daughters of Norway, Salem Circle at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, and Inga Frodeson Guild of Norse Home.

When Olaf retired in 1982, they moved full-time to Whidbey Island where they “lived the best years of their lives”. Mabel raised chickens for “Mabel’s Drumstick Factory”, pigs, and she harvested many vegetables, fruit and flowers from her vast gardens. Every fall, they made cider from the apples in her orchard. Mabel was active in her community while living on Whidbey Island as well. She was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church, the South Whidbey Garden Club, and a founding member of the Ester Moe chapter of the Daughters of Norway.

In 1997, they moved back to the Ballard area, where Mabel resided ever since.

Mabel was a fantastic cook, baker (best known for her Verdens Beste Kake), gardener and farmer, as well as a friend to everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Olaf Rockness, brothers Anders Solberg and Harald Solberg, son-in-law Tom Schweitzer and great-granddaughter Stacia Maul.

Mabel leaves behind her many family members, Judith Schweitzer, Anita (Kurt) Volker and Lisa (Darren) Nolan, 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

The family would like to extend its gratitude for the excellent care she received at the Norse Home.

A Memorial service will be held on November 4th, 2022 at 1:00 at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her name to one of the following: Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway, Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, The Norse Home, or the charity of your choice.