Merle Thelberg Stillson

Merle graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1947. He then attended Broadway Community Gardening school for one year. An avid gardener, Merle had a gardening company for three years. In 1947 he joined the Washington National Guard. After two years the Guard was activated for two and half years. During that period Merle was stationed in Germany for six months. After discharge he rejoined the original Guard Co and six months later was boarded as a 2nd Lt, following three days of tests at Fort Lawston in Seattle. With this extra income he was able to complete his electrical apprenticeship and became a State Licensed Electrician, out of IBEW Union #46. He retired after 42 years from Veca Electric in Seattle.

Merle was an avid boater as well. He kept a 27-foot boat at the Edmonds marina.

Merle’s folks died in 1984. He then moved to their Crystal Lake summer home.

1993 found him retiring and embarking on a new phase of his life with Joyce Leidenger. And even though not married they were partners for 20 years, traveling to Arizona, living both at her home in Edmonds and his Crystal Lake cabin, and many boat trips to Canada and up and down the Puget Sound.

After Joyce’s passing Merle reconnected with his cousin Marilyn Boone and became an important part of her family. They were fast friends, sharing holidays and special times at her beach place on Case Inlet and eventually, a home until Marilyn’s passing in 2020. He was living contently at Patriot’s Glen Assisted Living in Bellevue at the time of his death.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruth Conn and her son, partner Joyce and cousin Marilyn Boone. He is survived by loved ones and friends who hold him in high esteem, love, and respect.