Sig W. Bjornson

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Sig W. Bjornson, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

He was the son of Sigurdur and Carolina Bjornson. Raised in Mountain, North Dakota, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Sig was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Sig was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Sig was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Sig also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Sig was raised with three siblings. He had one brother, Joe and two sisters, Margaret and Eileen. Sig was constantly involved in activities with his family. Sig and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Sig enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Sig was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Sig was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from Mountain High School in 1944. Sig enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers.

Most folks would say that Sig was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Sig was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Sig best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Sig kept. His best friends were Arnie Grimson and Joe Christenson.

Sig was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Sig was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Sig was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Sig was blessed with five children, three sons: Donald David and Danny and two daughters: Debbie and Diana.

If you gave Sig a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Sig was always on task. Without hesitation, Sig could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as a farmer and then as a Boeing Machinist. He was employed for the Boeing Company for over 30 years. During that time, Sig excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Sig was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Sig had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Sig was an Army veteran. He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. Sig saw action for in the Koren War. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of PFC (T). He received several awards including a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars.

Sig liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Sig's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Sig preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were playing pull tabs, traveling and dancing. Sig was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Sig often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were the Seattle Mariners.

Due to his excellent organizational skills, Sig was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. Sig could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Sig was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. Sig was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Sig. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was a member of Vikur Lutheran Church and was confirmed in 1938.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Sig had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included traveling in his motor home to Ocean Shores and to North Dakota.

Sig was as loyal to his pets as they were to him. The had his favorite dog Blackie in Seattle, and while growing up in Mountain he had a dog on the farm.

When Sig's retirement finally arrived in 1987, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. In retirement, he found pleasure in traveling, playing pull tabs, socialing and dancing. Even in retirement, Sig continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Sig passed away on September 1, 2010 in Puyallup, Washington. He is survived by his first wife Ada; children, Debbie, Danny and Diana; 10 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two sisters Margaret and Eileen and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Services were held at Yarington's Funeral Home in Seattle on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM. Sig was laid to rest in Riverton Crest Cemetery in Tukwila, Washington.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Sig was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Sig was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Sig Bjornson was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Sig. He will be missed.