On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, Margaret Frances Christensen passed from this world in the presence of her daughters, Judy (Albert) Carter of Hoquiam and Vicki (Denny) Daniels of Chehalis. Frances was born in Seattle on Oct. 30, 1923, adopted by Andrew and Sylvia Falkwood and raised in Bay City/Ocosta, Wash., graduating from Ocosta High School in 1941.
On the night of Dec. 7, 1941, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Falkwood’s general store was surrounded by soldiers sent to patrol the coastline. Since the store housed the telephone switchboard for the area, it was the hub of information flowing to various checkpoints along the coast. Frances collected about 500 autographs from these soldiers who enjoyed coffee and cookies at the kitchen table and called her “Sis” as they had adopted her mother, Sylvia, as their “mom”. A family favorite is “We’re taking no chances, we’re here to save Frances.”
During the war, she was a “Rosie the Riveter” at plants in Seattle, Los Angeles and Hoquiam. Frances enjoyed talking about her experiences at local schools, museums, and events honoring “Rosies” including 50th anniversary events at the Polson Museum and Boeing in Everett.
In 1945, she married “a handsome Marine”, Robert Espedal of Aberdeen. They moved to various Marine stations until his discharge in Nov. of 1945. Upon returning to Aberdeen, she worked at various places until their daughter, Vicki, was born. Margaret and Robert were later divorced.
Frances then worked at Lamb-Grays Harbor Company where she met her future husband, Swan Christensen in 1954. She quit working when their daughter, Judy, was born. Frances, Vicki, and Judy often joined him on his longer assignments throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Frances and Swan enjoyed touring 34 countries on all continents except Antarctica, and all United States and Canadian provinces until Swan passed in 2006. She was a proud 50+ year member of Sons of Norway, Our Saviour’s/Amazing Grace Church, and other women’s clubs.
In addition to her daughters and their husbands, Frances is loved and missed by her granddaughters Darci (Daniels) Talkington of Kent and her daughter Finleigh; Lindsey (Daniels) Drake of Montesano, her husband Tyler and son Lawson; and Alena (Carter) Mack of Hoquiam, her husband Christopher and daughter Charlotte Mack; and grandson Ian Carter of Portland and his wife Casey.
The family thanks the staff at Channel Point Village and The Beehive Retirement Center’s Memory Care Unit for their gracious care which helped Frances enjoy her final years. We truly appreciate their kindness and support.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Sons of Norway Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 511, Hoquiam, WA, 98550.
There will be a private family service at Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam.
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam, Wash.
Please take a few precious moments of your time to record your comments for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
