1918
Blanche
2012
Blanche Walbaum
March 4, 1918 — April 7, 2012
Blanche Walbaum died of natural causes on April 7, 2012. She was born at home in Bow, Washington on March 4, 1918, where she grew up on the family farm. She was the second child of Norwegian immigrants, Selma and Bovitz Omdal who had five sons and two daughters. Four brothers have passed on before her. After she graduated from Burlington High School, she did housework for a local family. She married Francis Capps and moved to Bellingham, Washington and later to Anacortes. During World War II they moved back to Bellingham where she worked at Safeway, while Francis worked in the shipyards building ships until the end of the war. After the war, they moved to Portland, Oregon.
When her children were young she was a homemaker, Cub Scout leader, and PTA officer. After all her children were in school, she went to work as a hostess, waitress, bartender, and cook at several restaurants in Portland. She worked for about 20 years at Flanigans, which was a popular restaurant on the corner of 82nd and Powell.
After she married Henry Walbaum, they moved to Hood River for a short time. Later Henry accepted a job in Corvallis where they both worked for several years, before returning to Portland.
Family and friends knew her for her exceptional cooking skills. She enjoyed planning and cooking dinner parties at home for friends and family. During Christmas holidays she maintained her Norwegian heritage and always served traditional cookies and lefse.
Throughout her life she enjoyed camping, traveling, and playing games with friends. When the children were young the family would go tent camping. Later, she and Henry purchased a motor home. They traveled with RV groups and friends throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Blanche traveled to Norway to see the family farm and visit with her cousins. She also traveled to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. For many, many years she got together weekly with several friends to visit, eat cookies and ice cream, and play tile rummy.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Selma and Bovitz Omdal, brothers Leonard Omdal, Kenneth Omdal, Stanley Omdal, and Gordon Omdal, and three husbands, Henry Walbaum, Clarence Swanson, and Francis Capps. She is survived by one brother, Boyd Omdal and his wife Phyllis, her sister, Sharon Maasdam and her husband Jerry, two sons Gerald Capps and his wife Valerie, and Donald Capps, one daughter Karen Carney, seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Providence Hospice, 1235 NE 47th Avenue, Suite 148, Portland, Oregon 97213.
A graveside committal service will be held at 12:30 pm, followed by a 1:00 pm memorial service at Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home on Friday, April 13, 2012.
When her children were young she was a homemaker, Cub Scout leader, and PTA officer. After all her children were in school, she went to work as a hostess, waitress, bartender, and cook at several restaurants in Portland. She worked for about 20 years at Flanigans, which was a popular restaurant on the corner of 82nd and Powell.
After she married Henry Walbaum, they moved to Hood River for a short time. Later Henry accepted a job in Corvallis where they both worked for several years, before returning to Portland.
Family and friends knew her for her exceptional cooking skills. She enjoyed planning and cooking dinner parties at home for friends and family. During Christmas holidays she maintained her Norwegian heritage and always served traditional cookies and lefse.
Throughout her life she enjoyed camping, traveling, and playing games with friends. When the children were young the family would go tent camping. Later, she and Henry purchased a motor home. They traveled with RV groups and friends throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Blanche traveled to Norway to see the family farm and visit with her cousins. She also traveled to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. For many, many years she got together weekly with several friends to visit, eat cookies and ice cream, and play tile rummy.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Selma and Bovitz Omdal, brothers Leonard Omdal, Kenneth Omdal, Stanley Omdal, and Gordon Omdal, and three husbands, Henry Walbaum, Clarence Swanson, and Francis Capps. She is survived by one brother, Boyd Omdal and his wife Phyllis, her sister, Sharon Maasdam and her husband Jerry, two sons Gerald Capps and his wife Valerie, and Donald Capps, one daughter Karen Carney, seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Providence Hospice, 1235 NE 47th Avenue, Suite 148, Portland, Oregon 97213.
A graveside committal service will be held at 12:30 pm, followed by a 1:00 pm memorial service at Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home on Friday, April 13, 2012.
Memorial Service
Rose City Funeral Home
5625 Northeast Fremont Street
Portland
,
OR
US
97213-1754
Friday, April 13, 2012, 1:00 PM
Cemetery
Rose City Cemetery
5625 N.E. Fremont St.
Portland
,
OR
US
97213-1754
Friday, April 13, 2012, 12:30 PM
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