Ingegard “Inge” (Carlson) Leichner

Ingegard “Inge” Leichner

Ingegard Leichner was born on March 9, 1915, in Aland, Sweden, to Carl and Elin Carlson. Inge went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 6, 2014. She died peacefully with her family by her side at Spring Meadows Assisted Living in St. Helens, OR.

Inge was the second youngest of 6 children: Esther, Evert, Carl, Elly, and Anna May living in Sweden until age 8 when the four younger children came to the U.S. through Ellis Island, NY and traveled across the country by train with their mother, Elin. Their father, Carl, came ahead of the family to establish a home in Oregon. The oldest daughter, Esther, remained in Sweden with her husband and the oldest brother, Evert, came over to Oregon with his father, Carl.

Inge grew up in Northeast Portland learning to speak English along with her siblings.  She attended Jefferson High School where she was editor of the yearbook and graduated with high honors. After high school she was a nanny for a prominent businessman’s family in Portland.

Inge met her future husband, Philip, on a blind date and they celebrated 54 years of marriage living in the same house throughout their marriage built by her husband, father and father-in-law before he preceded her in death. She worked as a model and seamstress for Columbia Knit in Portland until her first son was born.

Inge is survived by her sons Philip Leichner and Alan Leichner (Donna) and daughters Lani Wieland (Kenneth) and Lori Leichner and by seven granddaughters, Teri Winston, Tracey Lundin, Suzann Jenson, Christin Bjugan, Lindsey Siemssen, Angela Wieland, and Allison Doan.  She was also blessed with 14 great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life she was dedicated to family.  She loved sewing and spent many hours sewing for her children.  She also enjoyed needlework, crocheting and knitting, crossword puzzles and reading her Bible.  She and her husband were long-standing members of First Covenant Church where she taught Sunday School for many years.

She traveled back to Sweden with her brother and sister to visit their oldest sister still living there, to Hawaii with her husband for their 50th wedding anniversary and around the Western U. S., particularly enjoying the coastal areas.

A graveside service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on Wed., Feb. 12, at 2 p.m.