Marie Lundvall

Marie Lundvall was born Oct. 1, 1919, to Oscar Sr. and Ruth Elizabeth Browning Lundvall in Round Butte. She was named Ellen W. She attended school at Round Butte and Ronan.

In her teens Marie got a job with a family named Smith as a homekeeper. She lived with them, liked them and asked if her younger sister, Dixie, could live there, too. They agreed.

When World War II began Marie went to Richland, Wash., to work at Hanford. It was a government job, so she needed a birth certificate.

She called Helena and received one as Marie. I don't know when she dropped Ellen W. It wasn't on record.

Marie was smart lady. They trained her and she was hired on a good paying job.

Marie was always trying to help and called two of her sisters, who were hired also.

When the war was over they came to visit John and Dorothy Lundvall in Portland … Marie wanted a pair of shoes. They went all over Portland looking for Triple E size. None. They went back to Richland and we didn't see them for a while.

Marie met Harold Baker. After whirlwind dating, they were married and resided in Richland. Marie and Harold had three children - John, Mike and Christina (named after her dad Oscar's mother in Sweden).

Harold died on Jan. 14, 1992. Marie was alone with her three children.

John left home. Mike was left to care for his mother and sister. Marie died on Oct. 26, 1995, in the Richland hospital.

There were 10 children in the Lundvall family. Only three survive - sisters Verda Mae Lundvall Bell of Ronan, and Dixie Anderson in Washington, and brother Bill Lundvall in California.