~ Erma Fristad Obituary ~

Erma Lucille Fristad passed away peacefully, Nov. 23, 2008, at home in Kelso at age 88, after suffering a massive stroke 11 days prior.

Erma was born in Friedens, Pa., Jan. 3, 1920, the daughter of Oscar and Alvina (Matthys) Pile. She graduated from Somerset Township High School, from Memorial Hospital in Cumberland, Md., and the University of Pennsylvania where she received her registered nursing degree.

In June 1942, Erma joined the Army Nurse Corps where she was sent to Fort Meade working in a psychiatric ward. She was then sent to Valley Forge General Hospital at Valley Forge, Pa., where she was in charge of setting up the psychiatric ward at their new hospital and was promoted to first lieutenant. Her unit was then transferred to Camp Grant, Ill., and Fort Dixon, N.J., before being sent overseas to the south of England where they lived in tents. After three months, the unit was stationed at various sites in France, where she was promoted to captain and worked mostly in orthopedics and surgery units. She served patients from the Battle of the Bulge - frontline casualties and men/women from the concentration camps. The unit was sent to Antwerp, Belgium where a hospital was set up in a convent and patients were treated from all branches of the service.

She returned to the states in 1946 where she registered at the University Pennsylvania, working towards her BA in nursing. She attended school and worked at the hospital during the night shift. At this time her nursing supervisor encouraged her to write to her nephew, Bob Fristad. After many months of correspondence, they met and traveled to New York City, where Bob proposed and Erma returned to Kelso to be married in 1948. She took a job with the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Health Department for two years and also worked for St. John's Hospital for several years before entering the nursing program at the University of Oregon where she received a BS degree. After receiving her degree, she worked for the Longview School District as a school nurse from 1964 to 1982, when she retired with 41 years as a registered nurse. She enjoyed all phases of her nursing profession.

She belonged to the Mt. St. Helens Club, Inc., where she served as president, vice president and secretary, Sons of Norway in Kelso as an officer, kelso Presbyterian Church, Retired Teacher's Association and the Cowlitz Caravan RV Club. She possessed strong organizational skills and a great sense of duty as displayed in her active involvement with clubs dear to her heart.

Erma and Bob traveled extensively and took several cruises to Mexico, Hawaii, Panama Canal and enjoyed regular camping outings with her family at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, and Mt. Rainier National Park. They also enjoyed many beach get-aways with good friends Fred and Marge Meyer and Lois White and Jean Lancaster, along with other steadfast friends.

Erma will be remembered for her dedication and love of her children, grandsons, nieces and nephews, by spending endless hours playing games, reading stories, along with hiking and camping adventures. She was an avid knitter and presented many afghans as gifts to the special people in her life. She was blessed with the ability to listen, encourage and support family and friends in a nonjudgemental manner.

Erma is survived at home by her husband of 60 years, Bob; two children and their spouses, Nancy and Farrell Harris of Kelso and Mark and Patti Fristad of Portland; her grandsons, Shawn Harris, Jesse (Jennie) Harris, Neal Harris and Spencer Fristad; and a great-granddaughter, Isabelle Harris. Erma is also survived by two sisters, Eleanor Pile of Washington, D.C., and Polly Strayer of Johnstown, Pa.; a brother, Donald Pyle of Friedens, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Erma's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kelso First Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Kelso First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are by Columbia Funeral Service.

Published in The Daily News on 11/25/2008