Ellen E. Rokkan

A unique presence has fulfilled her moments among us. On Tuesday afternoon of August 25, 2015, Ellen Rokkan completed a memorable and richly instructive chapter of her existence, departing to far grander, kinder spheres. Born into poverty January 25, 1926, in Seattle, and presented for adoption, she was granted a better entry into life by a caring woman from Pasco, Washington, who had always wanted a daughter. At six days of age, Ellen became the much adored child of Ethel and Leroy Tabor, who had two grown sons, Archie and Gene. In the early 1980s, Ellen discovered and made contact with her surviving birth family. From that she came to enjoy a fond relationship with her niece Susan Hemmer, daughter of Ellen’s older biological brother Robert Race.

Under the careful guidance of her adoptive mother and father, Ellen’s native talents blossomed into multiple forms of dance, scholarly and leadership achievements, and an admirable work ethic, one of her life-long signature traits. In the eighth grade, she met a handsome older boy from Kennewick, Bill “Rocky” Rokkan. Through the next several years, they dated steadily but for minor hiatuses, for they were destined for one another. On October 20, 1944, she married Bill in Washington, D.C., after traveling three days by train from Pasco, in answer to his romantic request to marry. At the time, Bill, a Navy officer and highly skilled pilot, was stationed at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Soon after their marriage, Ellen found administrative work in the Congressional offices of U.S. Senator Henry Styles Bridges, of Maine.

Following the cessation of World War II, Ellen and Bill moved to Richland to make their home, have and raise their children, and fashion their careers. The majority of Bill’s working life was devoted to the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site Safeguards and Security Division, from which he retired in 1980. After a much needed period of rest, he stretched his career another nine years with a major Hanford contractor. Ellen held numerous fascinating and fulfilling jobs. She became a talented florist, accomplished window designer at Columbia Center Mall, proficient in the pharmacy world (this valuable education beginning at age 15 when employed at a pharmacy in Pasco), successful sales lead and jewelry artisan at notable jewelry stores, and tireless volunteer at Kadlec Hospital, where for a lengthy period she administered the Candy Striper organization while serving multiple years as president of the Washington State Hospital Auxiliary. She always strove to better herself and others with whom and wherever she worked, as well as to innovate and improve the manner by which organizations operated. Were the circumstances of her early life different, it is not outlandish to envision her managing major companies, for she was fiercely loyal and committed to the businesses that employed her, unafraid to smartly direct and ambitiously and efficiently organize their activities as such occasions arose for her to exert her attributes.

Ellen and Bill were gifted with three children. Tragically, their firstborn, Jan Elaine, lived only a week after her premature birth June 1, 1945. Two boys followed. First, George Sigfried in 1948, and then Donald James, 1949. George, an architect and accomplished USDOE project engineer in Richland, passed at the young age of 42 in 1991. Bill passed in 1999. Donald orchestrated the care for Ellen until she chose to be with her beloved daughter, cherished older son, and sweetheart husband.

It is a likely truism that all who related with Ellen for even a few moments, experiencing her distinctly vigorous personality as well as her evident high intelligence, will find it impossible to forget her. It is further true that being a child of adoption in the Great Depression, witnessing the horrors of a world war, losing two of her children, enduring her own severe medical challenges in her prime, and weathering the sudden departure of her dear companion, of years more than their 54 of marriage, exacted an anguishing toll on Ellen’s emotions. And yet, near the completion of her human sojourn, the brighter, child-like, more ethereal aspects of her deeper soul re-emerged, dismantling defensive instincts acquired through myriad personal trials of mental trauma and survival. A sweet example of this transformation is that even though she always deeply loved her two granddaughters, Keila and Lainey, that love grew softer, richer, as she more frequently expressed her thoughts of high esteem for them and ardent wishes for their well-being. As her body was failing, soul mending also manifested, especially with her younger son. Prior to her extraordinary voyage away from this common realm, she laid aside, as pointless and peace-robbing, chronic and mostly empty fears and their consequent anxieties this often harsh life cruelly etches on the inner essence of the vulnerable.

Our hope is that when she leisurely surveys her exploits here, she will be gladdened that despite the struggles and setbacks, it was a grand life, replete with innumerable successes and joy-filled moments — a life suitable exactly for her and what she needed to feel, learn, and know, and that she imparted to many the indelible effects and memories of her loyalty, generosity, and love.

Ellen’s immediate family will gather privately to speak well and lovingly of her.