Known to her friends as Bertie, Ms. Kvinge passed away on Monday, Aug. 27 at the Evergreen Hospice Center, Kirkland.

An Edmonds resident since 1973, Ms. Kvinge was born Oct. 27, 1924 in London, England. My Edmonds News will have more details on her life in a future article, but meanwhile here is her obituary:

Bertie had an amazing life starting with 5 years in the Women’s Royal Naval Service – stationed in N. Ireland and the Middle East. She married Hubert “Bert” Lake in 1952, and immigrated to the USA in 1961. In 1967 Bert passed away and Bertie worked for Safeco Insurance Company in Seattle. In 1973 she married Ingvard Kvinge and moved to Edmonds, WA.

In 1996 she was awarded the MBE (the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Bertie’s many activities consisted of DBE (Daughter’s of the British Empire) where she held every office at State and District levels, including National President 1992-1995. In addition to DBE she was a member of Norse Home Volunteer Auxiliary (secretary/treasurer 25 years), Norse Home Board of Trustees. She was a member of the Sons of Norway, Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle/Bergen Sister City Association, Norwegian Sailors and War Veterans Association, British Home in CA, Edmonds Museum, Edmond’s Museum Guild, Edmonds Summer Market Committee, and Edmond’s Museum Docent. Her hobbies were knitting, needlepoint, photography, reading and traveling. She took a “Round the World in 90 Days” cruise January 2011.

Bertie was preceded in death by her husbands, Hubert Lake and Ingvard Kvinge, her brother Kenneth Stickland, and brother-in-law John Kvinge. She is survived by her son Robert; grandchildren Melanie and James and great grandson Kayden; her niece Anne Gillies, North Vancouver B.C.; brother-in-law Joachim Kvinge, Bergen, Norway; sisters-in-law Karen Bjornevik, Kristen Kvinge and Karin Valnigg of Norway’ nephews Owen (Kym) Kvinge, Mountlake Terrace, Terje Kvinge, Lynnwood,Arne Kvinge, Seattle and Jorn (Kim) Kvinge, Olympia; plus many family and friends in Norway and England.

Bertie was full of life, love, and thoughtfulness. She will be missed by her many organizations, family, friends and her Edmonds community. Memorial at Beck’s Funeral Home (405 5th Ave. S., Edmonds) at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice Care Center (12822 124th Lane, Kirkland WA 98034); The British Home (c/o Margaret Clark 10204 13th Ave. S., Seattle WA 98168); Edmond’s Historical Museum (PO Box 52, Edmonds WA 98020) or Norse Home (5311 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle WA 98103) in Bertie’s memory.

Please share memories with her family and friends at www.becksfuneralhome.com.