Helen Vendla Sakrison

Helen Vendla Benson Sakrison, 96, of Tacoma, WA passed away on January 27, 2023. She was born on April 30, 1926, in Sioux City, IA to Elmer Leonard and Olga Theresa Benson. She grew up in Sioux City, attended Bryant Elementary School, North Junior High School and Central High School. She was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux City. She received a BA in Speech Therapy and Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Upon graduating, she taught Speech Therapy in Rock Island. She married the Rev. Earl Vincent Sakrison on August 28, 1949, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Pastor Sakrison’s work brought them to churches in Redmond, WA, Spokane, WA, Eugene, OR and Richland, WA. She was a member of both the American Association of University Women and the Washington State Lutheran Community Services Board. While in Eugene, OR she began her career as the Executive Director for the Lane County March of Dimes, before retiring in 1982. When her husband retired in 1989, they moved to Ocean Park, WA. They enjoyed many walks on the beach and spending time with family. While there, she served as a board member for the Water Music Festival from 1992-99 in Seaview, WA. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Rev. Earl Vincent Sakrison of Tacoma, WA; children Becky Sakrison, Marcy (Gerry) Snell of Beaverton, OR, Theresa (Ray) Collard of Meridian, ID and Sonja (Juan) Moya of Santiago, Chile; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, brother Richard (Dee) Benson of West Grove, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother WIlliam Benson. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St Mark’s Lutheran Church by the Narrows, Tacoma, WA or eliseo Retirement Community, Tacoma, WA.