Art Didricksen

Arthur Norman Didricksen, age 87, passed from this life on March 16, 2016, from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease at Vashon Community Care.

Art was born January 20, 1929, to Nils and Anna (Mork) Didricksen. His parents were hard-working Norwegians, and Art learned to work hard at an early age from his parents’ examples. The Didricksen family were founding members of the Bethel Free Evangelical Church, as were many of Vashon’s Norwegian immigrants. Art attended island schools through the eighth grade. His father Nils became disabled by injuries sustained from a fall and later died, so Art went to work to help support his family. At age 21, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he served his country in Korea, earning four bronze stars and a Korean Service medal. When he came home from the war he got a job as a Flight Test Mechanic at Boeing. He married Rosemary Ofdenkamp on July 18, 1954, and together they raised four sons here on Vashon. Art served his community as a volunteer fire fighter for almost ten years, and also coached Pony League baseball. He was a member of the American Legion, and Bethel Free Evangelical Church. He especially enjoyed the Friday coffee club at Sporty’s after retiring from Boeing.

Art leaves his wife of 61 years, Rosemary, and his sons Norman (Betty), James (Sandra), Duane (Julie), and Dennis (Annie), and eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, his brother Ken (Aline), and twin sisters Doris and Dorothy, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Dan and his great-granddaughter Evelyn.

The family wishes to thank the staff at VCC for the loving care they gave to Art, and also his family, donations in Art’s name can be made to Vashon Community Care center 15333 Vashon Highway SW Vashon, WA. 98070

Art was deeply loved by his family and friends, and will be greatly missed.

Services will be held at Bethel Evangelical Church (14736 Bethel Lane SW) on Friday, March 25th at 1:00 PM, with interment following at Vashon Cemetery.

Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.

“See you later, alligator”