Frances Harriett Engblom

Frances H. Engblom
December 15, 1918 - February 3, 2014
INDEPENDENCE - Frances H. Engblom, 95, died Monday, February 3, 2014 in Dallas, Oregon, at Dallas Retirement Center, Memory Care Unit. She lived over 85 years in Independence, Oregon, and considered Independence her home.
Frances was born in Glendale, Oregon, December 15, 1918. Her father, Dr. George Knott, was the attending physician. Her mother, Martha Knott, was a nurse. Fran had one older sister, Helen (deceased).
The Knott family moved to Independence where she graduated from Independence High School in 1936. She continued her education at Oregon State University and Oregon College of Education graduating with a teaching degree in 1940. Fran also obtained a Master's Degree in Education from Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University/WOU) in Monmouth.
Frances married John W. Irving and they had two daughters, Nancy and Charlene. They were divorced and afterwards Frannie stayed in Independence where she taught school. She taught at Eola and Independence Elementary, Henry Hill Junior High where she was the Librarian, Madras, Oregon, Elementary, and Salem's Four Corners Elementary as the Librarian/Media Specialist. She retired in 1979.
Frances married Harold (Hap) R. Engblom in 1961. Hap had two sons from a previous marriage, Dennis and Douglas. This blended family was the beginning of a very happy time in her life. Hap loved to camp and travel all over Oregon and now Frannie and her girls had a family to experience all of Oregon. They especially loved the Deschutes River, the Umpqua River, the Rogue River, Owyhee Reservoir and Thompson Reservoir. Hap and Fran continued to camp following their retirement with Hap's sister and husband, Marge and Bill (deceased) Woodrum, and with his brother and sister-in-law, Skip and Lorainne Engblom (both deceased).
Frances was an avid reader. She read thousands of books and had quite a library in the basement of the C Street family home. She donated time to the old Independence Library. She joined the Independence Library Board as a member in 1979 and was President in 1980. She served on the Board until 1987. She helped form and run the Friends of the Independence Library. The Friends of the Library received their 501c3 status in 1990 largely due to her initiative and work. She also was a member of the Delphian Book Club. She was a founding member of the Heritage Museum in Independence and a member of the Independence Historic Preservation Corporation. A room in the museum -- the Doctor's Room -- has some of the tools that were used by her father during his Independence practice.
Frances loved the water and used to swim in the Willamette River when she was a girl. When she retired she took the Deep Water Aerobics Class at WOU. As a youngster she picked hops in Independence. Also during her earlier years she played the piano. Frannie kept the rose garden her mother started at the Independence family home on C Street in excellent shape. Frances also loved cats.
She was a member of Christ's Church in Monmouth and loved the people there.
Frances was preceded in death by the love of her life, Hap, and son, Doug. Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Sullivan, Falls City, Oregon, Charlene and Steve Dunn, Independence, Oregon, son, Dennis Engblom, Mehama, Oregon, and grandsons Dameon, Mehama, Oregon, and Jaxom, Tigard, Oregon.
A celebration of life is scheduled Saturday, February 22, at 2 p.m. at Christ's Church, 412 Clay St. W., Monmouth, Oregon. Contributions, in lieu of flowers, are suggested to: Christ's Church, Monmouth; Heritage Museum, Independence; Willamette Humane Society, Salem; or Willamette Valley Hospice, Salem. Farnstrom Mortuary is taking care of the family. Please share your memories and condolences at FarnstromMortuary.com.