Lillian Pauline Humphreys

Lillian Humphreys, 89, of Independence died Thursday at Willamette Valley Hospice in West Salem from complications from a fall.
She was born to Karl and Margaret Jensen, the first of her family to be born in the United States. Her parents and three siblings came from Bodo, Norway, in 1922.
Lillian met her husband, Leonard. D. Humphreys, during World War II. She was still in school at Salem High School when they met in 1942; he proposed and she said "no." She graduated in 1944 and went on to nurses training at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. During the war she and Leonard wrote every day.
After the war ended, a trip to visit his parents in Coos Bay by bus was planned. While waiting for the bus to leave Portland, they flipped a coin to decide between two marriage options. As the dime was in the air, Lillian called out "if it lands on end, we'll get married tonight." It hit the pavement, bounced and stood on end. Leonard grabbed it up and called the minister. They were married in Portland at 8 p.m. on March 2, 1946, at St. John's Lutheran Church. Their marriage lasted 64 years until his death in 2010. They had lived in Salem and had made Independence their home for the past 38 years.
She worked as a licensed practical nurse at Salem General Hospital for about 10 years. Later she worked for doctors Stenneroden and Miller, ophthalmologists in Salem. After retiring, Lillian went to work for the English Language Study Center in Monmouth as a host family coordinator. Through her work there over the next 30 years she met and hosted more than 150 international students.
Lillian enjoyed traveling and especially liked the beach and camping. She and Leonard, along with family, had spent six weeks in Norway visiting her cousins.
She was a 50-year member of Sons of Norway. For many years she and her family provided the faggtiman (a Norwegian deep-fried cookie) for Sons of Norway annual dinners. Her Norwegian goodies were all greeted with excitement by her family. She loved to play pinochle and sew. She often made quilts and pillows for Habitat for Humanity silent auctions and handmade quiet books for her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Charlotte and Judy, and brother, Christopher.
Survivors include her children, Susan, Michael, John and James; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and extended family.
Celebration of life will be Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. at Christ's Church in Monmouth. Food will be available.
Contributions are suggested to Ella Curran Food Bank in Independence, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity and Mercy Corp.