thegeneastorypages


genealogy and family history of the Carlson, Ellingboe, Everson and Johnson families of Minnesota and Wisconsin
First Name:  Last Name: 
[Advanced Search]  [Surnames]

Sharon Ann MAHNKEN

Female 1948 - 2009  (60 years)


Personal Information    |    PDF

  • Name Sharon Ann MAHNKEN 
    Birth 16 Oct 1948  Hennepin County, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Death 24 Jul 2009  California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • “passed away at camp”
    Burial Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo, San Mateo County, California Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Sharon Mahnken, a member of the Roald Amundsen Lodge (Sons of Norway) in Sacramento, died in her sleep, while serving as the craft teacher at Camp Norge’s Language Camp this summer. Sharon was an expert wood carver and rosemaler. She will be missed by many. She was a Master Wood Carver and lived in Folsom.

      The California Norwegian-American community recently mourned the loss of two of its most active members, with memorial services both held Sunday, August 2, in different parts of the state.

      Sharon Mahnken, 60, died suddenly July 24 at Camp Norge in Alta, CA where she was completing the second week teaching crafts at Camp Trollfjell, the District Six Language and Heritage Camp. Sharon was a longtime member of Sons of Norway, Daughters of Norway and the RV Carvers.

      She was a beloved aunt and woodworker extraordinaire, who gave a memorable demonstration of her craft for Edvard Grieg Lodge a few years ago.

      She was a member of Roald Amundsen Lodge Sacramento No. 6-48. She had spent a month in Norway, returning just before camp started. On her trip to Norway, she had acquired a bunad, in which she was attired in her final rest in funeral services held Aug. 2 in Fair Oaks, CA with interment in San Mateo.

      Memorial donations can be made to the Sons of Norway Recreation Center, Camp Norge in her name. There was no place that she loved so well as Camp Norge.

      A Funeral Eulogy:

      I met Sharon when I joined the Sons of Norway in 1980. She had joined in 1971, giving her 38 total years of membership. We were both single professional women, living in Folsom, with a deep love of kids, dogs, and handicrafts, and we formed a quick bond. We both loved the Norwegian Christmas, and worked together on lodge parties, dinners, and parades. She mademanyfriendsinanauxiliarygroupcalledViking Sisters, which helped with cooking and crafts. Sharon was Social Director for five years, opening and closing the lodge, and organizing many social events for members. She made the Norwegian costumes for the kids to wear in parades, and kept them in immaculate condition, along with the Norwegian flags. Over the years she helped with Lutefisk Dinners, Camellia Festivals, Vikingfests, and Scandinavian Festivals. She also found time for the Daughters of Norway group.

      Sharon was a very passionate person. She loved her family; her nephew Steven lived with her for a while, and nephew Patrick’s family of P. J., Madyson, and Austin had a very special place in her heart. She also enjoyed time with nephew Lance, his three year old daughter Kayla, and nephew Sam in Rohnert Park. The kids loved spending time with Aunt Sharon in Folsom and at Camp Norge in Alta. This was Sharon’s favoriteplaceonearth,andshewaspassionateabout improving the camp. She donated substantial funds for specific projects, and loved the rosemaling weekends at camp. She also loved to teach kids wood carving at the Troll Fjell language camp at Camp Norge, which is where she was when she died.

      She was passionate about her handicrafts. She enjoyed rosemaling, or Norwegian rose painting, but her true love, found later in life, was wood carving. And she was so skilled in her carving, from the wooden rosemaling motifs to the wood- chipping in her Celtic crosses, which were my favorites. She traveled throughout the state donating her time to demon- strate wood carving for various groups, and she loved the carving weekends with the RV Carvers, serving as wagon master. When we sold the Sons of Norway lodge some years ago, our meeting night conflicted with the Woodcarvers. But she stayed active in Viking Sisters and Camp Norge.

      Sharon and her aunt Dorothy shared a special bond, and loved to travel together. They had been to Norway several times, although their memories varied on what happened on the trips. They would squabble on a detail, and Dorothy would shake her head, that is just the way it was, and Sharon would roll her eyes and laugh. Sharon and Dorothy had just returned from a glorious trip on the Hurtigruten, or Norwegian Coastal Steamer, and a side trip to Inari, Finland. I want to remember Sharon standing on North Cape, happy to be in Norway, happy to be alive. She died too early, with many plans for the future, and much love of life.

      Tusen takk for alt, Sharon!
    Person ID I3550  Don Carlson's Tree
    Last Modified 11 Jan 2022 

    Father Samuel Albert MAHNKEN,   b. 19 Mar 1922, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Sep 1981, San Francisco County, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Alta Ann ELLINGBOE,   b. 18 Jun 1924, New Market Twp, Scott County, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Dec 1991, Pacifica, San Mateo County, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Marriage 1 Nov 1945  Hennepin County, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F210  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart