Solveig Odland Swanson

was the light of the lives of her family and friends, in both Norway and Poulsbo. She came from a humble, God-loving family in the small fjord town of Sauda, Norway. Growing up, she enjoyed spending time at her grandparents' farm by the lake in Røldal, and skiing in the mountains around Sauda. Since her birth on October 29, 1945, everyone who met her loved her carefree and kind-hearted approach to life. Solveig came to Poulsbo in 1966, originally to work and experience American culture, but once here she met and fell in love with Larry Swanson, the two of them marrying in December of that year. Solveig loved spending time with her family, and graced the lives of her four children with good humor, faith and love. Solveig was well-known for her beautiful Hardanger embroidery; she taught that craft in Poulsbo and Bremerton for over 15 years. She also spent many hours in her garden, nurturing the flowers that surrounded her home with decorative colors.Solveig and Larry enjoyed many trips together, both in Europe and the US. Her favorite local vacations were to Seaside, Oregon and Leavenworth, Washington, where she would spend hours cross-country skiing with her children. She made many trips back to Norway to visit her family and friends, keeping alive those treasured relationships while also instilling in her children a love of her homeland.As a member of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, Solveig was active in Sarah Circle. For the past several years, she was also a member of Poulsbo's Nina Grieg Daughters of Norway lodge.Solveig's enduring faith and her joy in spending time with her two granddaughters gave her strength as she spent the past four years living with breast cancer. She lived each day to the fullest, and when the time came to move on to the next stage in her journey, she did so with grace.Solveig was preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law Merrilee Striker. She is survived by her husband Larry, son Erik and his wife Meredith, daughter Tasha and her husband Greg, son Talon and his life partner Carol, son Trevin and his fiancée Cindy, and granddaughters Anna and Hailey.A memorial service will take place at Poulsbo's First Lutheran Church at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13.The family requests that donations be made in Solveig's name to:Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org) Susan G. Komen for the Cure (ww5.komen.org) American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org) World Concern (www.worldconcern.org)