Eleanor Sofie Eul

Eleanor Sofie (Coien) EUL Eleanor Sofie (Coien) Eul passed away Friday, September 25th. Eleanor was born February 15, 1931 in Seattle to Eiler and Sofie Coien who emigrated from Rissa, Norway. Eleanor grew up in the Greenlake area of Seattle and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1949. After her graduation, she attended Emanuel Lutheran Nursing School in Portland, Oregon and graduated in 1952. She returned to Seattle and became a registered nurse, working at Harborview Hospital. She enrolled at the University of Washington to obtain her undergraduate degree where she met her husband William Eul. They were married in 1954 and took up residence in West Seattle where they raised five children. Eleanor was an avid folk dancer and following her marriage to Bill learned to drive a car, hiked and climbed mountains in spite of her fear of heights, sailed and water-skied, although she never learned to swim well, enjoyed bike touring and most of all snow skiing. Eleanor and Bill became members of the Billiken Ski Club at Crystal Mountain in 1967 and enjoyed many years of skiing with their family and friends. Eleanor was Bill's dedicated partner in taking their children on boating trips to the San Juans, hiking trips in the Olympics, biking trips through Europe and ski trips throughout the northwest. Following their retirement they traveled together throughout the world and spent their winters skiing in Sun Valley. Eleanor and Bill were married for 54 years. Eleanor had a wonderful spirit, witty sense of humor and strength against all odds. She survived several serious accidents and never gave up. She was dedicated to keeping in shape by a weight room routine that helped keep her strong. She loved her family and maintained her ties to Norway and her Norwegian family from the farms in Rissa. Her favorite song was Nidelven, about a river in Trondheim, Norway. She is survived by her husband, her children; Peter Eul, Penny Reither, Kristine Tryon, Kristofer Eul, her grandchildren, Robbie Reither, Matt Eul and Jordan Eul, her great grandchild, Sawyer Reither, and sisters Bernice Hassel and Sonja Beck. Burial will be a private ceremony for family at the Washelli Cemetery in Seattle. She will be laid to rest next to her son Karl who died in 1957. Eleanor loved children and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Children's Hospital in Seattle in her name.