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Hope Carpenter Obituary
Carpenter
"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling: Come home, Come home." Cecelia heard the voice of Jesus, answered it and went home on June 25, 2010. She was born on Sept 2, 1924 to Rev. Hans Svinth and Mary Edna Svinth in Tacoma, and was raised on the family farm 7 miles east of Roy on the Harts Lake Loop Road. She was the 12th of 13 children. Eight brothers, four sisters, her mother, father and husband of 60 years, Marvin Carpenter, had walked on before her. She taught several years in the Tacoma School District and was an Indian historian and advocate. She had published several books dedicated to her Native American heritage and her Nisqually people. She received several awards and acknowledgements throughout her lifetime as a proud member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Honors included the Governors Award, Distinguished Alumni's Award from Pacific Lutheran University and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Puget Sound. Cecelia is survived by son, Dean Carpenter and wife Michele of Spanaway, and daughter Susan Gerlach of Lakewood. She also leaves grandchildren, Christopher and Talena Gerlach, Nicole and Megan Carpenter, Destiny, Jessica and Terrell Perry, Joshua Bloomquist and four great grandchildren. Being a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Timothy Stewart will officiate at her service along with Ben Charles of the Nisqually Tribe. Services will be at the Nisqually Tribal Center at 4820 She-Nah-Num SE, Olympia, on Friday, July 2. Viewing at 10 a.m. Services start at 11 a.m. followed by a reception and luncheon. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, 26418 Mountain Hwy E, Spanaway.
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Memories and Condolences
for Hope Carpenter
Sponsored by savethehistory.com.
Jim Svinth
September 20, 2015
Aunt Cecelia...
It has been awhile since you have crossed over. I miss our talks very much. You will always be my favorite Aunt. I miss you soooo much.
Love always!
Jean Lloyd
July 12, 2010
Cecelia was my great aunt a younger sister of my grandfather Neils Daniel Svinth. She was also my junior high history teacher. Thanks to her and my brother for providing my children and I with pictures of our ancestors, Quaton,Catherine Tumalt, Cecelia Ross, Mary Edna & Hans Svinth and his parents and siblings and a picture of Cecelia with her big brother Neils Daniel. I look at these pictures on my wall and I thank God for Cecelia's devotion to our family and our nation.
Patrick Sherman
July 5, 2010
Cecelia's book "Fort Nisqually" was and is without a doubt the only reason I became interested in the history surrounding DuPont.
Thank you for the inspiration and education. Your words will forever ring throughout my historical journey.
Patrick Sherman
Save The History
Roxanne Woodruff
July 1, 2010
Cecelia I know by now you have not only met my mother Rosa Kittson Woodruff a great granddaughter of William Kittson, but William himself. He would be thanking you for bringing his history to this great graddaughter of his, like so many others you have done the same for by your sharing the history of past lives. Your legacy will join those whom you loved and because of you the histories will live on. Mom read your book before she herself passed away back in 1993. It brought her so much joy. I pray that all our notes here will bring joy to your family to know that their mother's stories were so important to other lives around her. We will celebrate your life forever. Love and prayers, Roxanne Woodruff, gg granddaughter of William Kittson
Catherine Otterstrom
July 1, 2010
I met Cousin Cecelia in the early Spring of 1979. At that time, her hair was still dark, but other than that, she looked so much like my mother (they were 2nd or 3d cousins), I nearly fell off her porch when she opened her front door! She invited me in & gave me all kinds of wonderful information & directions to the gravesites out at Fort Lewis (you didn't need a guide back then) & through the years, whenever I had questions, I'd send her a letter & I always got a wonderful letter back, chock full of information on the family. Oh, Cecelia! How you're going to be missed! Who's gonna answer my questions now? I guess I'm on my own now. All my love to you & yours & my sincerest condolences. Catherine
Fern Perkins
June 30, 2010
Cecelia truly was a gift from God. When I found her three years ago, she graciously invited me to visit to learn about our shared ancestry. Then she generously gave me copies of her Ross research files. She was a remarkable woman. May her family be comforted by their memories until they meet again.
Rose Brownfield
June 30, 2010
She will be missed! i didn't know her well, but she was very gracious and held in high regard.
Walter Neary
June 30, 2010
The testimony of her life as lived and of course her printed works will be forever essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Northwest. Thank you so much to her family for sharing her with us and with history.
Kathleen Benoun
June 30, 2010
Cecelia was a great lady and the world has lost much in her passing.
Steve Anderson
June 30, 2010
On November 1st, 1986, Cecelia presented me a copy of her then newly released "Fort Nisqually" book and therein wrote, "A history to share with the Nation." Thanks Cecelia for sharing so much and for helping me to understand the need to do so....
Barbara Smith
June 30, 2010
Cecelia's books have been a huge part of my knowledge of the peoples of this area. Thank you Cecelia, for sharing your knowledge, and thank you Svinths and Carpenters for sharing Cecelia with us. She is a treasure that will be sorely missed.
Marianne Lincoln
June 30, 2010
I will never forget the time in 2006 I took the video of my kayak trip to the Treaty Tree to Cecelia's house. I had visited the site December 25, 2004, on the 150th anniversary of the treaty. Ten days before that trip, I had the privilege to be a guest of Senator Rasmussen at the Exoneration Trial of Chief Leschi. As we watched the video, I pointed out the lone eagle that flew out over the field as I took photos of the site. Cecilia cried. Later, when I watch her on the video made about the exoneration trial, I understood her tears and cried too. Her statement about her quest to have Leschi exonerated, I don't have the exact quote, was something like, "I felt he was telling me, 'I want to again be able feel like an eagle flying out over the grassy fields.'"
Cecelia was a wonderful person and will be truly missed by many.
Love to all the family. You are living pieces of the history of our great state.
Marianne Lincoln
Historian for the Descendants of Fort Nisqually Employees Association
Spanaway, WA
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