Sharon Olivia Bole

Sharon Olivia (Steen) Bole, beloved wife, stepmother, step-grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed away on October 18, 2025 at her home in Salem Oregon, at the age of 87. Sharon was the spouse of the late Pastor Roger Bole and a long-standing member of Salem Evangelical Church.
Born to Mabel Idella (Lien) (Maynard, Minnesota) and Henry Steen, Sharon was born March 16, 1938, in Seattle, Washington, near the family farmstead on Vashon Island. The family grew Easter lilies, which Henry had hybridized for desired traits. In February 1944, Sharon and family moved to a farmstead on Sauvie Island, where they lived until May 1946. They subsequently moved to Tigard, Oregon (then, King City), Sharon's primary home of her later childhood and early adult years. Growing up, she loved music, and along with her sister Marian, played piano and organ in the church ensemble. Sharon attended and graduated from Tigard High School, where she formed many close, enduring friendships.
After continuing her education at Biola University (La Miranda, California, near Los Angeles), Sharon returned to Portland, Oregon. She provided childcare to area families and became an integral member of the families for which she nannied. As the children Sharon nannied grew into adulthood, Sharon stayed in touch with them, including Katie and Paul, maintaining regular contact through her last year of life.
Sharon married Roger William Bole on February 13, 1999, at Trinity Evangelical Church in Tigard, Oregon, with many family members and friends in attendance. Sharon and Roger shared a great deal in common: their Norwegian heritage, including Minnesota ties; their love of family; their down-to-earth, folksy style and easy sense of humor; their appreciation of music; and most important, the centrality of their faith to their lives. Sharon drew a deep sense of meaning in her identity as the wife of Pastor Roger Bole and their shared connections with Liberal Evangelical Church, for which Roger served as pastor. They shared a passion for travel and explored many beautiful places together, including the Grand Canyon.
Sharon was an accomplished pianist and organist. Her musical skills brought together family, friends, and members of her faith community. One instrument that threaded throughout her life was the Steen family piano, which she played in her childhood home, then later, for many years in her and Roger's home.
Sharon dearly loved her family and avidly celebrated the events of family members' lives. During her younger years, she shared many special family occasions at the homes of her siblings, George (Emma, spouse), Marian, and Margaret (Earl, spouse). After marriage to Roger Bole, she treasured the traditions shared with the Bole family, including Nita and Robert Pelletier and Debbie and Charlie Holtan, especially gatherings at Parrot Mountain.
Sharon's close connection to family and community also manifested itself in her remarkable memory of the details of family and community history. Through her last days of life, Sharon could recount precise dates and locations of events of her relatives and community members. Sharon was especially close to her mother, Mabel (Lien) Steen, who served as a missionary, nurse, and teacher to the Inupiaq People, while based with the Norwegian Lutheran Church and the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Teller Mission, Nome, Alaska, and related duty stations,1923 – 1935 (intermittent).
Sharon was preceded in death by spouse Roger Bole, step granddaughter, Victoria Bole, and sisters Marian Steen and Margaret Evans. She is survived by her brother and sister-in law, George and Emma Steen; stepchildren and spouses, Debbie and Charlie Holtan, Lisa Willard, Nita and Robert Pelletier, and Leslie and William Bole; nephews Craig Evans, David Steen, Michael Steen; niece Michelle Steen-Adams (and Mark Adams); step-grandchildren, Justin Willard, Erica Mwenda, Josh Holtan, and Andrew Holtan, Rachael Bole, Joshua Bole (spouse, Kaimi), Christopher Bole; step great grandson Micah Mwenda; great-nephews, Kyle Steen and Soren Steen-Adams; and great-nieces, Nicole Gadotti (children – David Atkinson, Peyton Gadotti), Holly Steen and Ingrid Steen-Adams. She will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held at Salem Evangelical Church on Saturday, November 22 at 11:30, with reception and burial to follow (City View Cemetery, Salem).
Contributions in honor of Sharon's memory can be made to Salem Evangelical Church, where Sharon was a member for many years.