Shirley Ruth Freng

Shirley Ruth Jacobson Freng slipped into eternity on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Shirley was born in Seattle, WA, on July 16, 1928. She and her younger brother Bob were born to Arne Jacobson (an immigrant from Sweden) and Marianne Johannesen Jacobson (an immigrant from Norway). Shirley grew up in Madison Park until her family moved to the waterfront on Portage Bay in the 1940's. She graduated from Broadway High School. After high school, she worked as a bank teller in Seattle. In 1950, she met James Freng, and they married in 1951 at Central Lutheran Church. They moved to Moxee, Washington where Jim was a band teacher and Shirley was a homemaker. In 1953, they moved back to western Washington and purchased a home in Edmonds. She loved her home, her neighborhood and her town and happily lived there for 69 years. Once her children were grown, Shirley began to work outside the home working at the Bed and Bath shop at Aurora Village and at Stewart's Drug and Coast to Coast in Westgate. Shirley thrived at Stewart's. As a cashier, she kept up with local friends and neighbors who often shopped at the store. She also demonstrated her skills of purchasing and displaying inventory. Shirley and Jim were active members of Christ Lutheran Church (now Edmonds Lutheran) since 1955. She served as the wedding coordinator for many years. She later participated in Annie's Kitchen, serving meals to the homeless. She loved the Lord and found joy serving Him. She was an avid Husky fan and attended Husky football games for many years with Jim. In her later years, she took great joy in decorating her home and caring for her garden, spending hours pulling every last weed. Everything Shirley did, she did with excellence and organization.
Shirley's greatest joy was her family. Growing up, she spent a great deal of time with her many, many cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents at the original family home in Richmond Beach. She spoke often of fond memories of Sunday afternoons together. Her greatest joy was her three children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her son Steve Freng (Emi), her daughter Sandy Klein (Greg) and her son Tom Freng. She adored her grandchildren Kris Freng (Katrina), Tyler Klein (Corinne), Ryan Klein (Jessica), Teresa Mizuki, and her two great-grands Holden and Eliana. In addition to pride in family, Shirley was very proud of her Scandinavian roots. She loved to celebrate being half Norwegian and half Swedish. A meal including fish cakes, lefse, and krumkake were a joy to her.
Shirley will be deeply missed. We thank her wonderful caregivers Melanie and Candace for the years of support provided once Alzheimer's required additional support at home. The family will have a private graveside service to remember and honor a wonderful mom, grandma, great grandma, neighbor and friend. Donations to Union Gospel Mission are welcome in Shirley's name.