Violet Paulson

Astorian Native, Ellen Violet (Vi) Paulson, passed away peacefully with family by her side on November 1, 2024 (All Saints Day, fitting as Vi was the closest person to a saint most people knew). Vi was born on July 22, 1922 in Astoria to Finnish immigrants, Erick Sippala & Hanna Hekkala-Sippala (both from Raahe, Finland who met in Astoria); Vi was their only child. Vi was educated in the Astoria School District and graduated from Astoria High School in 1940.

In 1943, Vi married her high school sweetheart, Wilt Paulson, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Astoria. Immediately after their wedding, Wilt and Vi moved to Portland, Oregon where Wilt worked as an aviation instructor at OIT and Vi attended business school. In 1945, Wilt and Vi started Willamette Aircraft and Engine on the Beaverton Airport. In 1948 they relocated the business to the Astoria Airport and renamed the company LEKTRO, running the company together until purchased by son, Eric, in 1985. Eric owned the family business until 2019. LEKTRO is still in operation today at the same Astoria Airport location under new ownership.

Once back in Astoria, Vi became very involved in the community. She was active in the Jaycettes, including being the local chapter president; member of Eastern Star, and other civic organizations. Wilt was also active in the Jaycees, so together Vi and Wilt traveled throughout Oregon and the US, attending various Jaycee conventions, making lifetime friends wherever they went. Vi was a lifetime member of Bethany Free Lutheran Church. Vi’s main passion, however, was helping children.

After determining Vi and Wilt could not have children naturally, they began a path towards adoption. Their first child was Vi’s 1st cousin from Finland, Lenna Sippala. Lenna’s father had passed away in WWII and her mother did not feel she could afford to raise Lenna. The adoption efforts took a painstaking 3 years, including assistance from Oregon’s Congregational Delegation as there had never been a Finnish child adoption in the US to date. Finally on January 5, 1954, Lenna, at age 9, arrived in the US at the Portland International Airport and was greeted by Vi running to the taxiing aircraft with engines still on. It was a start to a very beautiful life as a family.

Once Lenna joined the family, Vi turned her focus on being a mother. Vi started a Girl Scout Troop and became the Troop Leader, having a lasting impact on all the girls in her Troop (some of whom ironically paid Vi a visit shortly before her passing sharing stories of their wonderful Scouting memories). 

Vi and Wilt yearned for more children, so began the process of finding infants who were in need of adoption. In 1959, they welcomed Teri Ann into their lives, a bright red-headed baby girl. Being parents of a toddler brought a whole new level of joy to Vi and Wilt. When Vi’s in-laws, Jack & Loretta Rieck, had a son in June 1961, Vi proclaimed she too would have a son within a year! Exactly one year and 2 days later their prayers were answered, and Eric William was adopted into the family.

Having three children was not enough, so during Lenna’s Senior year at AHS, Wilt & Vi hosted an exchange student from Turkey, Gonul Akagunduz. Gonul would later return to the US from Turkey and marry, eventually moving to Oregon to be close to Wilt & Vi.

As Teri and Eric grew, Vi continued being an active and involved mother. Once again, Vi lead Teri’s Scouting Troops, which included many trips to Salem visiting special needs children in group homes. When Eric was of age to start Kindergarten, Vi championed the efforts to start a Kindergarten program at Lewis & Clark Consolidated as Kindergarten was not a state funded program yet. Her efforts were successful as L&C began their first kindergarten program at the one-room Walluski Grange. Not only did Vi convince L&C to offer Kindergarten to district families, but also convinced them to provide bussing. This effort helped pave the way for kindergarten to be part of the funded educational curriculum program throughout the State of Oregon. 

With Teri and Eric both now in school, Vi had time available to do more things for the community. Vi could be found in both Teri and Eric’s classrooms assisting their teachers. However, it was Vi’s requirement to always be at home before Teri & Eric left for school, and to be there when they returned. In order to achieve this, Vi felt the best job would be to work for the school district, so Vi joined the staff of Astor Elementary as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Title 9 Reading Program where Vi assisted many children in learning to read for the first time. Once Teri & Eric became older, Vi left education and went back to work at LEKTRO in the role of Office Manager and Bookkeeper until retiring in 1991.

In 1988, Vi and Wilt moved from their Astoria home to their property next to the beach in Ocean Park, WA. There they spent their “Golden Years”, taking many cruises throughout the world and several trips to Finland where Vi has numerous relatives. But Vi couldn’t stay away from helping children, so she volunteered at Ocean Park Elementary, once again teaching kids to read. Vi continued volunteering well into her 80s.

Vi was also the ultimate host. Every holiday or birthday was held at whatever home they were at with family and friends enjoying an amazing full-course home-made meal. And before the day ended, you would never know an event occurred as the house was spotless. She continued hosting well into her 90s.

After Wilt passed away in 2003, Vi continued living in Ocean Park. In 2008, Vi moved back to Astoria to be closer to her children, living at the Columbia House Condominiums where she started yet another chapter of her life and reconnected with old childhood friends. While in her 90s, Vi became the “chauffer” for her neighbor group on their weekly luncheon outings. Vi continued living at the Columbia House until her passing with only minor assistance from family members and three amazing caregivers.

Anyone who was blessed to have Vi in their life knew she was someone very special. Vi was the most positive person one could ever meet, never having a bad thing to say about anyone (even those who deserved it!). God and family always came first and the most important aspects of her life. Nothing would detract from her love of God, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members.

Vi is survived by her children: Lenna Johansen (Eddie) of Astoria; Turkish Exchange Student/Daughter, Gonul Jones of Vancouver, WA; Teri Bell (Neider) of Issaquah, WA, and Eric Paulson of Chinook, WA. Grandchildren: Wendy Settle, Jim Johansen, Hanna Richards and Laura Jones. Great-Grandchildren: Emily Badger, Hudson Settle and London Jackson. Grand-dog, Bronson. Vi is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as extended family in Finland.

Vi was proceeded in death by her husband of 60 years, Wilt Paulson, son-in-law Ray Jones, and parents Erick & Hanna Sippala.

Donations in Violet’s honor can be made to Bethany Free Lutheran Church-Astoria; The Boys and Girls Aid Adoption Agency, Portland, OR; or a charity of one’s choice.

A memorial service for Violet will be held at Bethany Free Lutheran Church, 451-34th St, Astoria, OR on Saturday, November 9th, at 12:00pm. The service will be live-streamed at www.bethanyfree.com.