Magnhild Jasper

Feb 1, 1923 — Oct. 6, 2022

Magnhild Jasper was born on February 1^st 1923 in Nesset, Norway to John and Marie Sjoli. As an infant she immigrated to the United States, passing through Ellis Island. Her family would  quickly establish Astoria as their home.

Magnhild had a mind for numbers and was a voracious reader. Known by the early Astor Library librarians for her ability to read quickly, she often bragged that they would let her check-out more than was allowed because they knew she lived so far out in the country and would have to walk into town to get more books.

During WW2, she met her husband, Gerald Thomas Arrington, a handsome Navy medic, at the Tongue Point Navy commissary. They dated for a short time and married in 1943, making their home in Astoria where Gerald would become Chief of Police. They had three children, Ruth Ann, Diane, and Jerry. Their home was full of music, laughter, card games, family, and friends.

After suddenly losing Gerald in 1964, Magnhild raised and supported three children on her own. She worked as a cannery filleter during the day, dishwasher at night at Andrew and Steve’s Restaurant, and stocked shelves at Three Boys Market.

In 1980, she married, Edward Jasper. They enjoyed hunting and fishing and hosted many family events and card games. They were founding members of Bayview Baptist Church in Astoria where Magnhild served as the church’s accountant for over two decades and participated in various church activities for over forty years. 

She was well known for her homemade applesauce, blackberry pies, and for her love of gardening. She won several Clatsop County Fair awards for her flowers.

She was a devoted volunteer at Columbia Memorial Hospital and worked in the Hospital Gift Shop and knitted hats for the newborns in the maternity ward until her eyesight began to decline. When she couldn’t see the tiny knit anymore she began knitting washcloths, instead; making them up until a few days before her death.

Magnhild passed away peacefully on October 6^th, 2022 at the age of ninety-nine. She had hoped to make it to her one-hundredth birthday but when the Lord called her home, she was ready.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Gerald T. Arrington, second husband Edward Jasper, her parents John Sjoli and Marie Skille, Step-father John Skille, older brother Karsten Sjoli, younger brother Robert Sjoli, niece Robin Miller, nephew John Sjoli, her aunts Laura Sjoli, and Anne Gjøvik, cousin Gudrun Martin, and daughter Ruth Ann Arrington-Sprague.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Diane and Jon Tierney of Gearhart, son Jerry Arrington, of Astoria; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Ann and Shawn Ornie, of Astoria; great-grandson Timothy Ornie, of Astoria, Janice Young of California, Larry and Shirley Martin of Astoria, Riedun Fields of Washington, Peg and Michael Pepe-Obrien of New York, and Skip Pepe of Florida. She remained close with Ed’s children, Jan Andrews (Ray) of St. Helens, Carol Link of Astoria, and Joe Jasper (Gina) of Astoria, as well as their many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She is deeply loved and missed by her family but we are comforted knowing she is with the Lord.

There will be a graveside service scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations of memory can be made to her favorite charity; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to The Lower Columbia Hospice service that was such a wonderful support during her final days.