Larilyn Zeller Stenkamp

Larilyn Stenkamp

Larilyn Zeller Stenkamp (age 76) died on Dec. 12, 2024 in Seattle.  Her family was with her as she peacefully and calmly passed away.  She developed breathing problems around Thanksgiving time that culminated with hospice care.

Larilyn’s parents were Mary Sutherland Zeller and Larue Zeller.  She was born in Oregon City on April 20, 1948.  Her father was a surveyor for Bonneville Power Administration, so her first years were spent in various places throughout the Pacific Northwest as he worked on the alignment of various power lines.

Larilyn was very smart and logical.  One family story involved her artistic abilities as a young girl.  She drew on the wall, and when Mary told her to not do that, she switched to drawing on the doorknobs.  This did not impress her mother, but Larry thought it was hilarious.  Larilyn’s view of it was that the doorknobs weren’t the wall.  He agreed.  Mary remained unimpressed.

By the time Larilyn started elementary school, they had settled in Oak Grove, Oregon  (between Milwaukie and Oregon City).  Her father died when she was 11, so Mary had to take on the responsibilities of a single mother with a young daughter.  The two of them functioned well with the assistance of Mary’s sister, Chris (Sis), and her husband Chuck Weaver.  The extended family included Larilyn’s cousin, Jim Weaver and his family.

Larilyn did well in school and was the valedictorian of the first graduating class from Rex Putnam High School.  She then attended the Honors College at the University of Oregon.   She and Ron, her future husband,  became friends and spent several years helping one another with homework.  In addition to her schoolwork, she played a lot of contract bridge with college friends.

Larilyn and Ron were married in 1970 and then moved to Seattle where they entered graduate school at the University of Washington.  Sharing the stresses and excitement of graduate school makes for a strong marriage.  Understanding why your spouse needed to go to the computer center after midnight was a lot easier when you had to do the same thing.  They obtained their PhD degrees in chemistry in 1975.

That was followed by two years on the east coast while Ron did research and she taught college chemistry.  She adjusted to east coast life easier than he did, but she was willing to return west when he got a job opportunity back in Seattle.  She recognized that his career would depend on uncertain research funds, so she decided one of them should get a stable job.  She used her computing experience (and a COBOL programming class) to become a programmer/analyst with Unigard Insurance.  She enjoyed the logic and quality control needed for that environment, both of which fit with her personality so well.  She made good friends there and developed a reputation for her Holiday cookies and pies.

Larilyn -1985

In 1979, their son, David, was born and became the focus of their lives.    Larilyn was a feminist and made a point of making sure David understood and supported the idea that all humans are equal.  She especially wanted David to see her help him with math homework.  There was never to be doubt in David’s mind about what women could do.  David let her know he appreciated the tolerant and liberal environment in which he grew up.

About 20 years ago, Larilyn retired from Unigard and relaxed at home, taking care of family errands, the cats (Skitter, and later, Kuah, and Muzzy), and David and Ron.  She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, politics, and her family.  She and Ron continued in their “best friends” mode and talked and talked and talked.  She was much brighter and quicker than he, but she tolerated his slowness to understand things.  And occasionally, he could do things that she couldn’t.  Their skills and aptitudes overlapped well.  They greatly enjoyed each other’s company.

Larilyn was pre-deceased by her parents.  She is survived by her husband and son and several cousins, nieces and nephews.  No services are planned.  Donations to a charity of your choice can be made in memory of Larilyn.