Laura Jean Bollen
Laura Jean Bollen passed away on July 12, 2012 from complications
following shoulder replacement surgery. She is survived by her husband
Michael, her son Sean and his wife Jenn, her son Brian and many sister
and brother in laws, nieces and nephews. Laura Jean was born on May
22, 1944 in Havre, Montana. She was raised in Red Lodge, Montana by
Rachel and Leo Spogen. She graduated from Montana State University in
nursing in 1966. Laura moved to Seattle after graduation and worked as
a RN at the University of Washington Hospital. Laura met the love of
her life (45 years) Michael Bollen at the UW where he was studying at
the business school. They were married in Red Lodge Montana in 1967.
After Mike’s graduation in 1969 they moved to Los Angeles, Ca. where
she worked at Santa Monica hospital. Laura and Mike moved to Tigard
Ore. in 1970 where their 2 sons ( Sean and Brian) were born. In 1974
the family moved to Bellevue, Wa. where they still live. Laura worked
many years at Group Health plus doing all things financial for Mike’s
business.
Laura was very active in PEO where she served proudly as Chapter GE’s
President and she also was Washington State president in 2007. She
loved all her PEO sisters dearly, and was active in many of their
projects.
Laura loved to travel, especially to sunny places with ocean beaches.
This meant many trips to Lahaina and Kona in Hawaii for sun time and
face to face meetings with turtles. Of course she wasn’t above
spending some time on a Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish beach. Or a
good inner tube float down the Tolt river. Laura also traveled to
China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Italy, and recently Belize where she zip
lined through the jungle trees and snorkeled on the reefs.
She was famous for her entertaining and cooking. Signature items were
her homemade bread, sweet rolls, several dishes using wild mushrooms
and of course Mojitos.
She was a wonderful wife and mother and will be missed mightily by her
3 men and her daughter in law Jenn.
A Memorial endowment for P.E.O. has been established in Laura’s name. Please make checks out to P.E.O. Foundation (Donation is tax deductible.)
Mail to P.E.O. / PCE, 3019 Hunts Point Road, Hunts Point, WA 98004
12 Responses to “Laura Jean Bollen”
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I loved working and laughing with LJ online and in person. She was very special to me and I will miss her forever. Always in my heart. Chapter FY
Such good memories of growing up together in Red Lodge and later raising our babies together in Tigard. Always looked forward to her newsy Christmas letters. We will always remember her great cooking abiilities. She will be miissed!
Laura was a special friend to our family for many years. Every Christmas she appeared with a tray of delicious cinnamon rolls and a big smile. Christmas won’t be thbe same without Laura. She was always ready to help us when a problem arose. More important than that Laura was my buddy. From the time that her son Brian was in my reading class when he was in the second grade, the many years of bridge club and bunco to fun lunches together, our relationship was special. Laura knew how to have fun and had a mountain of ideas to try from short-sheeting to rearranging furniture after a great time spent at the beach. So many memories. Laura will be forever missed. We loved her and give Mike, Brian, and Sean and Jen our prayers and thoughts.
Laura was a special Bonco friend and she was always full of fun. She would come up to me and say “so whats happening with you kiddo” which usually got my shyness out of the way. I will never forget her kindness in sitting and talking with me during my chemo sessions. I could not have been very good company and yet she was upbeat the whole time when she visited. We will miss her dearly for her kindness, her love and her laughter. Our prayers go out to Mike, Brian, Sean and Jenn and wish them comfort.
Mom will be missed by so many of us as she touched many people and was the catalyst for getting everyone together. Mom loved life and didn’t just say that life should be lived to the fullest; she lived every moment as if it were her last. She was one of a kind.
I will always be grateful that I got to have a very close relationship with her over the years. Laura was definitely like another mother to me (I did call her Mom). I am better for having known her and a blessed to be a Bollen.
I want to thank all of the friends and relatives for their unwavering support during this difficult time. It has brought the family much needed comfort.
We love you, Mom! You will always live on in our hearts and memories and never be forgotten. I already miss you more than I can describe.
Love, Jenn
I’m a P.E.O. member of chapter FH mercer Island, Wa. I’ve just read the lovely messages from friends and family. I never knew Laura but I’m sure I missed out on something wonderful. Please accept my condolences and those of chapter FH.
Lovingly, Millie Rosie
The love of a wonderful sister is something that always lives on, filling the days with sweet memories long after her presence is gone. You still feel the warmth of her caring, her spirit will never depart, for the love of a wonderful sister forever lives on in your heart.
With heartfelt sympathy,
P.E.O. sister, Candace Hansen
Chapter JF,Leavenworth,Washington
Laura Jean always had a way of making everyone’s day a little brighter. She was a supportive, generous, dedicated, welcoming and loving person. Laura Jean epitomized what a P.E.O. sister should be. Convention will not be the same without her. Hmmm….perhaps the “convention elves” will have to make an appearance at next year’s Convention in her honor. She was, after all, the one who taught me how to short sheet a bed.
I send my sincerest condolences, and those of Chapter IS, to the entire Bollen family, Chapter GE, Marilyn and Heather. Thanks for sharing Laura Jean with the rest of us.
With P.E.O. love and mine,
Dorothy
I met LJ a couple of years ago after she had met my sister at PEO’s national convention. She is one of the main reasons that I am a member of Chapter GE today. She was determined to bring me in to the warm circle of sisterhood. I wish Mike, Brian, Sean and Jenn.
Lovingly Laurie
I will treasure my memories of Laura Jean and Chapter GE. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
I dedicate this to Mom:
Heaven Needed a Hero (Jo Dee Messina)
I came by today to see you
Oh I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you
was the last time,
I’d have held you, and never let go
Oh, it’s kept me awake nights, wondering
I lie in the dark, just asking why
I’ve always been told
You won’t be called home
Until it’s your time
I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
I remember the last time I saw you
Oh, you held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
Your such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more
Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
Yes, Heaven was needing a hero
and that’s you
I was just taking a moment thinking of Laura, how she was such a wonderful friend and like a mom to me so I decided to look her up. I was never so surprised to see she had passed several years ago. I am so sorry to hear of this, words cannot express. She was an angel to many and will continue her work from above.