Anna Theoline Olivia Ankrum
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Anna was born June 7, 1931, to Oscar Edward Lee and Petra Mathilde Brendan in Bellingham, WA. She passed away peacefully on May 2, 2022, at her home in Mount Vernon, WA . Anna grew up on the Lummi Reservation in Whatcom County. When she was two and a half years old, she was adopted into the Lummi tribe and given a Native American title, Pal-auk-tin-aut. Anna graduated from Ferndale High School in 1950. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland, graduating in 1955, with a BSc degree in Nursing. On March 3, 1967, she married Lawrence Ankrum Sr. (Larry) and became mother to his children: Sharlene, Marilyn, Jana and Lawrence Jr. They lived in Seattle until 1977, when they moved to Mount Vernon. Anna joined the Seattle Mountaineers in the mid 1960s. On April 21, 1973, she had a fall while doing technical climbing in the Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth, WA and became a paraplegic. As a nurse, Anna worked at Ballard Hospital in Seattle, WA, Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL and the LC Foss Sunset Home. From 1972 to 1997, she worked for the State of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services as a nursing consultant in long-term care, and as a surveyor in Long-Term Care facilities. She was also an active member of boards and advisory committees as well as a life-long member of the Lutheran Church. In 1998, she became a member of the Master Gardeners of Skagit County and loved to teach special-needs children how to garden. Anna was predeceased by her sister Onella Brunner, husband Larry and his daughter Sharlene Peters. She is survived by her sister, Solveig Lee, niece, Ruth Wiegand, cousin Claire Egtvedt, Larry's children, Jana Ferguson, Marilyn Simonsen, Lawrence Ankrum Jr. and many dedicated friends. A celebration of life will be held for her at the Fir Conway Lutheran Church, 18101 Fir Island Rd, Mount Vernon WA on June 25, 2022 at 11:00 am. You may offer your condolences and share memories of Anna online at www.kernfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.