Grethe Petersen Strahle

Grethe Strahle was known to her friends and family simply as “Kitty”. She was born to Frank and Martha Petersen in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1933.

As a young girl she had many experiences from the tragedy and fear of World War II as Nazis occupied her hometown to hitchhiking across Europe with her best girlfriend. But her most amazing adventure was meeting and marrying the visiting American who swept her off her feet – her husband, Allen, of 54 years.

After working in Alaska to make money, Allen went back to Copenhagen so they could be married. He brought her back to his hometown of Carlton, Oregon to much fanfare where the daily paper ran the love story of their local young man bringing home his Danish bride.

That was just the start of their adventures. In 1958 Allen built her a house in Alaska and together they helped develop the logging community of Thorne Bay where they lived and loved for 21 years. They fished and camped and had the best parties in camp. While Allen ran the shop and the movie house, Kitty was active in the Garden Club, Bridge club and led the Girl Scouts and Brownies.

In 1979 Kitty and Allen moved their family to Rainier, Washington. She worked as a CNA for several years (for flower money she said) before retiring so she could work in her yard more. She loved to garden and always had a beautiful yard. Her other big passion was animals. Over the years she was mama to many furry and feathered friends from crows and chickens, goats and guinea pigs to her beloved dogs, cats and parakeets.

She taught herself to paint and also became quite an accomplished Texas Hold ’em player.

Kitty was, in a word, charismatic. People enjoyed her company and all her stories. She was wise, always had great advice and knew the right words to help someone through a difficult time.

After a peaceful passing she is back with her “beloved”.

Kitty is survived by her brother Bjarne, sister Bitten, and three daughters, Elise, Linda and Lise. Her grandchildren Peter, Julian, Dustin, Brandon, Amanda, Austin and Jessica, five great grand children and many extended family members and friends that range from Alaska to Oregon, to Ohio and across Europe.

Rest in peace dear Kitty.