Marianne SahlstromOctober 19th, 1914 to March 22nd, 2008Amy Marianne Geraldine Kirk was born to Ernest and Amy Constable Kirk on October 19, 1914 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. At an early age she moved with her mother to Vancouver, B.C., where she attended elementary and junior high school. In 1933 she graduated from Britannia High School in Vancouver, and graduated the following year from a business school in Vancouver. It was during this time that she met Ted Sahlstrom, and they were married on November 14th, 1934. Ted graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, received his Degree of Optometry on March 23rd 1943, and practiced optometry in Albany, Oregon until his retirement. He preceded her in death on October 30th, 1994. In 2000 she joined her son and family in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, where she remained until her death.Marianne was a home-maker all of her life except for a few short years when she assisted Ted in his office. In the early 1970?s Ted & Marianne led lay renewal programs at several churches in the Pacific Northwest as a pilot project. The success of this led to the establishment of Lutheran Lay Renewal in northern California, and from there Ted & Marianne traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada leading lay witness teams until his retirement from the ministry. Marianne was an integral part of this ministry from which many people gained strength in their Christian faith. Helping in this ministry was a highlight of her life, and the Lutheran Lay Renewal ministry continues to this day.Marianne traveled extensively, both with her husband and with her children in later years. She also enjoyed gardening, camping, and boating, of which her family has many fond memories.She is survived by her three children: Karen Nickel-Creusere of Danville, California, Jim Sahlstrom of Salem, Oregon, and George Sahlstrom of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.Services will be held at Aasum-Dufour Funeral Home in Albany, Oregon on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. with internment at Willamette Memorial Cemetery in Albany.