Family and friends gathered this weekend to remember Bjorg Orlob, who died last week at age 71. Here’s the remembrance looking back at her life:

Bjorg Olea Orlob passed away on 12/5/2014. Born Bjorg Solheim in Andoya, Norway, in the midst of the Nazi occupation on 9/26/1943, she emigrated to the USA at an early age. She grew up learning both American and Norwegian cultures and values, and embodied the best of both. She attended school in Bothell, and graduated Bothell HS in 1961. She already began collecting friends she would keep for life before she got her dream gift – a one-way ticket to Oslo – for her high-school graduation.

Once in Norway, she continued to make friends. She spent time working in Belgium as well as Oslo, and always took the time to love the places she visited and the people who inhabited them. Her travels took her many places, including much of Europe and parts of Africa.

Once she returned to the USA, she was introduced to the cousin of a high-school friend, and quickly fell in love with Carl Orlob, a US Naval Aviator.

They married in November of 1970, and would remain happily married until his passing in 2000.

During their life together, they would explore their shared passions for camping, boating and travel. They made too many international trips to detail, always taking time to experience the people and cultures of the places they visited.

In 1972 she had a remarkable year, giving birth to two boys, Dain in January and Brett in October. She was a loving mother to them, always. She was also a loving and devoted sister, aunt, grand-aunt, and friend. She will be missed terribly by all who knew and loved her.

She passed on 12/5/2014 while having lunch with friends at a local restaurant. In her final years her declining health slowed her travel, but never her love of friends and family, and we know she died happy among loved ones.

Ms. Orlob’s memorial was held Saturday. Donations are welcome, in lieu of flowers, to the American Lung Association.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)