Dorothy A. Lien remembered for courage, wisdom
Many wanted to know how to become a Christian because she so clearly lived out her religious beliefs, said her husband, Jay.
During long stays in the hospital, nurses turned to their patient to talk about how to face adversity.
Mrs. Lien, witty, artistic and kind, fought cancer for nearly three years before she died at age 60 last Saturday (Jan. 17) at her home on Camano Island.
During the illness she unexpectedly became paralyzed from the waist down during a procedure on her spine that was intended to ease her pain.
But the strongest complaint she ever voiced about this hard turn in life was, "It's a bummer."
She was born in Mount Vernon in 1944 and raised on a turn-of-the-century farm in Burlington, Skagit County, that has been in the family five generations. After graduating from Burlington-Edison High School, Mrs. Lien attended Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Washington and Western Washington University.
"We had a lot of humor in our life," her husband recalled.
The laughs started as soon as they met at Twin City Foods in Stanwood. Dorothy worked in the plant office that looked out on the production area. Jay operated a forklift and "decided to take a detour to check out the new, good-looking blonde with this big smile."
She was so distracting, the young man rammed three times into a post that held up the roof and the boss forbade him from entering the area again, Jay said. The couple married months later in 1965.
Within a few years, two daughters were born, both of whom are public-school teachers today.
Being a mother is the world's most important job, Mrs. Lien believed.
Even when her daughters were grown, she called them nearly every day — even when one lived in St. Louis and the other in London.
"She loved hearing about our jobs and the children we teach. She was a tremendous listener and our greatest encourager," recalled daughter Michelle Stang of Camano Island.
Her "gentle, loving touch" is one of the things the daughters will most remember — the nightly tuck-ins with prayers, back rubs and hugs when they were little — and in the last few months "lying in bed holding our hands," remembered Kim Lien of Mill Creek.
The daughters' other memories include horseback rides on the beach, picnics at the family farm and "snow days" with hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls.
Mrs. Lien also was a career woman and volunteer.
She owned a custom floral business called Uniquely Yours for 17 years. Though she never lacked for customers, who ranged from neighbors to interior designers, she also never made a profit.
"It was pretty much a giveaway program," which became obvious at tax time, her husband said.
Mrs. Lien helped found the Well Child Clinic at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stanwood, where low-income mothers can get medical exams from registered nurses for their babies. The Sunday-school teacher also helped start His Pantry at Camano Chapel, which gives food and clothing to needy people.
Over the years, she taught her husband about optimism and the value of compromise.
In 1979, he quit a good job to go into real estate.
The decision didn't thrill her, but Mrs. Lien simply replied: "We're going to make you the best real-estate agent on Camano Island."
He learned to accept her love of shopping and finding a bargain. One morning when he pointed out the numerous new finds in her closet, she quickly pointed out his many golf clubs.
In early retirement, the couple spent winters in Bermuda Dunes, Calif.
"She had a great influence on me in a real subtle way," her husband concluded.
"Dorothy did things right."
In addition to her husband and daughters, Mrs. Lien is survived by her parents, Jess and Barbara Knutzen, and her brothers, Roger and William Knutzen, all of Burlington; her sister, Barbara Dalton of Federal Way; grandchildren Alisa and Andrew Stang of Camano Island; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Camano Chapel, 867 S.W. Camano Drive, Camano Island. Remembrances may be sent to Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, P.O. Box 1285, Stanwood, WA 98292 or to His Pantry, in care of Camano Chapel at 867 S.W. Camano Drive, Camano Island, WA 98282.