Rhododendron resident Syneva Farleigh died Sunday March 9, 2014 in Rhododendron at the home of her daughter Audrey where she had been living for the last 2 years. She was 94. Syneva had recently fallen and had broken her hip. She passed away as a result of complications following surgery.
A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 14665 Bluff Road in Sandy on Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 PM., officiated by Kerry Peterson. A reception will be held at that location following the service.
Syneva was born November 16, 1919 in Stoughton, Wisconsin to Omanda (Holton/Halvorson) Sorvald and Harry Sorvald. She moved as a child with her family to Cornucopia, WI on the south shore of Lake Superior. Syneva only spoke Norwegian at home. When she began school only English was used. With the language barrier and appendix surgery her 1st year of school was difficult.
She graduated from Cornucopia High School in 1939 and then went to Duluth MN for employment. While there she met and married George W. Brown in 1940.They bought a small farm north of Duluth in Freidenburg MN where Audrey was born in 1941. In 1946 the family moved to Prairie City, OR where Carol was born in 1947. They lived then in John Day OR until 1956, then moved to Madras OR where in 1958 George and Syneva divorced.
In 1959 Syneva married Gerald Farleigh and during the next several years they owned and operated various restaurants and bakeries taking them to California, Alaska, and Nevada. From 1973 – 1981 they owned a filbert farm in Jefferson OR. In 1981 Gerry died and Syneva moved to Rhododendron in 1982 and then to Sandy OR where she purchased a mobile home and assisted Goldene Wilcoxen with upkeep of her home and grounds. When Goldene died in 1988, Syneva moved to Veneer Lane east of Sandy to assist Eva Wamboldt. Eva broke her hip in 1988 Syneva’s health was declining and more care was needed than she could provide.
In 2000 Syneva moved to an apartment at Cedar Park Gardens in Sandy. A week later she suffered a heart attack and had triple bypass surgery. Her hearing was declining and she had to slow down a little and gave up driving. In 2012 after a colon resection and more health problems she moved to her daughter Audrey’s in Rhododendron.
Travel: Syneva loved to travel and visisted may places across the U.S., her parents homeland Norway, as well as Poland, Canada, Russia, and Mexico.
Activities: Syneva liked spending time with family and friends taking their pictures putting them in albums. She loved flower gardening, jigsaw puzzles, nature programs, and playing checkers with grandkids. Sending and receiving letters from family and friends brought her great joy. Chocolate was a must and it was always within reach. Chinese food onca a week was always a treat for her. She had a quick, genuine smile that attracted even strangers to her.
Religion: Syneva was baptized October 5, 1941 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She served as a Pioneer in fulltime service for 30 years and attended Pioneer Service Schools in 1985 and 2005. She enjoyed finding Bible students and spent many hours doing Bible research wanting to make sure of the truths she shared with others.
Syneva is survived by a sister Rebecca (Harold) Roller of Algonquin Illinois and David Sorvald of Manitowish Warters, Wisconsin; daughters, Audrey Statchwick of Rhododendron and Carol Blankenship of Bend, OR born during her marriage to George Brown June1940 – August 1958; eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Omanda Sorvald; sisters Arlette Sorvald, Marian Sorvald, Yvonne (Robert Sr.) Dangle, Harriet (Lawrence) LeBel; brothers Truman Sorvald, Johan Sorvald, and Roald Sorvald
The family deeply appreciates all the flowers, cards, and support shown to us during this time.