Olaf (Ole) Melvin Berentson, 98, of Lynnwood, WA, passed away on August 29, 2024, after suffering an acute stroke.

Ole was born October 3, 1925, to Gustav and Ingeborg (Norgaard) Berentsen in Bagley, Minnesota. A misspelling on his birth certificate provided Ole with a slightly different last name than his parents, which stayed with him for life. After growing up on the farm, Ole joined the Navy in 1942 at the age of 17. He served in the South Pacific during World War II aboard the USS McCord (DD-534). He was wounded at Iwo Jima, where he volunteered for several trips to the beach as a troop landing craft operator. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor. Following the war, Ole married Betty (Larsen) in San Diego, CA, in 1946. Their marriage produced two children, Scott and Cara Lynn, and spanned more than 70 years until Betty’s passing in 2017.

After leaving the Navy in 1946, Ole went on to serve in the Navy Reserve and Coast Guard, and in 1951 he joined the Air Force. He was very proud to have served his country in WWII, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam era. In addition to the South Pacific, Ole’s military career had taken him to Japan, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, Germany, and finally to Paine Field in Everett, WA, where he attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He retired from the Air Force in 1966, and then pursued careers in real estate and other business ventures. He was very active in the Kiwanis Club, and later enjoyed driving a van for Northshore Senior Center members.

Ole was a people person and always enjoyed a good story or a joke. His sense of humor and interest in people invariably shone through. He had a love of learning and was inquisitive about the world and what might exist beyond it. He kept up on current events and was always ready to share his views. His love of cooking continued through the years, and he was known for sharing big pots of soup with his friends. He also had fun socializing in the dining room (or “mess hall” as he referred to it) and participating in weekly poker games.

Ole is survived by granddaughters Kara, Deanna, and Tanya; his great-grandchildren; brother Gustav Berentsen, Jr. of Bagley, MN; sister-in-law Violet Berentsen of Bremerton, WA; daughter-in-law Valerie; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty; daughter Cara Lynn and son Scott (Vickie); his parents; sisters Margaret (Donald) Schultz and Luella (Willard) Grimsley; and brothers George (Eleanor), Arnold (Margaret), Clifford (Theresa), and Elmer.

Thank you to the caring staff of Chateau Pacific Assisted Living and Swedish Hospital-Edmonds.

A ceremony with military honors will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery on September 26, 2024, at 12:30 pm, where he will be laid to rest together with his beloved wife Betty.