FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough
2nd of 3 children of Thomas Herbert “Herb” Rosborough & Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin
Born: Jul 26, 1914, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Jul 11, 2012 (age 97), Shoreline, King, Co., Washington; congestive heart failure
Buried: Susie Creek Cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington
Occupation: Postal clerk, sales clerk children’s clothing and in jewelry stores
Married: Nov 20, 1940, Jack Eugene Norkool, Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington
Three children: Thomas Lynn Norkool, Patricia Anne “Pat” Norkool, Kay Marie Norkool

Jack Eugene Norkool
6th of 7 children of Karl/Charles Erland “Kalle” Norkool & Susanna Serafia “Sanna” Raitto
Born Sep 9, 1910, Kent, King Co., Washington
Died: Nov 5, 1968 (age 58), Hoquiam, Grays Harbor Co., Washington; heart attack
Buried: Susie Creek Cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington
Military: WWII, US Navy
Occupation: Occupation: Forester, logging engineer
Married: Nov 20, 1940, Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough, Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington
Three children: Thomas Lynn Norkool, Patricia Anne “Pat” Norkool, Kay Marie Norkool

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Timeline and Records

Three children of Thomas Herbert “Herb” Rosborough & Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin:
Mildred Emily Rosborough
1912 – 1978
Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough
1914 – 2012
Willard James Rosborough
1919 – 2004

Seven children of Karl/Charles Erland “Kalle” Norkool & Susanna Serafia & “Sanna” Raitto:
1. Jenny Irene Norkool
1899 – 1952
2. Ina A. Norkool
1901 – 1992
3. Vieno Norkool
1903 – 1911
4. Mildred Elvira “Millie” Norkool
1907 – 1994
5. Carl G.E. Norkool
1908 – 1980
6. Jack/Jacob Eugene Norkool
1910 – 1968
7. Helen Dakmarie Norkool
1912 – 2000

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I found Susanna Serafia Raitto’s name by checking the Finnish birth records. Every child was listed in a Finnish record called a syntyneet – a birth record – which gave her full Christian name. I crossreferenced this with a rippikirjat (Finnish communion book) which is more similar to a census- ie over a period of 10 years all the people living in a household are listed together with their ages- so you can put together families quite easily. Although in the Finnish records she was always “Susanna,” in 18th and 19th century Finland the nickname for Susanna was usually “Sanna” though not necessarily.

The name Raitto is actually a very uncommon Finnish name, unlike something like Niemi or Seppala – and I think at least 80% of Raitto’s in America today are actually descended from Sanna’s father Kustaa (Gustaf) and his two wives. Probably only 40 Raittos in the country.

Sanna Raitto & Karl Erland and were married in Lanesville (which was a district of Gloucester, Massachusetts entirely inhabited by Finnish people at the beginning of the twentieth century) which is the same city where Jacob Raitto, Matti Raitto, and Herman Raitto all initially migrated to. Matti and Jacob stayed on the East Coast, Herman went to Oregon and Sanna to Washington.

Contributed by William Hartley

1947: Kalle & Sanna Norkool Family:

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Sep 9, 1910: Birth of Jack Eugene Norkool, 6th of 7 children of Karl/Charles Erland “Kalle” Norkool & Susanna Serafia “Sanna” Raitto, in Kent, King Co., Washington

Sep 9, 1910: Delayed Births, King Co., Washington:
Name: Jack Eugene Norkool
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 9 Sep 1910
Birth Place: Kent, King, Washington, USA
Father: Kalle Norkool
Mother: Sanna Raitto
FHL Film Number: 004150853

Jul 26, 1914: Birth of Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough, 2nd of 3 children of Thomas Herbert “Herb” Rosborough & Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin, in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon

Jan 14, 1920: Federal Census for Suise Creek, King Co., Washington:
Name: Jacob E Norkool
Age: 10
Birth Year: abt 1910
Birthplace: Washington
Home in 1920: Suise Creek, King, Washington
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Charles Norkool
Father’s Birthplace: Finland
Mother’s Name: Sanna Norkool
Mother’s Birthplace: Finland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Attended School: yes
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Age, Relationship:
Charles Norkool: age 42, Head
Sanna Norkool: age 42, Wife
Jennie J Norkool: age 20, Daughter
Ina Norkool: age& 18, Daughter
Millie E Norkool: age 12, Daughter
Carl E Norkool: age 11, Son
Jacob E Norkool: age 10, Son
Helen T Norkool: age 7, Daughter

Feb 5, 1920: Federal Census for Wendell, Gooding Co., Idaho:
Name: Arlene Rosborough
Age: 5
Birth Year: abt 1915
Birthplace: Oregon
Home in 1920: Wendell, Gooding, Idaho
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Thomas Rosborough
Father’s Birthplace: Canada
Mother’s Name: Mamie Rosborough
Mother’s Birthplace: Texas
Household Members: Age, Relationship:
Thomas Rosborough: Age 39, Head
Mamie Rosborough: Age 33, Wife
Mildred Rosborough: Age 7, Daughter
Arlene Rosborough: Age 5, Daughter
Willard Rosborough: Age 1, Son

circa 1920-21: sisters Arlene and Mildred feeding bum lambs:

1924: Herb Rosborough (age 43) with his children: Arlene (age 10), Willard (age 5), Mildred (age 12):

Apr 11, 1930: Federal Census for Suise Creek, King Co., Washington:
Name: Jack E Norkool
Birth Year: 1911
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 19
Birthplace: Washington
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Suise Creek, King, Washington
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: Finland
Mother’s Birthplace: Finland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
NameCharles Norkool: Age 53
Sanna Norkool: Age 53
Carl E Norkool: Age 21
Jack E Norkool: Age 19
Helen O Norkool: Age 17

1930: City Directory for Seattle, King Co., Washington:
Name: Jack E Norkool
Residence Year: 1930
Street Address: Kent Wn
Residence Place: Seattle, Washington, USA
Occupation: Student
Publication Title: Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1930
Note: Jack E. Norkool is attending the University of Washington in Seattle; he graduated with degrees in mechanical engineering and forestry

Apr 24, 1930: Federal Census for Temple, Lewis Co., Washington:
Name: Arlene Rossborough (Rosborough)
Birth Year: abt 1915
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 15
Birthplace: Oregon
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1930: Temple, Lewis, Washington, USA
Map of Home: Temple, Lewis, Washington
House Number: 26thy
Dwelling Number: 150
Family Number: 150
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: Canada
Mother’s Birthplace: Texas
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Thomas H Rossborough: Age 49, Head
Mamie Rossborough: Age 43, Wife
Mildred Rossborough: Age 17, Daughter
Arlene Rossborough: Age 15, Daughter
Willard Rossborough: Age 11, Son

1933: Rosborough siblings, Mildred, Willard, and Arlene:

1934: Rosborough Family: Arlene and Mildred, Herb, Mamie, Willard:

1935: Rosborough siblings Arlene, Willard, and Mildred, Morton, Lewis Co., Washington:

Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough:

1938: Willard, Mildred, Arlene, and Arlene’s future husband Jack Norkool:

Apr 26, 1940: Federal Census for Temple, Lewis Co., Washington:
Name: Arlene A Rossborough (Rosborough)
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1915
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Oregon
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1940: Temple, Lewis, Washington
Map of Home in 1940: Temple, Lewis, Washington
Street: Linberg Way
Inferred Residence in 1935: Temple, Lewis, Washington
Residence in 1935: Temple
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 4A
Occupation: Postal Clerk
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 1st to 4th year
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 50
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Age Relationship
Mamie A Rossborough: Age 53, Head
Arlene A Rossborough: age 25, Daughter
Bonnie L Chambers: Age 8, Grand Niece

Oct 16, 1940: WWII Draft Card:
Name: Jack Eugene Norkool
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 30
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 9 Sep 1910
Birth Place: Kent, Washington
Residence Place: Morton, Lewis, Washington, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Washington, USA
Employer: Peterman Manufacturing Co
Weight: 180
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 6
Next of Kin: Mrs. Charles Norkool
Household Members: Name Relationship
Jack Eugene Norkool: Self (Head)
Mrs. Charles Norkool: Mother

Nov 15, 1940: Marriage Record Application, Mason, Washington:
Name: Arlene Rosborough
Gender: Female
Application Age: 26
Birth Date: abt 1914
Birth Place: Baker, Oregon, USA
Application Date: 15 Nov 1940
Application Place: Mason, Washington, USA
Spouse: Jack Norkool

Name: Jack Norkool
Gender: Male
Application Age: 30
Birth Date: abt 1910
Birth Place: Kent, Washington, USA
Application Date: 15 Nov 1940
Application Place: Mason, Washington, USA
Spouse: Arlene Rosborough

Nov 20, 1940: Marriage of Ada Arlene “Arlene” Rosborough & Jack Eugene Norkool in Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington:

As I Was Told:
Jack Norkool was born September 9, 1910 in Kent WA. He was the sixth of seven children. Both his father and mother were Finnish immigrants who homesteaded in the Suise Creek area outside of Kent, which was approximately 99% Finns. They developed a large dairy and poultry farm.

After high school, Jack went to the University of Washington in Seattle and graduated with degrees in mechanical engineering and forestry. His first job after graduation was in Morton, Washington where he met Arlene Rosborough, who was working at the local post office after graduating from Morton High School.

Jack and Arlene were married on November 20, 1940. On December 7, 1941, they were visiting his parents at their farm when the announcement of the Pearl Harbor attack came over the radio. She knew at that moment Jack would be enlisting in the military. After Jack graduated from the Navy officer school, he was stationed in San Francisco and was waiting for orders to ship out. Arlene was pregnant with their first child and took a train from Olympia, Washington to the base where her husband was stationed to see him and to give birth to the baby. She stopped in Greenville, California on the way to visit her mom, dad, and brother, Willard. Her father, Herb, was gold mining there. The baby came ahead of schedule and Arlene’s mom, Mamie, had to go down to the local tavern to get the town doctor for the delivery. (The fact I was delivered by a drunk doctor might explain a few things.)
~ Tom Norkool, son of Jack & Arlene Norkool, Mar 2021

Aug 22, 1942: Letter from Willard Rosborough to his family regarding the birth of his sister Arlene Norkool’s newborn son, Tom:

Jan 1, 1943: U.S. Select Military Register:
Name: Jack E Norkool
Birth Date: Sep 1910
Military Date: 17 May 1942
Publication Date: 1 Jan 1943
Title: Commissioned Officers, Cadets, Midshipmen, and Warrant Officers of the United States Naval Reserve

1943: Arlene (Rosborough) Norkool in Miami, Florida:

Jun 30, 1944: WWII Navy Muster Roll:
Name: Jack Eugene Norkool
Ship, Station or Activity: LST 748
Ship Number or Designation: LST-748
Muster Date: 30 Jun 1944

circa 1945: back row: Jack & Arlene Norkool, Willard Rosborough, unkn woman; front: baby Pat Norkool, child Tom Norkool, Mildred Rosborough:

Circa 1945: Arlene (Rosborough) Norkool w/brother and cousins Ina (Chatfield) Fouch and Ina’s brother Gordon Chatfield in military uniform:

May 7, 1948: Death of Susanna Serafia “Sanna” (Raitto) Norkool (age 71), mother of Jack Norkool, in King Co., Washington. Sanna was the daughter of Kustaa(Gustaf) Matinpoika & Susanna Jaakontytar. Sanna immigrated from Finland on Dec 1, 1895. She is buried in Suise Creek Cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington.

Sep 9, 1953: Death of Karl Erland “Kalle” Norkool (age 76), father of Jack Norkool, in King Co., Washington. Kalle immigrated from Karijoki, Finland in 1893. He and Sanna were the parents of seven children and prosperous dairy and poultry farmers in Suise Creek, Kent Co., Washington.

Sep 1953: Burial of Kalle Norkool alongside his wife Sanna in the Suise Creek Cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington:

Suise Creek Cemetery, also known as Soos Creek Cemetery, is a small pioneer cemetery of some of the first settlers of this area. Only the descendants and spouses of those already buried here are allowed to be interred here. Norkool interments include Kalle & Sanna, all of their seven children and spouses.

Norkool, Ada Arlene, b. 1914, d. 2012 (wife of Jack E. Norkool)
Norkool, Carl G, b. 1908, d. 1980 (Son of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)
Norkool, Diane Marie, b. 1942, d. 1995 (Daughter of Carl and Rosella Norkool)
Norkool, Jack E, b. 1910, d. 1968 (Son of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)
Norkool, Kalle, b. 1876, d. 1953, h/o Sanna (Father)
Norkool, Rosella A, b. 1914, d. 1971 (Wife of Carl G.E. Norkool)
Norkool, Sanna S, b. 1877, d. 1948 w/o Kalle (Mother)
Norkool, Vieno, b. 1903, d. 1911 (Daughter of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)
Carlson Dave, b. 1893, d. 1956 (Husband of sisters, Jenny and Mildred Norkool)
Carlson (Norkool), Ina A, b. 1901, d. 1992 (Daughter of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)
Carlson (Norkool), Jenny Irene, b. 1899, d. 1952 (Daughter of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)
Holma (Norkool), Mildred E, b. 1907, d. 1994 (Daughter of Kalle and Sanna Norkool)

Thanksgiving 1956: Rosborough family, taken in Baker, Oregon:

Mamie & Herb Rosborough in back, children Mildred, Arlene, and Willard in front

Thanksgiving 1956: Rosborough family, after dinner:

Jun 1959: Rosborough family: Willard, Herb, Jack Norkool, Mamie, Arlene, Mildred, Kay Norkool in front:

Aug 8, 1960: Photo back row: Arlene (Rosborough) Norkool, Mamie Rosborough, Joan Rosborough (Willard’s wife); front row: cousin Thelma Whitaker, Mildred (Rosborough) Barrick:

Feb 2, 1962: Death of Thomas Herbert “Herb ” Rosborough (age 81), father of Arlene, in Boise, Ada Co., Idaho; of a heart attack. Herb is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon.

Mar 13, 1962: Hoquiam, Grays Harbor Co., Washington:

Nov 5, 1968: Death of Jack Eugene Norkool (age 58), husband of Arlene (Rosborough) Norkool and the 6th of 7 children of Karl/Charles Erland “Kalle” Norkool & Susanna Serafia “Sanna” Raitto, in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor Co., Washington; of a heart attack

Nov 5, 1968: Washinton State Death Index:
Name: Jack E Norkool
Gender: Male
Residence Place: Hoquiam, Washington, USA
Death Date: 5 Nov 1968
Death Place: Aberdeen, Washington
Certificate Number: 025365

Jack Eugene Norkool is buried along with his parents and siblings in the Suise Creek Cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington:

As I Was Told:
Jack served in both the Mediterranean and Pacific fronts, becoming Captain of an LST. During this time Arlene shared a rental house in Olympia with her sister Mildred and became a Rosie the Riveter at a local airplane manufacturer that was building bombers for the war effort.

Jack and Arlene had two more children. Daughter Pat was born in 1947 and daughter Kay in 1951. Both Jack and Arlene were active in the community. Arlene was very active in her church and served as den mother for her son Tom’s Cub Scout troop. Jack served as a city councilman for several years and was on the County Planning Commission. He was also chairman for March of Dimes and also donated his time and surveying skills to plan a man-made lake for the Girl Scouts for their new camp north of town. He also devoted time every year to a local charity, the Sunshine Kids, to help out needy families at Christmas time.

After their youngest child started school, Arlene went to work at a locally-owned children’s clothing store. She loved her job. She also remained active in her church and she and several of her friends worked at the weekly church bingo game, held on Sunday evenings.

Jack also loved his job and chief logging engineer at Rayonier and working in the woods. It was devastating for the entire family when he died unexpectedly in 1968 of a heart attack while working on a logging project north of Lake Quinault.
~ Tom Norkool, son of Jack & Arlene Norkool, Mar 2021

May 28, 1978: Death of Mildred Emily (Rosborough) Barrick (age 58), sister of Arlene and the 1st of 3 children of Mamie Chamberlin & Herb Rosborough, in Aberdeen, Thurston Co., Washington. Mildred was killed in an auto accident on the way to visit her mother who was bedridden in a nursing home. She is buried in Mills and Mills Memorial Park, Tumwater, Thurston Co., Washington.

May 17, 1980: Death of Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin (age 93), mother of Arlene, in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co., Washington; of old age. Mamie is buried in Mills and Mills Cemetery in Tumwater, Thruston Co., Washington.

Note from Pat Norkool, granddaughter of Mamie & Herb Rosborough:
My Grandmother Mamie was frugal, my grandfather, Herb, a peripatetic worker. He had jobs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California working variously as a sheepherder, a gold miner, a farmer, a logger, a 20 mule team driver, etc. Gram was always packing up the family to move. She learned to cut corners wherever possible. Mom (Arlene [Rosborough] Norkool) and Aunt Mildred eventually ended up being in the same grades in high school and took a home economics class at the same time. One project was to make an apron, so brought home the pattern and instructions for how much material to buy. Their mother, who sewed all their clothes, told them they needed only half as much. When the girls reported this to the teacher, she was skeptical, so Mamie came to class and showed her how to lay out the pattern on half the material originally requested. When she was done the teacher turned to Mom and Mildred and told them they didn’t need to take her class as their mother already knew more than she ever would. ~Pat Norkool

1985: Arlene (Rosborough) Norkool and her cousin Ina (Chatfield) Fouch, Hoquiam, Washington:

Nov 28, 2004: Death of Willard James “Will” Rosborough (age 85), brother of Arlene and the 3rd of 3 children of Thomas Herbert “Herb” Rosborough & Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin in Portland, Multnomah, Co., Oregon; of Alzheimer’s disease. Willard is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.

Willard Rosborough and his sister Arlene Norkool:

Jul 11, 2012: Death of Ada Arlene “Arlene” (Rosborough) Norkool (age 97), the 2nd of 3 children of Thomas Herbert “Herb” Rosborough & Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin in Shoreline, King. Co., Washington, a few days short of her 98th birthday; she was ready to go and had just been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Ada “Arlene” Norkool is buried with her husband Jack in Suise Creek Cemetery, a small old Finnish immigrant cemetery in Kent, King Co., Washington:

Jul 11, 2012: Death Index for Washington State:
Name: Ada A Norkool
Gender: Female
Age: 97
Birth Year: abt 1915
Residence Place: King, Washington, USA
Death Date: 11 Jul 2012
Death Place: King, Washington

Jul 14, 2012: The Daily World, Hoquiam, Grays Harbor Co., Washington (pg 2):
DEATHS
Ada A. Norkool
SHORELINE — Former Harborite Ada Arlene Norkool of Shoreline died Wednesday, July 11, 1012, in Shoreline. She was 97. She lived in Hoquiam from 1947 until the mid-1980s and had worked at Witamaki Jewelry Store. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Church. The family suggests donations to Lazarus Day Center.

As I Was Told:
A couple of years after her husband passed away and none of the children were living with her, Arlene decided that the large house in which she and Jack raised their family was too much work for her. A woman with a young family who she knew through church had told Arlene that if she ever decided to sell her house, she and her husband would like the opportunity to purchase it. Arlene sold her house to them and moved into an apartment. It was a difficult decision for her as she had lived there a long time and had so many friends in the neighborhood. Arlene went to work for a long-established family-owned jewelry store in the neighboring town of Aberdeen. They were wonderful people and they became like a second family to her. Her mother, Mamie, was living in a nearby senior’s apartment and eventually moved in with Arlene as her physical condition had deteriorated.

Mamie was not hesitant to speak what was on her mind. After her daughter Arlene could no longer care for her, Mamie went to a nursing home that occupied a section of a hospital not far from where Arlene worked. She’d stop by every morning to see her mom and get a report from the night nurse, who adored Mamie. Mamie’s condition deteriorated to the point that she rarely was able to speak. One morning, when Arlene made her daily visit to the hospital, she was excitedly greeted by the night nurse who proclaimed, “Your mom spoke last night!” Arlene asked what she had said. “Well,” continued the nurse, “I decided to get her up and into a wheelchair and take her for a little walk. I’ve put on some weight and was struggling to get her into the chair. As I was grunting and groaning, she looked up at me and said, “Wouldn’t be so hard if you weren’t so darn fat.

After Mamie passed away, Arlene decided to move closer to her children and purchased a condo in Kirkland WA, where she became very involved in the local Catholic Church. She resided there for several years until she blacked out behind the wheel of her car when returning home from church. Despite crossing through two lanes of oncoming traffic and ending up in a vacant field of blackberry bushes, she was not injured. Since she had to climb three flights of stairs to get to her condo, Arlene’s children feared for her safety. She reluctantly moved a couple of miles down the road to a senior’s apartment complex. Eventually, she needed more care and ended up in an adult family home in Shoreline WA near her oldest daughter, who was able to stop by to see her nearly every night on her way home from work. She died peacefully in her sleep two weeks short of her 98^th birthday.
~ Tom Norkool, son of Jack & Arlene Norkool, Mar 2021

Note: The cemetery and headstones pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.

2021. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.