Arthur Sophus Vik

1915 – 2015

Art was born September 8, 1915 on Puget Island to Johannes and Anna B. Brandal Vik.

He grew up and attended grade school on Puget Island and graduated from Wahkiakum high school in 1934. He liked to say, “I always got A's in deportment.”

Art had a great memory and a wealth of knowledge about Puget Island in the first half of the 20th century. Though born in America, he learned the Norwegian language as a child and liked to speak in Norwegian with family and friends. Wherever he went he loved meeting new people and sharing stories.

Art married Margaret Auestad in 1941 and they made their home on Puget Island. She preceded him in death in 1980. In 1982, he and Marian Healy were married. She preceded him in death in 2010.

He made his living both as a commercial fisherman and dairy farmer, but his greatest love was fishing. Starting in 1935, he fished on the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and also Cordova and Cook Inlet in Alaska. He skippered fishing boats up the coast to Alaska. As a carpenter, Art worked planking barges at the government moorings in Portland. Art built his own houses and boats. He helped with the construction of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

Art was active as a Puget Island Diking Commissioner for 25 years, a director of the SW Washington Milk Producers Association, and a member of the Columbia River Protective Fisherman's Union. A member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Art was in it's first Confirmation Class.

Preceding Arthur in death were his wives Margaret and Marian, parents Johannes and Anna Vik, brothers Peter, Britanus, and Jesse Vik, sisters Theresa Carlson and Jakobina Shold, and grandson David Vik. He is survived by his children: Philip Vik (Ivy Lou) and Lizabeth Whitney (David) of Puget Island; Marvin Vik (Petra) of Valderoy Norway; stepson Gene Healy (Karen) of Puget Island and stepdaughter Donna Palmer (Glenn) of Longview and three generations of grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In his retirement years, Art enjoyed hosting pie socials and fish barbecues for friends and family, operating his sawmill, sport fishing, Bible studies, cruises with Marian to Alaska and through the Panama Canal, and various trips to Norway where he visited many relatives.

Arthur Vik passed away at home with family by his side on December 18, 2015. He was 100 years old.

There will be a memorial service at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on December 26, 2015 at noon.

Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.