Obituary: Colgren, Monte Lee

COLGREN, Monte Lee

Monte passed peacefully at Holy Family Hospital, Jan. 13th, 2016, at the age of 88 years.

He was born to Mauritz and Marie Louise (Walden) Colgren at Cascade Tunnel on top of Stevens Pass in WA State Dec. 10, 1928.

The snow was as high as the eves on the house and it took two days for a doctor to reach them, therefore he missed the actual birth.

His father was the signal maintainer for the Great Northern Railroad.

He was raised in Spokane and attended Edison Grade School, Libby Jr. High and then graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1947.

Monte went on to study music and art at a few colleges.

Monte was a gifted ceramic artist and received a BA in ceramic art from the UW; and a MA from Mills College in crafts and a BA in education from EWC.

After the draft and serving in the Army, Monte went on to be an instructor in the arts and music at the jr. high and college level, for many years.

He then pursued a career in Urban Planner, which took him all over the country and exposed him to the world of antiques.

He was able to turn this love of antiques into a new career, when he opened a shop in Seattle, with his partner Ralph Rosen.

They later opened shops in Palm Springs, San Francisco and finally Spokane.

After retirement, Monte participated in the Arts Department at Spokane Falls Community College.

Many of his ceramic Art works were exhibited around the Northwest.

Preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Sandrea (Mielke) Colgren.

Survived by his three brothers, Arthur Lew (Estella) Colgren, Fountain Valley, CA, Gary Colgren, Burien, WA, John (Suzanne) Colgren, Prosser, WA.

Also by his nieces, Jo Lorraine (George) Johnson, Vicki (Michael) Short, Ruth (Wayne) Norman, Andrea (Rick) Humphrey and nephews Karl Colgren and Richard (Neil Justice) Colgren.

A Memorial Service will take place at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Medical Lake, WA on April 1st, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Directions to Cemetery: Take Exit 272 from 1-90 (traveling east or west on freeway).

Once on the west side of 1-90 take this road (6.5 miles) straight through Medical Lake, turning left onto San Salvador St. (West Espanola Rd.).

Travel 0.7 miles to 21702 West Espanola and the Washington State Veterans Cemetery will be on the right.

Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes early as the ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m.