Oray Verona Mikkelsen

Oray Verona Mikkelsen, age 93, of Burlington, passed away comfortably at home on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.

Oray was born March 23, 1923 to Benny and Ella (Austad) Hanson, near Thief River Falls, MN. She married LeRoy Lawrence Mikkelsen on September 6, 1944, and they lived in St. Paul, until moving to southern California in 1956. Oray then moved to Burlington in 1994.

Oray enjoyed the social interaction of working in retail sales throughout the years. She finally retired at the age of 86 from Sears Burlington, where she was a valuable sales associate in the bed and bath department. She enjoyed keeping everything tidy, which was apparent by her always dapper appearance! Her positive spirit was a joy to be around, and her service and attention to detail was appreciated. Her hobbies included reading, watching "Dancing with the Stars", and playing bingo with her friends at the Burlington Senior Citizen Center and Creekside Continuing Care Community. She especially enjoyed spending time with all of her family, whenever possible.

Oray is survived by her six children, Roger (Gayle), Ronald (Lorrie), Gregory (Pam), and Diane (Jim) Mikkelsen, James (Cheryl) Sletten, and Cynthia Galvan; 21 grandchildren, 26
great-grandchildren; and sister, Hulda Sigerud.

Oray was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Mikkelsen (1987); her beloved companion, Jack Hammond (2009); her parents; brothers Alvin and Orbin Hanson; and her sister Blanche Bolstad.

There will be a family gathering in the spring of 2017 for a Celebration of Life Ceremony. At which time Oray's remains will be buried along side of her husband at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park, located in Riverside, CA.