Elmer and Joan Lindseth

Like so many good friends of the college, Elmer and Joan Lindseth were introduced to South by our former president Jerry Brockey. President Brockey’s enthusiasm for the community college mission was deep and vast, and dozens of Seattle’s leaders were drawn in by his infectious commitment.

Elmer and Joan are also quick to point our that they didn’t need much persuasion – they had always been passionate about education. As Elmer puts it, “I see college education as the key to good jobs. We have to provide ways for our young people to find family-wage careers. Education will create those opportunities in manufacturing, service and high-tech sectors.”

He also is concerned about America’s position in the international marketplace. “China and India are becoming global leaders in manufacturing and technology. We have to invest in education if we want to stay competitive and for there to be good jobs for our children and grandchildren. Community colleges are an important part of the answer.”

Trained as a mechanical engineer at the University of Washington, after graduation Elmer went to work at one of Bethlehem Steel’s two mills here in West Seattle. He stayed there his entire career, eventually advancing to become the executive manager of the facility.

Elmer emphasizes that education completely changed his life. He and his parents were immigrants from Norway. He would not have had opportunity if it had not been for the GI Bill paying his way to college. He believes that the GI Bill may have been one of the greatest expressions of the American spirit; it opened up education to so many people. For Elmer, the bill resulted in a good income and job. But more importantly, it gave him a way to see and think about the things around him. His education provided a way to understand, analyze and appreciate life and events in an intelligent way.

Joan grew up in Oregon and got her first job working for Northern Life Insurance in Portland. She later transferred to the company’s Seattle office. A friend who worked at Bethlehem introduced her to Elmer, and they married in six months. Joan continued her career for four years after Elmer retired; eventually she became manager of the Northern Life’s Seattle operations.

Joan tells us she was influenced by her mother, who was a school teacher and a great promoter of education. Like Elmer and her mother, Joan also believes that education is the most important preparation for life. It enables you to do great things and to influence people.

Elmer and Joan give generously to the South Seattle Community College Foundation. They have established two scholarship endowments that will provide opportunities in perpetuity for deserving students to receive college educations. More recently they established a charitable gift annuity that offers them a secure lifetime income; the funds remaining after their lifetime will support the Foundation’s work on behalf of students.