Susan Elizabeth Thomsen

Susan E. Thomsen, 64, of Olympia, Washington passed away quietly following a year-long resistance to cancer. She was born to Darlene and William Thomsen of Tucson, Arizona in 1950 and spent her early years there, then moved with her mother, younger brother Bill and stepfather to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1965 where she completed high school, worked in banking, and did a little local theatre (Fish Pirate’s Daughter). She earned college credits and transferred to complete a Bachelor degree followed by a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga School of Law in Spokane, Washington in 1980. She and her daughter Jennifer returned to Ketchikan, where Susan had a colorful career as law clerk for Superior and Districts courts for several years then as a magistrate judge, coroner, and public guardian / administrator for 23 years. She moved back to Spokane in 1996 then took a position as an Assistant Attorney General in Olympia, Washington, completing her career with 5 years at the Washington State Liquor Control Board in 2014, then writing stories about her Ketchikan career in in a memoir for her granddaughters. During her career, she discovered the joy of teaching, so she obtained a Master of Arts in teaching. She taught legal procedure at the annual state trooper academy in Sitka, Alaska for years, and then taught business law at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. She particularly enjoyed the surprise and discovery as her students grasped the legal foundations for privacy law and gained financial literacy which inspired them to give her great reviews. She loved beauty, created a sanctuary home, enjoyed tea parties with her granddaughters, Jennifer’s accomplishments, cooked gourmet food (she never owned a microwave), a nice wine with cheese and friends, reading and classic movies, her cats and knitting items for friends and the homeless. Susan is survived by her mother, her daughter Jennifer and granddaughters, Reese and Norah of Seattle, and many friends from her years in Alaska and Washington who will miss her wise and wry humor. She did it her way. The family requests no flowers. Donations in her name can be made to Wolf Haven, Olympia, WA. To make a donation, click here. Please leave memories of Susan or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.