Valborg T. Aakre, 81, passed away at the Tacoma Lutheran Home on April 15, 2007, after a long and debilitating illness. Volly and her identical twin Borghild were born Jan. 26, 1926, in Patterson, Calif., to Rev. Albert and Beatha (Haugen) Towe.

During her childhood Volly grew up on the West Coast while her father served as a Lutheran pastor at different churches in Patterson, Calif.; Raymond/South Bend, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and San Diego. In addition to her twin sister, Volly had an older sister Ruth and two younger brothers, Arne and Phil. All three sisters said they would never marry pastors and all three eventually did.

Volly married Army Private Vernon Rustad on Dec. 26, 1944, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, San Diego. Her twin sister was maid of honor and her father, Rev. Towe, performed the ceremony. Sadly, Vernon was killed in action in Germany on April 18, 1945, just 20 days before VE Day.

Volly later enrolled at Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma where she soon met Arne Aakre. It was her second connection with the Aakre family as Arne’s brother, Odven, had attended her father’s church in San Diego and was Vernon Rustad’s roommate. Volly and Arne dated in college and were married on June 13, 1947, at Swan’s Trail Lutheran Church, Everett, by Volly’s father, Rev. Towe. Volly’s sister Ruth was maid of honor; Arne’s brother, Odven was best man.

Volly and Arne welcomed son, John in December 1948. After Arne graduated from PLC in 1949, the family headed to St. Paul, Minn., where Arne worked his way through Luther Seminary as a carpenter (an appropriate trade for a future pastor). Son, David was born in 1952.

Following Arne’s graduation from Luther Seminary, the family returned to the Pacific Northwest where Arne served as pastor at Highland Lutheran Church, LaCenter. In January 1954 Arne and Volly moved their family to Oak Harbor where Arne served as pastor at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church for the rest of his ministry. Volly and Arne eventually purchased the parsonage and retired in Oak Harbor.

After Arne passed away in April 1995, Volly lived at Country Manor Adult Family Home in Oak Harbor until August 2002 when she moved to the Tacoma Lutheran Home in Tacoma. Volly’s family is eternally grateful to Angela at Country Manor and the dedicated staff at TLH for caring for her these many years.

Volly is survived by her son John (Cindy) Aakre of Olympia, and children Lindsey and Chris Aakre; son David (Maurene) Aakre of Coos Bay, Ore., and children Kallie, Brett and Koral Aakre; sister Ruth Johnson of Gresham, Ore.; sister-in-law Ada Haug and niece Marilyn Haug of Everett; brother-in-law Odven Aakre of Naples, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, twin sister Borghild (Joe) Olberg, and brothers Arne and Phil Towe.

A memorial service will be held at the Tacoma Lutheran Home Chapel on Sunday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tacoma Lutheran Home, 1301 N. Highlands Pkwy, Tacoma, WA 98406. Arrangements by Funeral Alternatives of Washington.