Agnes B. Allington, Died February 17, 2019

Agnes B. Allington

Died Feb. 17, 2019

LELAND - Agnes Bernice Allington, 94, of Leland went home to her Lord and Savior Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019 at Northport Highlands surrounded by her loving sons.

Agnes was born Oct. 30, 1924 in the parsonage of First Lutheran Church in Suttons Bay, where the pastor’s wife Mrs. Guldberg was a midwife.  She was the daughter of Pedar C. Forseth and Marie (Blacken) Forseth.  On Sep. 6, 1947 at the same church she married Leroy Albert Allington, who preceded her in death on March 31, 2003.

Agnes’s early life was forever changed by the sudden death of her mother in 1928.  Her father reluctantly agreed to allow her two younger sisters Ella (Joan) and Ruth to be adopted by families Rev. Guldberg approached in the Norwegian community.  Agnes and her older sister Anna stayed on the family farm north of Suttons Bay with their mother’s sister Christine, and maintained contact with their father.

Agnes graduated from Suttons Bay School in 1942 and began work as a teller at the Suttons Bay Bank.  She enjoyed relating her interesting experiences and accomplishments in helping bank customers with their needs.  Through her helpfulness at the bank she formed life-long friendships throughout the county.

After their marriage in 1947, Agnes and Lee purchased the farm near her birthplace as a place to raise their children.  They began planting cherry trees their first spring on the farm.  In June of 1953, she and Lee moved to Grand Rapids for better paying work.  This brought her back into closer communication with her sister Anna, who had also moved to the Grand Rapids area.  The two sisters were able to reestablish contact with their sisters Joan and Ruth then, and they all cherished their family ties the rest of their lives.

Agnes and Lee returned to Suttons Bay in 1958 to establish their own tool and die business, Alka Tool and Die.  Agnes worked in the office and helped to manage the orchards.  They also renewed their membership in the First Lutheran congregation.  She was a member of the Ladies’ Aid, which was active in fundraising for the church and in service to the community. 

As sexton of the Lutheran Cemetery, Agnes worked with Martin Martinson to organize written burial records.  As the treasurer she established a budget, a perpetual care fund, and also helped to create a governing board for the Lutheran Cemetery Association.  She held the positions of treasurer and sexton for twenty-nine years, and her records are still providing information for Lutheran families.

Her volunteerism extended beyond her church.  She participated in fundraising efforts for Northwestern Michigan College, and went door to door to raise support for Leelanau Memorial Hospital.

In 1965 Lee and Agnes acquired their home on Lake Leelanau and moved there full time in 1972.  Agnes retired from Alka Tool and Die in 1980 but continued to be active with the orchards.  After Lee’s retirement in 1985, they enjoyed spending winters in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She took great pride in maintaining their various properties, remodeling and decorating her homes, and mowing the lawn at their home on Lake Leelanau.  She continued to live at the lake until declining health necessitated a move to Northport Highlands.

Agnes is survived by her three sons: Albert (Donna) Allington, Donald (Diane) Allington, Stanley (Susan) Allington; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Janice), Trine, Nathan (Kristina), Adam (Ginger), Lindsay, Jessica and Sarah (Byron); seven great grandchildren; Sierra, Hannah, Alexander, Lucille Agnes, Owen, Robin and Leroy; two step great grandchildren Nathan and Meghan, a step great great granddaughter Haley and many loving nieces and nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters Anna (Albert) Porritt, Joan Nelson, and Ruth Sogge; and a sister in law Helen (John) Buckles.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 with the family greeting friends at 1 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay.  Private family burial in Leelanau Township Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, PO Box 189, Suttons Bay, MI 49682

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