Jarl Kenneth Secher-Jensen passed away from us in Arlington, WA on April, 4, 2010. Jarl was born in Seattle, May 25, 1930 to Danish immigrants Kai Karl Soren Secher-Jensen and Ida Mathilda Jensen. He graduated from Kent-Meridian High School. He attended the Univ. of Oregon and the Univ. of Washington and received a B.A. from Central Washington University in P.E. and Biology and also played 4 years of varsity football there. Jarl received a M.ED from the University of Puget Sound in Counseling and Guidance. Jarl also received 2 N.D.E.A. grants for the study of Counseling and the Maladjusted Child and attended the International Conference of Applied Psychology in Liege, Belgium. Jarl taught in grades K-12 in the Puget Sound area, in the Malaga School District, and many years in the Bethel School District in Spanaway.

Jarl led an exciting, magical and almost charmed life! He was a true adventurer and avid mountain climber and planted the Pacific Lutheran University flag on the summit of Mt. McKinley (Denali) the highest peak in North America. He climbed the Matterhorn solo in his 60’s. Jarl participated in many marathons and triathlons, including an International Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Russia, Canada’s “Iron Man” and Hawaii’s “Iron Man”. He walked beyond the magnetic North Pole on Ellsmere Island as far as possible to the North Pole. After retiring from teaching, Jarl rode his bike alone across the U.S.A. from Parkland, Washington to Boston, Mass. He also took his bike to New Zealand for more adventures. Jarl was a Recreation Director in the U.S. Army at Camp Roberts, California. He was a professional ski instructor and also a ski patrolman at Sun Valley, Idaho. He was also employed by the Seattle Parks Department, King County Parks and Washington State Parks. He was a volunteer crewman on Sound Experience’s schooner “The Adventuress.” Jarl had a wide range of experiences in Alaska as a commercial fisherman out of Ketchikan and also on a gold dredge with the Fairbanks Exploration Co., a gold miner, and played semi-pro baseball in the “Midnight Sun League”. Also Jarl enjoyed his snow shoes, skiis, bikes, sailboard, kayak, bike racing, endurance swimming and ski mountaineering.

Memberships included the Tacoma Mountaineers, Ft. Steilacoom Running Club, Habitat For Humanity, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State Historical Society and Museum, Scandinavian Cultural Center at Pacific Lutheran University, Alumni Assoc. of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, and the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneers in Arlington.

Jarl is survived by his wife Dee (Speed Cutler) Secher-Jensen of Arlington, his step-sons: Patrick Cutler and wife Adieau and Danny Cutler and former wife Nancy, of Wenatchee. His step-grandchildren are: Amber F. Hamilton, Jaymi, Brian and Darby Cutler and Shannon Munden. His step-great grandchildren are: Megan, Ryan and Alex; Toni and Tad; Faith Leigh and Gage; Nathaniel; Austine, April, Adam and Andrew. He is survived by his brother Urban Secher-Jensen and family; his cousin Warner Erickson and family; and the family of his deceased cousin Norman Erickson.

Also by his Jensen and Secher-Jensen cousins, and their families in Denmark and Australia.

Special People are Ryan Hamilton of Marysville; Rick, Shirley, Robbie and Karla Troppman of Mukilteo;

Jean Roth of Seattle; Phil and Melinda Dietlein of Puyallup, Br. Theodore Vavrek O.S.B. of St. Martin’s Abbey at Lacey, Michael Vavrek of Tacoma and Dee’s many relatives … the Speeds and the Weirs!!!!

We remember fondly our friends in Wenatchee, Parkland and Lakewood, and his many climbing buddies all over the country. We have appreciated the wonderful people of Arlington and the many kind people who cared for Jarl in his illness … especially Regency Care Center at Arlington and Suzanne of Evergreen Hospice, and thank them all so very much.

At his request, no public service will be held. Jarl will be laid to rest at the Waterville Fraternity Cemetery in Eastern Washington, in Dee’s pioneer family plot. Weller Funeral Home, 327 North McLeod Ave, Arlington, WA. 98223-1323 is in charge of arrangements.

Donations in Jarl’s memory can be made to the:

Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum

20722 67th Ave. NE

Arlington, WA 98223

Our Lord is merciful and our Lord is kind. The God who knows each one by name has called Jarl. Let us remember that his name is written in the stars. Jarl has now found that exit to safety as he did when injured on a climb in the Picket Range of the North Cascades National Park. As is written in that guide book …” safely out by a wide and splendid ramp” … Jarl Secher-Jensen has now found this wide and splendid ramp … and has run on ahead to meet us in galilee.