In her home, surrounded with love and laughter, Lerie M. Bjornstedt, 98, passed away peacefully and with dignity at sunset, June 22, 2018. Born March 29, 1920 to Lillian and Floyd Wise in Hamlet, Nebraska, she moved with her family to Long Beach, California in 1936. She graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1938.
Lerie married the love of her life, Arthur M. Bjornstedt, June 20, 1940. They moved to Ojai in 1950 where they raised their two children and became an integral part of community life. Lerie was active in PTA, served as Welcome Wagon Hostess, and as a member of many organizations including The Business and Professional Women's Club, where she received the Business Woman of the Year award. She was a member of the Ojai Music Festival Women's Committee; served on the Board of Trustees for the Ojai Presbyterian Church as well as the Ojai Board of Realtors. Not just a member, she served as president for most of them as well as being on numerous committees. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader as well as den mother for Cub Scouts.
Lerie earned an AS degree from Ventura College with a major in Real Estate. After working with Essie Bates Realty for several years, she bought Ojai Realty in the middle of the Arcade, which she ran for over 40 years.
In 1987, Lerie was the first woman to be asked to join the Rotary Club of Ojai and served as the club's first woman president for the year 1994/95. She was awarded many honors including the Rotary International Four Avenues of Service Citation.
Her passions were community service, bridge, and traveling much of the world with Arthur. Their travels included China, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Christmas Island, Hawaii, various other islands that promised good fishing, Alaska and anywhere they could wet a line, especially at their favorite destination, the Baja Peninsula. It was there that Lerie caught a 54 lb. dorado, which at the time was a record for a woman angler.
Never ones to be idle, Lerie and Art took up sailing in their late 70s and owned a Triton 27, Little Chum, which they sailed on out of Ventura Harbor at least twice a week for 10 years, including a sail to Santa Cruz Island for an overnight stay. Their love of being on the water was further enhanced by bare boat chartering in the San Juan Islands of Washington and along the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.
There wasn't a game of bridge, local party, concert, or Rotary event she didn't do her best to attend, including memorial services, saying she was afraid if she didn't go to theirs, they might not come to hers!
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Arthur, her parents, Lilian and Floyd, her brother, John Wise, and sister Maxine Wise Richardson. She is survived by daughter Christina and husband Barry Betlock of Eagle, Idaho; and her son Erik and wife Terry aboard their sailboat, Mija, in Mexico as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their children, including her namesakes Ellen Lerie Jerome and Wialana Lerie Waite.
Family and friends are invited to Funeral Services to be held at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Donations in her honor may be made to the Educational Foundation of Ojai Rotary or the charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangement are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.