From Parlor to Pantry

This is a book about the Benson/Bakke families of Jerry and Sharon Benson and their Norwegian ancestors that immigrated to Northwest Washington in the US. There are stories about these families, their own family, B&B stories, Benson travels and home life along with Sharon's recipes, many pictures and two maps.

From Parlor to Pantry is a book of family stories by Jerry and Sharon Benson, grandchildren of Norwegian immigrants to Northwest Washington. The stories start with their Norwegian ancestors in Norway and continue to include stories of their own lives growing up, their family of four sons and 6 grandchildren, their Benson Farmstead B&B--restoration and tales of happenings, their Country Kids Preschool, their travels and tales of people who helped them. The book also includes many family pictures and some of Sharon's recipes as well as two maps. It is written for a family history for their sons and grandchildren.

Jerry and Sharon are grandchildren of Norwegian immigrants to Northwest Washington. Jerry was a crop farmer and Sharon was a school teacher of a private preschool before retirement. For nearly 20 years they operated Benson Farmstead Bed and Breakfast at their restored 1914 farmstead. Sharon served a full breakfast and evening desserts and Jerry entertained guests with stories of their Norwegian families and B&B stories. The guests encouraged them to write a book about their family and include some of Jerry's stories and Sharon's recipes. They raised four sons so many of the stories are about their family life and friends in Skagit County. There are also stories about people who were a help to them and about their travels over the years. They no longer run the B&B or the preschool or farm but they wrote these memories for their children and grandchildren so that they would have a record of where their families originated, the restoration of their family home and the life they lived together from 1965 to 2022. They included many pictures and two maps along with the stories and recipes. Mickey Bambrick was a great help in doing the editing.