Arlington church thanks teacher for 20-plus years of care

ARLINGTON — Cheryl Lovgreen taught generations of Arlington children to have good manners, to be good students and to follow the Lord’s teachings.

On May 19, the congregation at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington gathered after the Sunday service to thank “Ms. Cheryl” for her 20-plus years as a preschool teacher.

Lovgreen is known for her patience, her way with children and for making learning fun — and for her fancy tea parties, said the church leaders, parents, grandparents and former students who came to wish her well.

Lovgreen, 64, grew up in the church, she said. She lives in the Arlington area with her husband, Marvin. They were high-school sweethearts and graduated together from Arlington High School in 1967.

She started working as a preschool teacher more than 20 years ago after Marvin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She’d stayed home to raise their four children. He couldn’t work anymore. She figured it was her turn.

Lovgreen was great at organizing “fun little trips,” said Ernie Chamberlin, a former student who’s now a sophomore at Arlington High School. She took his class to places such as Cascade Valley Hospital and the Arlington Pizza Factory to learn about careers, he said.

“I just remember her being a very upbeat person, just very positive about everything,” he said. “She always tried to make it the best for all of her students.”

Fifth-grader Hannah Ewing remembers Lovgreen’s birthday celebrations for her students. Each kid could bring in treats. On Hannah’s birthday one year, she got to wear a little crown.

“It was paper, and it was sparkly,” she said.

Lovgreen’s classes also celebrated themed days where kids could dress accordingly, like a Western wear day, said Hannah’s mother, Heidi Ewing.

Once, they had a “beach party” where Lovgreen turned up the room’s thermometer and all the kids wore their swimsuits and slid down a slide.

Lisa Willis’ youngest son Jake Willis, 6, graduated from Lovgreen’s class last year.

“She’s just really good with the kids, very patient, loving,” Willis said. “They learn a lot of things, and they learn to become good little independent students.”

As an employee, Lovgreen always was punctual and prepared, the Rev. Scott Summers said. She was a “calming presence” for the school’s families, no matter what else was happening in their lives, he said.

Elaine Lilgreen has been a member of the church since the late 1950s. She’s known Lovgreen a long time.

“She’s wonderful. She has the patience of Job,” Lilgreen said. “She has stamina. She’s absolutely nice. She’s plain just a nice person, and she relates to children.”

Lovgreen never got frustrated, even when a child misbehaved, Lilgreen said. She always was dedicated to her family, too.

“She’s something God created that has all the abilities to work with children and to be a wonderful neighbor,” Lilgreen said.

Lovgreen loved meeting all the families over the years and connecting with them, she said. She always tried to teach the kids about Christianity in ways they could understand. She taught them to respect the environment and recycle, she said. She loved seeing them head off to kindergarten, or what she calls “the big school.”

In her classes, the kids would sing songs and act out skits inspired by scripture. They’d pray before they ate. They’d practice sign language.

“They’re just learning,” she said. “They’re learning so much, and they’re just on their way forward. It’s just a fun little age. They can just absorb so much. They’ve got character.”

After retiring, Lovgreen plans to spend more time with her husband and work on her to-do list. The couple might travel a little, too, but they’ll mostly “hunker down here at home and get things done and have fun,” she said.

“We have a little mini farm,” she said. “We have some critters here, love to garden, love to can. I’m not going to be bored.”

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

About Our Saviour’s

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington serves a congregation of about 250. The church at 615 E. Highland Drive is more than 120 years old and operates a daycare and preschool.

For more information, call 360-435-8921 or email office@arlingtonwachurch.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.