It was 1924 when Grace was born to Ole and Ingeborg Birkestol, who lived along the Stillaguamish River west of Silvana. Upon coming from Norway, Ole had developed a timber homestead near Quinault on the Olympic Peninsula. Now he had bought a farming homestead on Norman Road, where he and Ingeborg would have a dairy farm.

Grace and her older sister Annabelle grew up here on the dairy farm, attending schools in Norman and in Stanwood. Grace remembers trips on the train to Ballard where her mother's sisters lived. In those days they would ride the train to Seattle 3-4 times a year to shop at Frederick and Nelson for their seasonal school clothing. (Even their kitchen stove and refrigerator were purchased in Seattle—-at Frederick and Nelson's!) Grace remembers the train stopping near the Norman store to pick up and leave the mail. Grace and Annabelle loved those train trips to Seattle!

Their mother, after their father's untimely death, took over the running of their dairy farm. A favorite memory is that, due to her need to tend to the cows, they were unable for a time to attend worship services at Zion Lutheran Church in Silvana. So it was that while Ingeborg cared for the cows, Grace and Annabelle would dress up in their Sunday School clothes and when Mother was through with the cows, she would sit at the piano and the family would worship together—"do church".

After graduating from Stanwood Schools Grace and Annabelle enrolled in Pacific Lutheran Academy (now PLU) where they both became teachers. Grace taught first in Issaquah but spent most of her years teaching 2nd grade in the Edmonds School District until her retirement in the 70's. Grace and her sister also enjoyed some travel to Lutheran Woman's Conferences in various states and to the Holy Lands. A special trip took them to Norway to see the farm and meet the family living there.

Being of Norwegian decent, the Birkestol home was kept up beautifully and was admired by those passing by. Their big red barn was a landmark along Norman Road and was often pictured in newspapers as an example of fine barns. Their home was of great pride to Grace, who was diligent in keeping it well cared for.

Grace enjoyed studying and learning and was a member of the Sons of Norway. In 2012 both Grace and Annabelle moved into assisted living at Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood. They were known and admired throughout the community and are appreciated for their love of God and their kindness to all