On Tuesday, March 5, 2019 our world lost a beautiful soul, Elizabeth Cora Wigen. At the age 93, Betty passed away peacefully at her adult family home in Kirkland, Washington surrounded by family, her caregivers, her Pastor and in the arms of her son. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many who were lucky to have known her.
Elizabeth “Betty” Wigen was born to Marion and Gracia Olmstead on their farm in Alderwood Manor, Washington on July, 5, 1925. Betty had 2 older siblings, her brother, Eugene and sister, Evelyn. Together they grew up in the small northern town of Deming, Washington along the Nooksack River surrounded by Mount Baker National Forest. After High School Betty enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Washington and graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing, studying at Harborview Hospital. She received her Nursing Certificate from the State of Washington April of 1949 and was a Registered Nurse thru July of 1994. The greater part of Betty’s professional career for 45 years was being a RN for the Seattle School District.
After graduating college Betty served in The United States Army for 6 years; 3 of which were served during the Korean War. Her tour took her through Hawaii, Japan and South Korea. Betty liked to compare her service in Korea to the T.V. show M.A.S.H. She served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She earned The Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and A United Nations Service Medal.
Betty returned to the States after serving her Country. She met her future husband Arvid Olander Wigen at Parkers Ballroom, a once popular and historic Dance Hall on Aurora Avenue. They were married November 26, 1957 at the University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington.
Arvid and Betty adopted two children. Thomas Lee Wigen born October 27,1964, and Jennifer Marie Wigen April 2, 1966. They grew up in the house that Arvid designed and built in 1962 for his beautiful bride in Kirkland. The Wigen’s were long time members at Kirkland Baptist Church, now Lakeside Christian Church. Betty served many roles helping serve coffee, setting up and decorating tables for events with her best friend Lorraine Trussell. She organized Birthday lunches and gatherings with her friends, singing old hymns and attending church almost every Sunday until she was physically unable. She loved deeply and fully, all of us. She was the kind sweet person who had more love and forgiveness and patience in her heart for all her family, friends and strangers who would stroll in to her life if it be off the street or on the phone. Betty touched many in her life with her humor, wit, cooking, and compassion through her Savior, Jesus Christ. She enjoyed yard sales, reading the paper, clipping out articles about everything, current events and historic buildings. She loved her family chain letters, anticipation of the yearly family Randal Reunions, Fourth of July picnics, walks at Juanita Beach, eating a meal at Wendy’s with her daughter and treating her grandkids to hugs, a hamburger or ice cream.
Betty lost her husband of 41 years of marriage to Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1998. She is preceded by death by her parents, brother, Eugene Olmstead and sister in law, Margorie Olmstead, sister, Evelyn Joyce Wigen and Nephew James Fox.
Elizabeth “Betty” Wigen is survived by her 2 children, Thomas Lee Wigen and Jennifer Marie Pearia, her 7 grandchildren, Jonathon Pearia and wife Jeanne, Monica Pearia Erwin, Daniel Kelly Grant and wife Kerstin, Michael Thomas Wigen, Nathan Steven Wigen and wife Autumn, Clayton Alan Taylor and Weston Scott Taylor, 4 great grandchildren, Wyatt Erwin, Claire Erwin, Skylar Pearia, Alyss Pearia and another little Wigen due in May of this year (Nathan and Autumn Wigen).
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