Betty Irma Wax

November 29, 1928 – October 29, 2024

Betty Irma Korte Wax was born in Hilo, Hawaii to Adolf and Elly Korte. She was born and raised on a sugar plantation in Papa’aloa, Hawaii. She had two older brothers, Karl and Erich Korte. Betty attended Hilo High School in Hilo, Hawaii but moved her final year of high school and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Hawaii.

She attended Idaho State College in Pocatello, Idaho for two years and transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington where she graduated from the School of Nursing in 1951.

Following graduation Betty specialized in surgical nursing, becoming an Operating Room nurse at Harborview Hospital in Seattle, WA. She rose to the position of Assistant Operating Room Supervisor. In 1958 she became the first Operating Room Supervisor of the new University of Washington Hospital. She was part of the first open heart procedure conducted at Harborview Hospital and many other significant procedures.

While in Seattle, Betty met David Wax. David was also from Hawaii, and they immediately hit it off. They married in 1960. In 1963 Betty left her position to move back to Honolulu, Hawaii. There she and David started their family. Lani Jane was born in 1963, and Maile Jean was born in 1965. Nothing made Betty happier than her family. She was a caring, loving spouse, mother and grandmother.

She left nursing for many years to be a full-time mother. Her parents both developed Alzheimer’s and she ended up caring for them as well as her young children through her time in Honolulu. In 1976 David and Betty decided to move back to Seattle where they bought a home in Innis Arden area of Shoreline, WA. They lived in their Innis Arden home for 42 years.

Betty did go back to nursing once her children were older. She worked part-time filling in at hospitals and as a Shoreline School District Nurse Substitute for many years. In 1985 she went back full-time as a nurse for Doctor Mary McGregor in North Seattle. She worked there until retirement.

Upon retirement, Betty started volunteering at Children’s Hospital Thrift Shops. She volunteered at the North Seattle Children's Hospital Thrift Store until 2015. Once David retired, they both volunteered their time there. She loved the work and kept very busy in retirement between helping care for her Grandsons, Chris and Eric and volunteering.

Betty also had many other interests. She was an advanced seamstress sewing all of Lani’s and Maile’s clothes as children and Lani’s wedding dress. She loved knitting, cross-stitch and crochet. She and neighbor, Ruth Allison, did craft fairs in the 1980’s. She loved nature, harking back to growing up on a sugar plantation. Flowers, birds and waterfalls were some of her favorite things. She also loved to decorate for holidays. She made each occasion special with foods and décor.

Most of all Betty loved her family. She had a quiet strength of character and was very independent. You did not tell her what to do, only suggest. She was the strength of her family for many years. Unfortunately, Betty developed Alzheimer’s, like both her parents. She spent the final 10 years of her life being cared for by several wonderful caregivers and spouse David. It was a long journey, and we are so thankful to all that helped her along the way.

Betty is survived by her husband and spouse of 64 years, David; children, Lani (Bruce) and Maile; two grandchildren Christopher (Lindsay) and Eric (Lauren) and three great-grandchildren, Claire, Landon and Jayden.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on what would have been her 96th Birthday, November 29, 2024, at 2pm in the Purdy & Walters Floral Hills Funeral Home, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial gift in Betty’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).