Myrtle Alberta Pennington

Alberta (Bertie) Pennington (nee Richards) passed away peacefully on May 5th. Born in Bellfountain, Oregon on 6 December 1927, Bertie was the oldest of a combined family of 12. In 1946, she married the love of her life Evon (known as Bud) Pennington, and together they had 3 children. Dan, Janice, and Carol. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 69 years, sisters Alena, Darlene, and Peggy, and brothers Bud, Buck, Larry (Buster), and Gene. She is survived by her remaining siblings, Sharon, Loraine, Bill, and Berl and children Dan and his partner Leslie, Janice and her husband Keith, and Carol and her husband Victor, as well as six grandchildren, Erick, Chris, Joe, Kevin, Marc, and Katie, and eleven great grandchildren. Bertie loved her family, friends, and nearly everyone she met, and that loved was returned in droves by those closest to her. Even those who weren't directly related--like Judy and Vicki Costello--were welcomed like family in her heart and home. Her smile was warm and honest, and had the ability to light up any a room. Bertie also possessed an infectious laugh, which she was quick to share at a joke, silly story, or frequent hijinks of her grandchildren. Whether she was holding court in the kitchen--offering food to growing boys and girls she deemed "too skinny for their britches"--slapping a winning hands of cards on the table, or sitting around a campfire and laughing out loud, her love for her family and tremendous joy in their company was always in evidence. She was always happy (and patient) in sharing the secrets of making delicious jams and jellies with grandkids, and pleased to hand all sorts of pickled and preserved treats from the vault-like 'fruit room' at the back of the house. While she will be painfully missed by all of those who loved her so dearly, the memories of her warm smile as she looked around a tiny room crammed full of family and friends during holiday gatherings, and laying her head on your shoulder quietly said, "I love you kids," will be cherished forever.