Betty was born the fourth of nine children in little Almora, Minnesota to Albin and Harriett (Sterriker) Ronning. Betty attended school in the little, one-roomed school house with her brothers, sisters, and cousins. She remembered her grandfather letting her ride to school on his shoulders when the snow was deep. Betty also remembered Saturday night trips to the movies in town with her family. When the family moved to Marysville, Washington in 1955, she rode on the train with her mother and the younger children while her father drove the family car with two of her brothers. She then attended Marysville High School, graduating in 1958.
Betty was married to Richard Staats from 1959 to 1976 and they had two daughters, Marcella Lynn and Julie Alexandra.
Betty went to Everett Community College, graduating in 1977 with a Secretarial ATA. She began working for the Everett Parks and Recreation Department in 1977 until she retired in 2006. Betty loved working for the Parks Department.
Betty loved words. She loved to read, had beautiful penmanship, and you could not beat her at Scrabble! She loved playing cards with her family and gardening (lilacs were her favorite). Betty loved her coffee, black. She also enjoyed road trips, “Remember that time in…” She loved Christmas and Santa Claus.
Betty was especially known for her cooking and baking; blondie brownies, lefse, cookies, bread and more. She won a blue ribbon for her apple pie the only year she entered a baking contest!
And Betty did love her family! She leaves behind her daughters, Marcella Staats and Julie (Edgar) Harvey, her grandchildren Thomas O’Neal and Anna Soper, and her great-grandson Jensen Soper. She also leaves behind her sisters and brothers, Charlotte (Carl) Hoover, Else Ronning, David (Joan) Ronning, Doug (Diane) Ronning, Annette Heinz, Bruce (Sue) Ronning, Debbie Ronning, and Wendy (Bob) McClure, and her sister-in-laws Sandy (Dennis) Evans and Linda Ronning.
Nieces and Nephews:
Curt (Dawn) Hoover with Sariah, Jared and Patricia
Phil (Carol) Hoover with Ross and William
Michael A (Judy) Ronning with Lisa and Amanda
Lybbie Ronning with Brandon and Stefan (Mandy) and Laurel
Michael D Ronning with Marit, Rebecca, Isaiah, and Sarah
Michelle (Howard) Aandahl with Lydia
Todd Ronning with Christopher
Dodee Diaz with Taylor
Brenda Whiterock with Jordyne and Chandler
Scott (Kimberly) Heinz with Dresden
Chuck Heinz
Andrea Wyatt with Dansen, Lennen, and Karlen
Steve (Mia) Wyatt with Caleb, Austin and Morgan
Codie (Dean Clark) with Shaelene, Keegan and Hunter
Jessica Ralston with Madison
Mathew (Heather) Ralston with Bradley and Ethan
Vanessa McClure
Corinne McClure
Christine (James) Braschler with Ian and Kendell
Jeanette (Will) Alexander
Maranda Eveline Bingaman
And we can’t forget her beloved pets, Tar and Honey.
Betty was preceeded in death by her parents, her brother Joe Ronning, his son, Mark Ronning, her nephew Jacob Ronning, and her dear mother-in-law, Eveline Staats Elving, and many aunts and uncles and cousins whom she loved.
Betty passed away from the devastating complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s took away her ability to read and write, play Scrabble, bake, and live a life full of joy and memories.
Marcy and Julie are especially grateful to Aunt Debbie for her daily, devoted in-home care for our mother before her hospitalization. We also thank our family, friends and work families for their emotional support during Mom’s illness.
A special thanks to the loving nursing and medical staff at Providence Hospital for showing our mother kindness and respect during the last seven months of her life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with memory issues, please seek medical testing. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, love them no matter what.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at their website alz.org.
Betty’s life will be celebrated at Legion Hall at American Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Blvd, Everett, WA 98201 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2018.
Come and join us for potluck, stories and Scrabble!
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18