Mary Elizabeth Bakke

Mary Elizabeth Bakke, always known as “Beth,” was a lifelong resident of Seattle and its surrounding communities. She was a city girl at heart and loved living out her golden years on Pill Hill at the Horizon House Retirement Community on 9th and University. She was a very active person and loved walking all around the city and Capitol Hill.

Beth was born on July 24, 1929 to Roy and Minnie Kistler. The Kistler family lived in Laurelhurst, near the University of Washington, in a stately colonial home. She grew up with older sister Gloria and younger sister Dorothy.

Beth was a dedicated student throughout her life and she jokingly referred to herself as a “bookworm.” In 1947, she graduated from Roosevelt High School and was accepted into Stanford University as a freshman. She attended Stanford for a brief time, but found that it wasn’t the right fit for her. She consequently enrolled at the University of Washington as a nursing student. Beth graduated from UW with a bachelor of science in Nursing and Public Health in 1952. During her college tenure, in 1951, she married David Petrie, an electrical engineer.

Beth worked in public health for eight years after she graduated. She enjoyed her work as a visiting nurse for the King County Health Department and later as a school nurse in the Federal Way School District. After she and David adopted two children —Trenton in 1959 and Valerie in 1961, Beth dedicated her time to raising a family. She also worked tirelessly maintaining the family’s large brick Tudor home and yard in Normandy Park. She continued to volunteer as a school nurse at her children’s elementary school, kept up on her nursing accreditation through continuing education classes, and was trained as a volunteer nurse for the Red Cross.

Beth and David divorced in 1982. After their divorce, Beth was required to go back to work. She became a caterer for several years. She then resumed her nursing career and for 15 years she worked as a charge nurse in several nursing homes in the greater Seattle area. She was dedicated to her work and loved her co-workers and the patients she cared for.

Beth subsequently married Dr. John (Jack) Bakke in 1995. They had a wonderful life together and shared many interests, including travel. They moved from their lake home in Juanita to Horizon House in 2002. During their residency at Horizon House, Beth and Jack spent time with friends and family, attended lectures, movies, the theater, the symphony, and engaged in social activities hosted by Horizon House and the Washington Athletic Club. Jack died in 2007. Her son Trenton passed away in 2010.

During her lifetime, Beth was involved in activities too many to mention. A few of her activities later in life included active participation in the Democratic Party, serving as a social chair at the Washington Athletic Club, volunteering at the Plymouth Congregational Church to assist the homeless, running the Horizon House’s Monday Market (a thrift store), participating in writing workshops and book clubs, and assisting with the fundraising committee for staff bonuses at Horizon House.

Beth is survived by her daughter Valerie—and her husband Mark, and her three grandchildren, Alana, Grace, and Willem. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Kistler and sister Gloria’s children, Trese and Martin Rand. Beth considered her former daughter in law, Joanne Petrie, to be a second daughter and they remained very close until Beth’s passing. Beth was an involved, nurturing, and loving mother, mother-in law, and grandmother. She was always game to help her family with any project or adventure. She adored her pets, and especially her cats. She was the trailblazer at Horizon House who convinced the Board of Trustees to allow residents to have small pets, and she was the first resident to have her cat, Emmy, reside with her. She was a lively and lovely person who brought joy to all who knew her. Beth passed away on May 2, 2022 with Valerie, Joanne, and Alana by her side.