Betty Lou Nordquist

Betty Lou Norquist was born September 24, 1932, in Heil, North Dakota to Herbert and Lillian (Bauer) Pidde. Betty moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, when she was 3 years old, then to Bellingham, WA with her family at the age of fourteen. Betty met her husband, Arnold, at church that year and were sweethearts throughout their teens while attending Bellingham High School. Betty was (17 yrs.) when she married Arnold (18 yrs.) on August 18, 1950, prior to Arnold’s going into the Air National Guard stationed in Alaska for the first year of their marriage. During this time, Betty finished her high school education and graduated with her diploma in 1951 beside her classmates. In 1956, Betty and Arnold moved into their first home on Pacific St, where they had two daughters, Terri Kay, and Traci Lynn. In 1965 she found the perfect lot with a view. After a year of building their dream house, in 1970 they moved into the basement of their unfinished house. They were then able to finish the work on the upper level so they could move into a finished home. Betty had built that dream house from the ground-up with her husband Arnold with most of the construction completed by them. Betty found the house plan that she liked and modified it to what would be her “forever home,” and to her, the most important accomplishment of her life where she lived for the remainder of her life. Betty worked at Pacific Northwest Bell for 30 yrs. spending the last five of those years commuting back and forth to Seattle, WA, until her retirement on June 30, 1986. Betty spent several years at home after her retirement from Pacific Northwest Bell making Afghans for family. Betty decided to return to the workforce securing a position with Whatcom County elections, then with the licensing department as a temporary licensing clerk, before gaining a full-time position with the Department of Licensing, retiring on September 4, 1997. Mom loved to travel and has been on many road trips throughout the United States, with numerous cruises, and many European vacations. For many years, she loved to relax with her husband at Desert Hot Springs for a month-long retreat. Betty’s first trip was to Washington with her aunt Lorene on the train from North Dakota, and her final trip was to Germany with her daughter Terri. Mom was highly organized, a good listener, and wanted to support her daughters in their needs and dreams. She loved to read and listed each book with the date read. She liked to sew and made many dresses for her daughters and even designed her own pattern to make a skirt for herself. Mom attended Calvary Temple with her husband, and they were continually active in the church. Then became members of Northwest Baptist church where they cultivated lifelong friendships. Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Arnold Nordquist, her parents Lillian (Baur) and Herbert Pidde, infant sister Marion Jane Pidde, brother Leroy Pidde, sister Connie Dunn and her beloved Border Collie Missy. Betty is survived by two daughters, Terri Kay Van Dyke, and Traci Lynn (Anton) Matyas. Terri’s children Shannon (Jason) Iwasaki, Justin (Sara Clancy) Van Dyke; Traci’s children Taryn (Rod)Redfern, Tyler Lynn Maloy and Thea Maloy. 7 Great Grandchildren Axl, Dax, Mattisyn, Evelyn, Ellora, Miakoda and Taeben. Sister Sandy Pidde and her children Tyree (Vicki) Butcher and Edilee (Evan) Guenther, many cousins, nieces, and nephews, along with her beloved Poodle “Amber” We want to thank mom’s daily caregivers, Liann, Nancy and Tylene, for helping to provide her with companionship and love during her final years and days. We also want to thank the Hospice team for their excellent care and support to mom in her final weeks and days. Memorial donations can be made to Whatcom County Hospice. Please join us for a graveside service held at Greenacres Memorial Park on June 19, 2024, at 10:00am.

Betty Lou Nordquist

September 24, 1932 - June 7, 2024