Betty Aileen Youngquist

Betty was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Wesley and Ethel Newman; the eldest of their four children. Betty graduated from Roosevelt High School and then from the University of Minnesota (Dental Hygienist) in 1942. Betty married her high school sweetheart, Orwin Clifford Youngquist, the following year; they were married for 65 years. Orwin was a Naval Officer in WWII. They were stationed at bases in Norfolk, VA, Washington DC, and Springfield, OH. After the war they returned to Minnesota for several years followed by moves to Utica, NY (1955), Akron, OH (1959), and, Bellevue, WA (1965). Wherever she lived, Betty spent many happy hours gardening, creating beautiful and welcoming spaces. She was renowned for her hospitality, hosting countless gatherings for friends and family. Betty also donated her time to the Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, church programs, and her children’s classrooms. The kids always knew that Mom would gladly volunteer whenever she was needed. In addition to gardening, Betty loved to sew, read, and walk. Betty was always ready for an adventure, large or small. She and Orwin took their children camping nearly every summer. In 1970 after a massive Boeing layoff, Orwin was job hunting and Betty was ready to re-enter the work force. Following months of disciplined study she passed the dental boards on her first try and in late 1970 joined Dr. White’s dental practice. She retired in 1988. They moved to Bellingham in 2005 and enjoyed their golden years at Merrill Gardens. As empty nesters, they traveled to many parts of the world including Scandinavia, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Trips in the U.S. included extensive driving adventures crisscrossing the states. They loved visiting places that they had known and discovering new ones. Perhaps the most joyous part of Betty’s life was spending time with her family. She loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Betty taught her family to take pleasure in the simple things: a picnic in the back yard, a walk to the park, or baking cookies. A woman of deep faith, Betty was an active member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bellevue. In Bellingham, Betty became a member of Faith Lutheran Church, participated in the Red Hat Society, and once again was a community builder. She is survived by her six children: Orwin (Sally), Charles (Linda), Wayne (Joan) and Mark Youngquist, Beth (Steve) Andres and Barbara (Erol) Morey; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; her sister, Priscilla Reeve, brothers-in-law John (Delta) Youngquist, Alfred Wolfe, and Robert Noel; sister in-law, Fern Newman; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orwin, her sister, Joan (Russell) Hamre, and her brother, Paul Newman. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, Faith Lutheran (Bellingham), Cross of Christ Lutheran (Bellevue) or the Gideons. There will be a memorial service for Betty on Friday February 20, 2015 at Christ Lutheran Church in Ferndale, WA, beginning at 11:00am.

Betty Aileen Youngquist

August 23, 1922 - January 28, 2015