June Pearl Weivoda

June Pearl Weivoda (Pearly) went to be with her Heavenly Father on July 24, 2021 at the age of 99. She passed from natural causes. Pearl was born was born May 14, 1922 in the hills of North Carolina by a midwife in a house with no running water. She was about 5 years old when her mom left Pearl’s dad and Pearl was left with very abusive kinfolk that “passed her around” from house to house, but Pearly never grew bitter against them. Sometime later Pearl’s mom came back to get Pearl’s sister but could not find her, so she took Pearl instead. Pearl’s mom was told by a doctor that Pearl was so neglected that if she stayed with the kinfolk, she would have been dead within 3 months. At about age nine Pearl’s mom sent Pearl to a Christian missionary girls’ boarding school, and this is where Pearly gave her life to Jesus. She said she loved it there and really didn’t want to go back home, but again, Pearly never grew bitter when she had to go back with her mom. (It should be noted that Pearl’s mom gave her life to Jesus years later at a tent revival.) At age sixteen, Pearl changed her name to June and ran away to join the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and later the Tom Mix show. She learned to throw a knife (she was a natural), twirl and throw a lasso, but refused to fly on a trapeze (smart mom!) During this time, June married Bobby Stevens, the circus yard boss who saved her from being accosted by several circus workers (he was 52 and she was 16). A few years later (as an act of love) her older husband introduced her to a very handsome young man named Albert A. Weivoda, (our dad who had also run away to the circus when he was young), and later Bobby released her to marry Albert. Mom and dad never lost their love for the circus and never forgot the stories. June was married to Al for his remaining 58 years. She gave birth to 3 daughters: Faith Rucker, Bernice (Bambi) Lambke, and Debbie Okon. She also helped raise her grandsons (Bambi’s sons) Chuck Hayes and Trevor Hayes. She loved telling the stories of passing the food bags “on a line” from her house window to her grandsons’ bedroom trailer window when they were being punished, and also telling about when she fell backwards out of the tree in front of them. Her other grandchildren (Faith’s children) are in Missouri: Cheryl Rucker, Wayne Rucker, Becky Rucker. Her great-grandchildren are: Ryan Hayes, Jacob Hayes, Nathan Hayes, Jared Hayes, and the Rucker clan in Missouri. June worked for the Salvation Army for years. She worked in all areas including standing kettles, going on the “War Cry” Magazine routes, and at the thrift store where she made sure the Lummi folks got the best deals. She loved the Lummis and they loved her. Mom loved the Salvation Army and our dad would call her his little “sally girl.” After dad went to Heaven in 2004, June continued to live at the Leopold Hotel for a total of 24 years until it closed, and then she moved in with one of her daughters. She’s been very happy these last years of her life, but she said she misses “the Friday nights when she and Al were alone together in the travel trailer.” To sum it up, June Pearl Weivoda did not have a hateful, bitter bone in her body against any people, groups, or person. She was very street wise but friendly to everyone, and she didn’t need to know someone’s name to talk to them. Her sharp humorous wit never left her, and neither did her ability to beat her daughters at cards. At times she cussed like a sailor but she said her prayers every night, and many times she would say “God has been so good to me, and He has looked after me my whole life,” and she meant it. We have never met anyone so full of life as our mom. WE LOVE YOU MOM! THERE IS NO OTHER MOM LIKE YOU! (This obituary has been read and approved by our mom June “Pearly” Weivoda.) A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army – 2912 Northwest Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225. June will be laid to rest at Bayview Cemetery at a later date.

June Pearl Weivoda

May 14, 1922 - July 24, 2021