Obituary

Betty Wernberg, age 76, passed away on January 19, 2021 in Bellingham, WA after a three-year battle with Ocular Melanoma.

Betty was born in South Dakota and graduated high school in Watertown, SD. After high school, Betty moved to the big city of Minneapolis where she attended classes and graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI). She became a field representative for LBI, calling on prospective students and donors. Betty also briefly attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis before marrying Denny Wernberg in April 1966. After their marriage, they lived in Hartford, CT, before moving to Salt Lake City, UT, where they raised their two daughters.

As a young mother, Betty volunteered with several organizations: The Listening Post Crisis Hotline, Hospice, Stephen Ministries, as well as ministry at the Utah women’s prison. She served on her church council and the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Betty first saw the mountains when she was 19 years old during a trip West. She was deeply impacted by the majesty of the Cascade Mountains and Holden Village on Lake Chelan. She loved living at the base of Mount Olympus in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Betty and Denny passed on their love for adventure, nature and the mountains, with trips to Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Lake Tahoe and more.

In 1994, Betty moved to Wilsonville, OR with Denny, as empty nesters. They made many dear friends in the next chapter of her life. After twenty years in Oregon, Betty moved to Bellingham, WA to be closer to her daughters and three grandkids. Betty loved being a grandma. She cherished birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and always made milestones very special. Betty loved vacationing with her family, getting out and about, and having fun with friends.

Betty was a caring and kind soul. She was gracious, generous and supportive. She will be remembered as a warm and inviting neighbor and friend.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Denny, in 2013. She is survived by her two daughters, Natalie and Michelle, and their families; and sister, Joan, and brother-in-law, Bill.

A private memorial service will be held in February. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Ocular Melanoma Foundation.