Viola May Sibert

Viola May Sibert of Bellingham, Washington passed away on Sunday May 22, 2022 at her residence surrounded by family. Viola was born in Lakeview, Oregon on April 9, 1930. While living in Lakeview, Viola and her two sisters would horseback ride into town to hang out with their classmates and socialize. Her parents were Edwin and Eula Benefiel. Viola and her two sisters, Dorothy and Elizabeth, grew up in New Pine Creek and Summer, Oregon. The family would gold mine in High Creek near Lilly Lake, California, and they took turns caring for their grandmother Benefiel in New Pine Creek. During World War 2, Viola’s dad worked at a magnesium mine in Gabs, Nevada. Edwin taught Viola and her two sisters a lot about farm life and wood working. Viola’s mother helped the family on the farm and loved to paint. Viola always wanted to have the ability to be an artist, but reading was more her nature. In 1947, Viola married Lionel Sloman and had two children, Richard and Steven. Steven passed away at the age of 18 months. In 1953, Viola devoted her life to God. She loved the fellowship. She always looked forward to going to meetings and conventions. You could often hear her humming the hymns. She loved reading her bible. Often, she said “There is no good news in the world but there is always encouragement and wonderful news in the bible.” Around 1962, Viola remarried to Jesse Sibert and then had a son, Karl. Some of the career choices Viola tried were working at a mushroom farm, office assistant, and even Sheriff. After these adventures she decided to go to college at Centralia College to get her associate degree in Arts. In 1975, Viola went to Western Washington University to get a degree in Business and also Accounting. She then started her own accounting business. Viola also took a big leap of faith and co-owned a car company business. Along with running two business, Viola raised her granddaughter, Angie. She retired from all her adventures at 84 years old. Viola is preceded in death by her parents Eula and Edwin Benefiel, her sons Richard Sloman and Steven Sloman, her sisters Dorothy and Elizabeth and their husbands, Don Caven and George Jaska. Viola is survived by her son Karl Sibert, her granddaughter Angela Albert, Dan Seburn, Caden, Aalyiah, Kaylee Albert, Don and Oli Seburn, and Alex and Ayla Seburn, Sandra Snyder and her two children, Patricia Kenney and her four children, Stephen Phillips and his 4 children, her nieces and nephews David and Margaret Johnson, Juanita and Darrel Anderson, her many friends and fellow congregation members at church, and thought of Lisa Bishop and Jolene Moore as grandchildren. A funeral will be held on Friday June 10th at 11:00 A.M. at Greenacres Memorial Park Chapel (5700 Northwest Dr. Ferndale, WA), followed by a graveside service at 12:30 P.M. at Enterprise Cemetery (7041 Vista Dr. Ferndale, WA). Please share your memories & condolences in Viola’s online guestbook.