Obituary of Betty P. Linehan

Betty P. Linehan January 22, 1917 – December 31, 2008 Betty P. Linehan was born in Shine, Washington. She was the 6th of 9 children of Christian (Chris) and Dagmar Peterson. Chris and Dagmar were immigrants to the United States from Denmark and Greenland, respectively. Chris was a veteran of the Spanish American War. Chris and Dagmar were farmers in Shine and ran the local post office. They moved to Orting in the early 1930’s, where they farmed, reared their family and resided until their passings. Betty grew up in Shine, and moved to Port Townsend at an early age to board with and work for local families while attending High School. She graduated Port Townsend High and attended the College of Puget Sound in Tacoma. At CPS Betty was a member of Lambda Sigma Chi. When WWII broke out, she joined the Red Cross, where she met her husband John, an Army Air Force Fighter Pilot, and who flew combat during the war. After the war, John became an instructor pilot for several years, was later named the Air Force Attaché in Athens Greece, and continued his career in Intelligence-related positions. They had assignments in the U.S., Greece and Germany, and traveled extensively through Europe. Betty moved to Olympia in 1962 after John’s death to be near family. She continued raising their three children, worked for a time in a local bank, and later for the State of Washington. She also enrolled at St. Martin’s to continue her education. Betty retired early to focus on her expanding family of grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was the central point of our large family for many decades as our mom, grandma, and aunt – the back door would open to “hi, grandma,” or “hoo-hoo, Aunt Betty.” Betty was a gracious hostess and gourmet cook. All the family gatherings would be at her home, which had a terrific layout for the youngsters to run around the home’s interior in a circle. Betty also opened her home and extra rooms as a haven for wayward grandkids, nieces, nephews and their friends. No questions, just love. There was no child or adult, of any age, that was not welcome, fed and loved in her home. She was the constant in many of her families’ lives. In 2003, Betty was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. After a valiant effort to deal with the disease but stay in her home, it became clear she needed continuous support. Betty moved to the Garden Courte Memory Care Center in Olympia where she was very well taken care of by their extraordinary staff. During the last 4 ½ years, she resided there, but was often visited by family and friends, and still was able to go out for an occasional lunch or dinner, and to attend many family gatherings. She experienced a slow but inevitable decline from the insidious ravage wrought by Alzheimer's. In early December 2008, Betty fell and broke her right leg. The surgery to repair the leg was successful, and she was undergoing physical therapy at the Panorama City Convalescent Center to strengthen the leg in preparation for a return to Garden Courte. The staff at Panorama City was doing a great job providing support and physical therapy. Sadly, however, Betty passed in her sleep on the morning of December 31. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, John, son Dr. Tim Linehan, and by her brothers and sisters Bill Petersen (Laverne), Rose Thacker (Cecil), Jan Shaw (Lucien), Esther Derrig (Jack), Klara Kolstad (Kolly), Link Peterson, and Harry Peterson (Mary,) and by nieces and nephews Susan Derrig Reichman, Ray Thacker, and Anita Thacker Morrow. She was also predeceased by her loving kitty, Cindy. Betty is survived by her daughter Christine Finkle and husband Rod of Tumwater, her son Jay of San Jose, daughter-in-law Judy Linehan of Olympia, sister Barbara Weeks of Olympia, and her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren: Kerry Mrazek and sons Bob and Adrian, Colin Linehan (Mechele) and daughter Audrey, John Linehan and Katie Linehan – all of Olympia; Shea Linehan (April) of Arizona and daughters Chloe and Sadie; Josh Tripp (Mandy) and children Freedom and Winter, Jensen Tripp and children Sebastian and Isabelle, Bob Linehan and Tim Linehan (Shaena) all of California; Annie Stimmel (Mark) of Seattle, and Dan Linehan in Belgium. Betty is also survived by well over 100 nieces, nephews, grand-nephews, grand-nieces and their children throughout Washington, and the US, including: The Jerry Petersen family of Everett; The Larry and Leila Petersen family and the Michael and Alice Linehan family of Seattle; The Bette and Sonny Fountain, Shirlee Bussart, and Jeff Thacker families of Port Townsend; The Sheila and Lee Dorn family of Puyallup; The Sharyn and Gene Mulkey family of Texas; The Colleen and Paul Gore family of Coral Springs, FL; The Dan and Kif Thacker Family of Chimacum; The John and Jean Derrig family of Bellevue; The Mike Derrig family of Port Ludlow; The Karen and Ken Bork Family of Washougal; The Kris and Barry O’Donnel of Portland; The Kip and Debbie Kolstad family of Carson City, NV; The Bill and Kiem Peterson family, and Jana Wiley of Olympia; The Kathy and Doug Perkins family of Hood River, OR; The Jill Keeton Family and Tova Wiley of Tacoma; The Tina and Jeff Nickerson family of Moorpark, CA. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be conducted later this spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be designated for the wonderful employees of the Garden Courte Memory Care Center; checks should be made to Debbie Holling at 626 Lilly Road, Olympia, 98506. To leave a condolence, click on View Guestbook below: