Elizabeth "Betty" Marie Alston

Betty’s Legacy

Elizabeth “Betty” Marie Alston (Winter) was born February 20, 1926, the only child to Casper and Adelaide “Addie” Winter. She joined Our Heavenly Father Saturday, November 21, 2020, and reunited with her beloved parents, and numerous relatives and friends, all of whom she missed and loved so dearly. Betty passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her beloved husband of 74 years, Bob “Bobby”, and surrounded by their children, Kathleen (Roger), Robert (Peggy), Patricia “Trish” (Terry), Barbara (Dave), and David (Kristina).

Raised on a rural farm in Burien, Washington, Betty grew up with a horse named Dixie Girl, chickens, a few sheep, the occasional steer, a dog named Goldie, and a donkey named Becky. She was the pride and joy of her daddy and mama.

Betty first spoke to Bob, a sophomore, in her freshman year on the stairs of Highline High School. Their actual first date came following their accidental joint attendance at a local house fire. Betty was with her daddy and girlfriend, Betty Niles. The two girls elected to stay in the truck listening to loud music and soon Bob and Myron Reynolds approached the cute girls in the car asking if they would like to join them for a movie. The girls got approval and off they went to the movies. Little did they know that this was the beginning of an eighty-year love story.

Betty was in her Junior year of high school when Bob received an early diploma and headed off to WWII after enlisting in the Merchant Marines at age 17. After being gone for a year, Betty and Bob were able to meet in Portland. As night came on, Bob took her to an overlook where they could take in the breathtaking views of the city and river below. It was here where Bob proposed to Betty at the age of 18. They did not see each other until his return two years later in December 1945, but Betty proudly wore her engagement ring each day while attending classes at Seattle University and taking part in the female hiking club, HiYu Coulee. Betty loved to climb Mt. Si. She was working to become a lab technician and had an internship at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital on First Hill.

Finally, Bob was able to use his one phone call permitted from Pearl Harbor. He told Betty that he would soon be home and asked if she still want to marry him. Matter-a-fact, Betty told Bob that they would be married by the end of January. Bob and Betty were married at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Seahurst, Washington on January 30th, 1946. This coming anniversary would have marked their 75th year of marriage.

Betty enjoyed traveling the world, hosting and cooking for parties, reading the paper, gardening, spending time with family, playing the piano, and investing in the stock market.

She is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Bob, her children Kathleen (Roger), Robert (Peggy), Patricia “Trish” (Terry), Barbara (Dave) and David (Kristina), her fourteen grandchildren Tauna, Mark (Megan), Stacy (Lew), Daneka (Sean), Shaun (Lesley), Bryan (Katie), Jenna (Mike), Philip, Erik, Katrina (Taylor), Tom (Laura), Chris (Jana), John (Alex) and Michael(Jenny) and her 24 greatgrandchildren.

In Lieu of Flowers, a tribute gift in memory of Betty Alston can be made to:

Alzheimer’s Association, act.alz.org

Seattle Children’s Hospital, give.seattlechildrens.org 

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