Bette Joanne Lovaas passed away peacefully on February 18, 2016 at Panorama in Lacey, Washington. She was born in Bottineau, North Dakota on March 26, 1937 to Alfred and Alta Erdman. She was the oldest of four children, one brother and two sisters. Her father worked in U.S. Naval Shipyards so the family first lived in Long Beach, California before moving and settling in Bremerton, Washington where she spent her childhood.
Bette graduated Bremerton High School in 1955. She attended and graduated from Olympic Community College in 1957 and then attended and graduated from Western Washington State College in 1959 with a teaching certificate. At Western she met her husband Richard “Dick” Lovaas, and they were married on September 26, 1959 in Bellingham, Washington.
Following a year of student teaching at Lincoln Elementary in Mount Vernon, Bette and the family moved to Sedro-Woolley where both Bette and Dick were school teachers and raised three boys. Bette taught at both Central and Evergreen Elementary for 34 years before retiring. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Teaching the children of Sedro-Woolley and raising her boys were the most important achievements of her life. Betty moved to the Olympia area later in life to spend time with her family.
Bette is survived by her sisters, Janice Byerly and Carol Mead; her sons, Brad (Cathy) Lovaas and Steve (Teresa) Lovaas of Olympia, WA; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bette was preceded in death by her husband Dick and her son Gregg.
A private family service was held at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
She was my fifth grade teacher. A stern, but very kind woman. Takes a special person to orchestrate a room full of elementary students. My favorite quote of hers, “I’m not amused with you …”
My friendship with Bette started when I was a freshman at Western and Bette was a senior. She was the hall proctor at Edens Hall where we both lived. Every night she would come down the hall, and shine her flashlight into our faces as we lay in our beds. We had to be in bed every night very early. As I recall it was 9 at night. She was to check and see we were all tucked in! Years later when I got a teaching job in Sedro Woolley there she was. She was highly thought of as a teacher and she became a good friend. She even let me teach one of her boys. Her sons were the jewels in her life. She was a great mom and a special lady. Bless her and all her family.
Gone from us but not forgotten. Bette was a wonderful kind person as well as a
dedicated teacher. Obstacles did not stop her from doing her life’s work well.
It is with sadness that we hear of her passing. I hope her family can find comfort
in knowing that many of us here have missed her in these later years.
Good times will come back in sharing stories and laughter. Affectionately,
Bette was my friend and colleague for our teaching careers. Although I didn’t get to visit her much in Olympia, I thought of her often. For years she called me on my birthday. My sympathy goes out to Steve and Brad and families. Bette was a good person and friend. My husband and I have many good memories of activities with both Bette and Dick. Sorry we couldn’t say goodbye, but understand. Love to you all. Diane and Dick