Beverly Jean “Betty” Atkinson was born to Gordon and Margarette Mott in Butte, Montana on Aug. 3, 1929, and passed away in Port Townsend, Washington on Nov. 24, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Betty was raised in Butte and graduated from Butte High School in 1947. She married Cecil Frank Atkinson on Dec. 13, 1947, and together they raised five children. Cecil and Betty loved to go dancing, and were very accomplished swing dancers. In their early years together, Cecil often remarked that “There will never be a Saturday night when we don’t go dancing!”
Cecil and Betty relocated to Seattle, Washington in 1958, where Betty was a homemaker, later working for the federal government at the GSA Motor Pool, and then as a small business owner, operating a small appliance repair business in Seattle and Kirkland. Cecil and Betty moved to Port Hadlock in 1997, and then relocated to Port Townsend in early 2019.
Betty loved arts and crafts, and was expert at sewing, quilting, crocheting, ceramics, and painting, among other interests. She enjoyed giving gifts to family and friends which she had lovingly made. Betty loved road trips, and particularly enjoyed traveling in their RV. They toured all the western states, upgrading from fifth-wheel trailer to motor home as the years went by. The trips became more frequent after retirement, and she especially enjoyed the Washington and Oregon coasts, as well as the desert southwest. Cecil and Betty took grandchildren along on many of these outings, which they all thoroughly enjoyed.
Betty is survived by her loving husband Cecil; five children, Don Atkinson (Denise), Cindy Starr (Bruce), Terrie Baisch (Roger), Robin Roe (Dave), and Jill Schmidt; 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; as well as extended family. She was predeceased by son-in-law Lee Schmidt and granddaughter Carolyn Roe.
A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date. Arrangements are by Kosec’s Funeral Home in Port Townsend; visit www.kosecfh.com to share your memories of Betty.
