Bette Mae Bergquist

Bette Mae Bergquist was a wonderful mom to her four kids, bathing us in love and filling our childhood memories with music and laughter. She was born in Olympia, Wa on May 19, 1926, to parents Albert and Gladys Knuehman. She also had an older sister Vivian, and two younger sisters, Lois and Joanne. They grew up in a home filled with music, and mom was playing piano for church by the time she was a teen, without ever having a formal lesson. A local piano teacher was so impressed with her talent, that she began giving her piano lessons at age 14, in exchange for childcare.

Mom flourished under her guidance, and was even the piano player for the concert choir in High School. She also had a beautiful singing voice and performed in a popular trio with her best friend Erma Jean and sister Vivian. They gained such notoriety that in June of 1945, they were asked to sing for the President of the United States, Harry Truman, at a special “Medal of Honor” presentation at the Capitol building.

After graduating from high school, Mom was working as the receptionist at a local lumber store when her boss’s handsome brother stopped by, all decked out in his army “dress uniform”. But her boss had already left, so mom invited the “lonely solder boy” out to dinner with her sister and brother-in-law.

Apparently dad was smitten, as he began “volunteering” to help his brother at the lumber store every chance he could. The rest is history, as mom and dad were married on June 27, 1945, just a few days after mom sang for President Truman.

After the war dad went to work at the Capitol and they bought their first home in Olympia. On December 1, 1947, their first child was born, a little boy named Steven Allen. On March 27, 1949, David Charles was born. In 1951 the family moved to Bremerton where dad went to work for his brother-in-law, Merlin Danskin, as a salesman with Kitsap Radio & Appliances. On October 14, 1954 their third son was born, Thomas Dwight. The next year we moved into a brand new house, and on May 10, 1956, our little gang of guys was joined by a beautiful baby sister, Carla Rae.

We have been blessed to grow up in a wonderful home filled with music and laughter, encouraged by two very loving parents with unwavering faith, who always welcomed our friends into our home, and even provided sanctuary for some during challenging times. As we have raised families of our own, mom and dad have continued to provide love and nurture to our children, and we thank them for their undying commitment to each other and to their entire family.