BETTY ANNE BOLTON

1926 - 2011

Betty Anne Bolton, 84, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Monday, February 7, 2011.

She was born to Elmer and Jane (Ashby) Bolton on October 5, 1926 in Carson, Iowa.

She traveled to the Skagit Valley on a vacation in the early 1950's and fell in love with the country side, the Skagit Valley, and being part of the Sedro-Woolley community.

Although Betty graduated from business college she wasn't happy with the prospects of a secretarial career. Having grown up on a farm and having worked with heavy farm equipment she was "mechanically minded".

World War II brought greater opportunities for women to work in unconventional areas and in 1946 Betty took a job grinding lenses in a small business manufacturing telescopes. Being a "grinder" brought her the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship as a tool and cutter grinder.

She came to Sedro-Woolley in 1954 and went to work for Skagit Steel. She completed her apprenticeship and moved from the secretarial office to the machine shop at Skagit Steel (Bendix Corporation) in less than 6 months. Completing her apprenticeship, another aspect of her training began and she became a machinist at Bendix.

After 19 years of work she remained the only skilled female worker in production and went on to become director of the tool room until her retirement in 1988.

Betty was active in the community and loved being a member of the Wild Women of Woolley. She enjoyed putting on shows for the community to benefit hospice. For many years she participated in pool and bowling leagues and was an active member of the Eagles, the American Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star.

Betty loved fishing, hunting and camping in the Cascades.

She will be remembered always for her hard working tenacity, her joy of life in the Skagit Valley, and love of Sedro-Woolley and her family of friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer (EK) and Jane Bolton; sisters, Margaret Stadsvold, Gladys Krogh, and Dorothy Conn; brothers, Charles and John Bolton and niece Nancy Bolton.

She is survived by her sister, Grace Bolton and her brother George Bolton, both of Carlsbad, CA; nieces, Maggie Amber of Anacortes and Kathryn Stadsvold of Blaine; nephews, Wayne, Steve, and Charles Krogh of Los Angeles, CA, Carl Bolton of Rough and Ready, CA, and Dale Conn of Homer, AK.

Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Marilyn Kallshian officiating. Inurnment will be at the Saxon Cemetery at a later date.

Share memories of Betty and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com