Bertha Alice "Blondie" Stephens

Bertha Alice

"Blondie" Stephens
Bertha Alice "Blondie" Stephens was born 1/30/29 in Waterloo, IA to Leo and Juritta Corson. She died 2/8/11 in Olympia, WA at age 82. She was the 2nd of 7 children. Her family moved to OR when she was age 10. She started working at age 12 and was seldom unemployed after that. She married Charles "Steve" Stephens on 1/30/47, her 18th birthday. In May 1947 she graduated from Chiloquin High School. Steve nicknamed her "Blondie" and even her siblings used that name for her. They lived in several OR cities, then moved to Vancouver, WA in 1961. In 1977, after 30 years of marriage, she lost Steve to a car accident and became a widow at the age of 48. She persevered as a strong and independent woman for the rest of her life. She retired from the Department of Social & Health Services on 1/30/89, her 60th birthday. She moved to Tumwater, WA in 1991 and became a member of Tumwater First Baptist Church in 1993. In her retirement she liked traveling, especially HI. She always loved music. She and Steve performed in a Country band in the 60's and 70's. She is survived by her sister Vera Wood of MO, daughter Peggy McNeil (Steve) of Tumwater, WA., son Ron Stephens (Mary) of Toutle, WA., 9 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral 2/16/11 at 10:30 am (visitation 8 am-10:15 am), Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA 98512.
Graveside 2/16/11 at 2:30 p.m., Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684. See millsandmillsfunerals.com and Legacy.com.