Maralyn Ditlevson

1947 - 2025

Maralyn Elizabeth Child Ditlevson (known to friends as "M") passed away on October 4, 2025 in her Olympia home with her small family by her side. An aggressive pancreatic cancer snuck up on her and took her away from us way too quickly and way too soon.

Proud to have been born in Swedish Hospital in Seattle on March 25, 1947 to Gerald F. Child and Helen Marie (Mechelsen) Child, M was raised in Lakewood, Washington. She graduated from Clover Park High School in 1965 and attended the University of Washington. She was a devoted Husky fan throughout her life and a regular attendant of Husky football games at home and on the road.

After several wonderful years in Seattle, Eugene, and Washington, DC, M settled in Olympia. She, along with the love of her life, Richard Ditlevson (known to friends as "Nippy") spent the rest of their lives in their home on Puget Sound, frequenting Seattle sports events and embracing her local community.

M and Nippy were partners in all ways, including professionally. In 1978, together with Sax and Barbara Rodgers, they founded the law firm that would become known as Ditlevson Rodgers Dixon. They, along with many other talented and wonderful friends, built that firm to be a leader in their community. M was Nippy's talented legal assistant for 35 years, and Sax's dedicated "Pick 3" daily game partner for however long that game existed. The firm still exists today as Budd Bay Law.

While that association and accomplishment were very important to M, in her eyes, her greatest accomplishments were her marriage with Nippy, the birth of her only child, KC Wilkerson, and the arrival of her only grandchild, Lola Elizabeth Tiffany. Her life was devoted to their joy and support.

M was a gifted and beautiful woman that spread joy and love wherever she went. She was guided by her values of generosity, kindness, and strength, and was known for her good cheer and sweet spirit all over Olympia. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and Mariners fan.

She is survived by Nippy, KC and Lola, her sister Julie Ferro, her brother Gerry Child, her nieces and nephews (Jay Ferro, Molly Chester, Ashley Child, Whitney Child, Amy Barnes, and Erin Enzweiler) and a loving community of friends who were touched by her grace and kindness.

Her passing is a profound loss to those of us fortunate enough to have been in her presence.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on November 1, 2025, at St. John/San Juan Episcopal Church in Olympia, WA, with a reception afterwards to be held at Uptown Grill event space, also in Olympia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center or to the Friends of the Olympia Farmers Market.