Bette Mae Lydon

Bette Mae Lydon passed away surrounded by family on June 22nd, 2016 just shy of her 96th birthday. She was born to Marion "Noni" Erpelding and Guy Marcum on June 30th, 1920 in Seattle, WA. She was their only child. Bette graduated from Olympia HS in 1938 then came to Portland, OR to attend the University of Portland where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. It was at the UofP where she met the love of her life, Larry Lydon, who was a Pearl Harbor survivor and served until the war ended in 1945. He passed away in September of 2015. They were married 73 years. In that time, they began raising their 3 children, Mike, Pat and Karen (Loid) here in Vancouver, before moving to Duvall, WA in 1965. They and their grandchildren, Anne, Eileen, Jackie, Sara, Cindy, Jon and Becky along with 14 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild will miss them terribly and be forever grateful for their wonderful example of faith in God and devotion to one another. While in Vancouver, Bette worked as a charge nurse at St. Joseph Hospital and was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where their children attended school. Larry's teaching position moved the family to Duvall, WA in 1965. It was there that they purchased their retirement property, Lydon's Blueberry Farm. Their Blueberry farm was an annual destination for many people in the region. Many years of wonderful memories and family reunions took place on the farm. In addition to working parttime as a nurse, Bette was also very active in the Duvall and neighboring Carnation community. She was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, the Tolt Historical Society, Duvall's Civic Club, Cherry Valley Garden Club and Tolt High School's Booster club to name a few. Bette and Larry returned to Vancouver in 2000 for their golden years. They were founding members of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and kept up with WWII reunions and the local Pearl Harbor Survivor group until their health slowed them down. The family would like to thank the amazing care she received from Cochran Health Care while living at the Bedford and Magnolia Gardens Senior Care in her final months. Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, July 15th at 1:30pm. A private internment will be at Willamette National.

Bette Mae Lydon

June 30, 1920 - June 22, 2016