Betty Lorraine Weisenburger
Loving mother and grandmother Betty Lorraine Weisenburger died April 6, shortly after moving into the Sitka Pioneers Home. She was 89.
She was born in Ione, Washington, October 19, 1931, the daughter of Ted and Tansy Barton. In 1948, she met and married Harold Weisenburger, in Everett, Washington. In 1960, they, together with their three daughters, moved to Sitka, where Harold went to work for Alaska Lumber and Pulp. Betty worked full-time at several of the local grocery stores, including the ALP commissary and Sitka Cold Storage.
She was a gifted artist and seamstress, and loved to make wedding and birthday cakes. In her early years she was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling to Alaska bowling tournaments.
She was always ready to help and contributed many hours volunteering for various functions at the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge, and was active in the Emblem Club and Women of the Moose, holding several offices.
Even though she wasn’t born in Alaska, her heart and soul were deeply entwined here. Numerous offers came to move south from family, but she was adamant about not leaving her island.
“You could take Betty out of Sitka but it always called to her to come home,” her family said.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years. She’s survived by three daughters: Laura Larson of Chelan, Washington; Judy Pugh, Riverside, California; and Nancy McGraw, Sitka. She also is survived by seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A private family memorial will be held in Sitka, this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sitka Emblem Club, P.O. Box 142, Sitka.
Her family expressed “special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Sitka Pioneer Home for their compassion and kindness.”
