Published in The Olympian on Nov. 6, 2016
Elizabeth (Betty) Merlyn (Dodge) Hedges May 15, 1921 December 9, 2015 Betty Hedges loved life and those who filled her life. She was an avid gardener who eagerly shared the beauty of all she grew. She was a confidant and surrogate-Mom to an extended family of relatives and friends. Betty grew up on a dairy farm in Gate, Washington, with her parents Jessie Mae (Johnston) and Glen Robert Dodge and siblings [Barbara] Joann (Strassel) and [Anthony] Morris Dodge. She graduated from Rochester High School and attended Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon). Through these early periods she made numerous life-long friends and thoroughly enjoyed the annual reunions she shared with these childhood friends. Betty worked during World War II in Seattle as a secretary for the international loans department of the Seattle National Bank of Commerce and later as an administrative assistant for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Olympia). Betty married Theodore (Ted) Hedges on November 12, 1946, and (like Betty's own parents) they enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage together. They raised three children: Michael Jay Hedges, Jerris Robert Hedges, and Sally Jean (Hedges) Blanquez. For most of their marriage, Betty and Ted lived on a farm outside of Littlerock, Washington, where they raised Shorthorn Beef cattle and intermittently a variety of other livestock. They also were known for selling fresh corn and other produce during the late summer period. Prior to retirement from the farm, they grew Christmas trees and encouraged their sale for charitable fund-raising. Betty and Ted were active in the South Union Grange for over 50 years. Betty was an active member of the Maytown Garden Club, often challenging her children to reluctantly participate in flower arranging. Betty and Ted were active members in the Littlerock United Methodist Church with Betty serving as the Treasurer of the Church and Sunday school leader for many years. She also helped lead the Margaret K. Circle auxiliary for the church. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Betty volunteered for many years on the Littlerock School District PTA (including its Turkey Dinner and Cake Walk fund-raisers) and served as a youth leader for the local 4-H clubs, Camp Fire Girls, and other groups. She regularly sought opportunities for youth groups to support elders at local Nursing Homes. Betty was an active collector specializing in antique irons and refinishing distressed furniture. As the farm became more physically demanding, Betty and Ted moved to Lakeside Estates in Tumwater. After Ted's passing in 2007, Betty needed additional support for her progressive dementia. She lived her final years in The Hampton where she continued to make friends with fellow residents and staff. She was always quick with a word of encouragement and a smile. At The Hampton, she was an active member of the "Late Bloomers" Garden Club and continued to enjoy craft work. Betty was preceded in death by her parents (Jessie & Glen Dodge), sister (Joann Strassel), husband (Ted Hedges), and oldest son (Michael). Betty is survived by her brother (Morris), two children (Jerris & Sally), five grandchildren (Andrew, Aaron, Emily, Bryan, and William), and two great-grandchildren (Sophia & Abigail). A memorial service is being held at the Littlerock United Methodist Church at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 17, 2016. In lieu of flowers the family requests that those who knew Betty provide their support to one or all of the following entities: Littlerock United Methodist Church (Littlerock), Hospice Harp Program through St. Peter's Hospital (Olympia), and/or the Late Bloomers Garden Club at The Hampton (Tumwater).
Elizabeth (Betty) Merlyn (Dodge) Hedges May 15, 1921 December 9, 2015 Betty Hedges loved life and those who filled her life. She was an avid gardener who eagerly shared the beauty of all she grew. She was a confidant and surrogate-Mom to an extended family of relatives and friends. Betty grew up on a dairy farm in Gate, Washington, with her parents Jessie Mae (Johnston) and Glen Robert Dodge and siblings [Barbara] Joann (Strassel) and [Anthony] Morris Dodge. She graduated from Rochester High School and attended Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon). Through these early periods she made numerous life-long friends and thoroughly enjoyed the annual reunions she shared with these childhood friends. Betty worked during World War II in Seattle as a secretary for the international loans department of the Seattle National Bank of Commerce and later as an administrative assistant for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Olympia). Betty married Theodore (Ted) Hedges on November 12, 1946, and (like Betty's own parents) they enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage together. They raised three children: Michael Jay Hedges, Jerris Robert Hedges, and Sally Jean (Hedges) Blanquez. For most of their marriage, Betty and Ted lived on a farm outside of Littlerock, Washington, where they raised Shorthorn Beef cattle and intermittently a variety of other livestock. They also were known for selling fresh corn and other produce during the late summer period. Prior to retirement from the farm, they grew Christmas trees and encouraged their sale for charitable fund-raising. Betty and Ted were active in the South Union Grange for over 50 years. Betty was an active member of the Maytown Garden Club, often challenging her children to reluctantly participate in flower arranging. Betty and Ted were active members in the Littlerock United Methodist Church with Betty serving as the Treasurer of the Church and Sunday school leader for many years. She also helped lead the Margaret K. Circle auxiliary for the church. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Betty volunteered for many years on the Littlerock School District PTA (including its Turkey Dinner and Cake Walk fund-raisers) and served as a youth leader for the local 4-H clubs, Camp Fire Girls, and other groups. She regularly sought opportunities for youth groups to support elders at local Nursing Homes. Betty was an active collector specializing in antique irons and refinishing distressed furniture. As the farm became more physically demanding, Betty and Ted moved to Lakeside Estates in Tumwater. After Ted's passing in 2007, Betty needed additional support for her progressive dementia. She lived her final years in The Hampton where she continued to make friends with fellow residents and staff. She was always quick with a word of encouragement and a smile. At The Hampton, she was an active member of the "Late Bloomers" Garden Club and continued to enjoy craft work. Betty was preceded in death by her parents (Jessie & Glen Dodge), sister (Joann Strassel), husband (Ted Hedges), and oldest son (Michael). Betty is survived by her brother (Morris), two children (Jerris & Sally), five grandchildren (Andrew, Aaron, Emily, Bryan, and William), and two great-grandchildren (Sophia & Abigail). A memorial service is being held at the Littlerock United Methodist Church at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 17, 2016. In lieu of flowers the family requests that those who knew Betty provide their support to one or all of the following entities: Littlerock United Methodist Church (Littlerock), Hospice Harp Program through St. Peter's Hospital (Olympia), and/or the Late Bloomers Garden Club at The Hampton (Tumwater).
Published in The Olympian on Nov. 6, 2016
Elizabeth (Betty) Merlyn (Dodge) Hedges May 15, 1921 December 9, 2015 Betty Hedges loved life and those who filled her life. She was an avid gardener who eagerly shared the beauty of all she grew. She was a confidant and surrogate-Mom to an extended family of relatives and friends. Betty grew up on a dairy farm in Gate, Washington, with her parents Jessie Mae (Johnston) and Glen Robert Dodge and siblings [Barbara] Joann (Strassel) and [Anthony] Morris Dodge. She graduated from Rochester High School and attended Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon). Through these early periods she made numerous life-long friends and thoroughly enjoyed the annual reunions she shared with these childhood friends. Betty worked during World War II in Seattle as a secretary for the international loans department of the Seattle National Bank of Commerce and later as an administrative assistant for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Olympia). Betty married Theodore (Ted) Hedges on November 12, 1946, and (like Betty's own parents) they enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage together. They raised three children: Michael Jay Hedges, Jerris Robert Hedges, and Sally Jean (Hedges) Blanquez. For most of their marriage, Betty and Ted lived on a farm outside of Littlerock, Washington, where they raised Shorthorn Beef cattle and intermittently a variety of other livestock. They also were known for selling fresh corn and other produce during the late summer period. Prior to retirement from the farm, they grew Christmas trees and encouraged their sale for charitable fund-raising. Betty and Ted were active in the South Union Grange for over 50 years. Betty was an active member of the Maytown Garden Club, often challenging her children to reluctantly participate in flower arranging. Betty and Ted were active members in the Littlerock United Methodist Church with Betty serving as the Treasurer of the Church and Sunday school leader for many years. She also helped lead the Margaret K. Circle auxiliary for the church. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Betty volunteered for many years on the Littlerock School District PTA (including its Turkey Dinner and Cake Walk fund-raisers) and served as a youth leader for the local 4-H clubs, Camp Fire Girls, and other groups. She regularly sought opportunities for youth groups to support elders at local Nursing Homes. Betty was an active collector specializing in antique irons and refinishing distressed furniture. As the farm became more physically demanding, Betty and Ted moved to Lakeside Estates in Tumwater. After Ted's passing in 2007, Betty needed additional support for her progressive dementia. She lived her final years in The Hampton where she continued to make friends with fellow residents and staff. She was always quick with a word of encouragement and a smile. At The Hampton, she was an active member of the "Late Bloomers" Garden Club and continued to enjoy craft work. Betty was preceded in death by her parents (Jessie & Glen Dodge), sister (Joann Strassel), husband (Ted Hedges), and oldest son (Michael). Betty is survived by her brother (Morris), two children (Jerris & Sally), five grandchildren (Andrew, Aaron, Emily, Bryan, and William), and two great-grandchildren (Sophia & Abigail). A memorial service is being held at the Littlerock United Methodist Church at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 17, 2016. In lieu of flowers the family requests that those who knew Betty provide their support to one or all of the following entities: Littlerock United Methodist Church (Littlerock), Hospice Harp Program through St. Peter's Hospital (Olympia), and/or the Late Bloomers Garden Club at The Hampton (Tumwater).
Elizabeth (Betty) Merlyn (Dodge) Hedges May 15, 1921 December 9, 2015 Betty Hedges loved life and those who filled her life. She was an avid gardener who eagerly shared the beauty of all she grew. She was a confidant and surrogate-Mom to an extended family of relatives and friends. Betty grew up on a dairy farm in Gate, Washington, with her parents Jessie Mae (Johnston) and Glen Robert Dodge and siblings [Barbara] Joann (Strassel) and [Anthony] Morris Dodge. She graduated from Rochester High School and attended Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon). Through these early periods she made numerous life-long friends and thoroughly enjoyed the annual reunions she shared with these childhood friends. Betty worked during World War II in Seattle as a secretary for the international loans department of the Seattle National Bank of Commerce and later as an administrative assistant for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Olympia). Betty married Theodore (Ted) Hedges on November 12, 1946, and (like Betty's own parents) they enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage together. They raised three children: Michael Jay Hedges, Jerris Robert Hedges, and Sally Jean (Hedges) Blanquez. For most of their marriage, Betty and Ted lived on a farm outside of Littlerock, Washington, where they raised Shorthorn Beef cattle and intermittently a variety of other livestock. They also were known for selling fresh corn and other produce during the late summer period. Prior to retirement from the farm, they grew Christmas trees and encouraged their sale for charitable fund-raising. Betty and Ted were active in the South Union Grange for over 50 years. Betty was an active member of the Maytown Garden Club, often challenging her children to reluctantly participate in flower arranging. Betty and Ted were active members in the Littlerock United Methodist Church with Betty serving as the Treasurer of the Church and Sunday school leader for many years. She also helped lead the Margaret K. Circle auxiliary for the church. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Betty volunteered for many years on the Littlerock School District PTA (including its Turkey Dinner and Cake Walk fund-raisers) and served as a youth leader for the local 4-H clubs, Camp Fire Girls, and other groups. She regularly sought opportunities for youth groups to support elders at local Nursing Homes. Betty was an active collector specializing in antique irons and refinishing distressed furniture. As the farm became more physically demanding, Betty and Ted moved to Lakeside Estates in Tumwater. After Ted's passing in 2007, Betty needed additional support for her progressive dementia. She lived her final years in The Hampton where she continued to make friends with fellow residents and staff. She was always quick with a word of encouragement and a smile. At The Hampton, she was an active member of the "Late Bloomers" Garden Club and continued to enjoy craft work. Betty was preceded in death by her parents (Jessie & Glen Dodge), sister (Joann Strassel), husband (Ted Hedges), and oldest son (Michael). Betty is survived by her brother (Morris), two children (Jerris & Sally), five grandchildren (Andrew, Aaron, Emily, Bryan, and William), and two great-grandchildren (Sophia & Abigail). A memorial service is being held at the Littlerock United Methodist Church at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 17, 2016. In lieu of flowers the family requests that those who knew Betty provide their support to one or all of the following entities: Littlerock United Methodist Church (Littlerock), Hospice Harp Program through St. Peter's Hospital (Olympia), and/or the Late Bloomers Garden Club at The Hampton (Tumwater).
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