My mother passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015 in Sequim, WA.  She was 85.

Mom was born in San Francisco on December 7, 1929 to George and Martha Perkins.  Soon after her family moved to West Seattle, where she grew up along with her twin brothers, Gene and Gerry Perkins.  They lived near the sound and she loved to walk and play at Lincoln Park, the beach near her home.  Mom graduated from West Seattle High School in 1948.  She was very involved in Rainbow Girls at West Seattle Assembly #18.  She loved dressing up in formals for the ceremonies and parties. She made most of her dresses.  She was quite the seamtress.

Mom married my Dad, John Unruh, in 1950 and they  had three children; Lynnda, Mikell and Mark.  Mark passed when he was 11 from cystic fibrosis.  She and John divorced a few years after his passing.

In 1973 she met Kurt Vieten and they were married in 1975.  They were married for 40 years.  They lived many years at a small ranch in Aguanga, CA where Norma tended the chickens, loved to cook and loved the sunsets.  They later moved to Hemit, CA where Mom was very involved in the Eagles fraternal organization.  She served as madam president for four terms. 

 

Mom always loved the Pacific Northwest and in 1999 she and Kurt moved to Sequim, WA where they built a home and a great life.  She had a beautiful view of the Olympic Mountains out the front window and a view of the Straights of Juan de Fuca from the kitchen window.  She would often say, "See those mountains?  Those are my mountains".

Mom loved to read mysteries.  She also liked to travel and went on several cruises with Kurt, Dyan and friends. She visited her daughter Lynnda in England and Jan and me in Panama.  She loved the Panama Canal.  We could not get her to leave.  she would say, "Just one more ship!" She was always the life of the party and much loved.

Mom is survived by her husband Kurt Vieten of Sequim, WA; her daughter Lynnda Malone of Hartland, Michigan; her son Mikell Unruh of Hillsboro, OR; her step-son Kurt W. Vieten of Angora Hills, CA; her granddaughters Dyan Ferris of Temecula, CA, Dr. Chelsea Unruh of Olympia, WA, and Mandy Looney of Hartland, Michigan; her great-granddaughters Morgan and Zoe; her step-grandsons David and Drew; and her brothers Gene and Gerry Perkins.

Mom has helped to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation in many locations over the years.  The family has asked that donations be made in her honor to a local chapter or to the national organization.  You may find your local chapter and make a donation at cff.org

Mom was loved and will be missed.  Please add your thoughts and memories of Norma for all to savor.