Read more about the lives of alumni and friends of SPU who have died.
WALLACE “WALLY” BAYS ’50 died June 12, 2019, at the age of 93. A missionary with Interact Ministries, he served in Alaska, Canada, Oregon, and Washington. Never completely retiring, Wally prayed for, served, and encouraged people up to the day of his passing. Preceded in death by his wife, ALICE JOHNSON BAYS ’54, Wally is survived by three daughters, including CHERI BAYS GOODMAN ’82, and nine grandchildren.
REX BELL ’65 died Aug. 2, 2019, at the age of 76. Born in Puyallup, Washington, Rex graduated from Foster High School in Tukwila before coming to Seattle Pacific College. After graduating from SPC, he attended Asbury Theological Seminary, but returned to Seattle after the death of his father. He began working at Seattle Pacific where he met his future wife, DEANNA COX ’69. He completed seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and went on to become assistant pastor at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle. In 1977, Rex became senior pastor of a Presbyterian church on the Auburn/Enumclaw, Washington plateau, where he served for the next 16 years. Rex then founded Auburn Encouragement Counseling until his retirement in 2004. A lifelong flower and vegetable gardener, Rex also mentored young people throughout his retirement. He also joined the congregation of St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Rex is survived by his wife, Deanna, three children, and five grandchildren.
DAVID BUTTERFIELD ’51 died June 7, 2019, at the age of 90. Born in Everett, Washington, David worked as a minister, professor, and psychotherapist throughout his career. He lived in California, Maui, and Costa Rica, where he died peacefully at home. He is survived by his wife, Susan, sister EDITH BUTTERFIELD SPARKS ’59, a brother, three children, and seven grandchildren.
KATHERINE “KATHI” FRANKINO, MEd ’07 died Sept. 1, 2018, at the age of 55. Kathi was a lifelong educator with a bachelor’s degree from Carroll College, a master’s degree from the University of Montana, and a certificate in Children in Crisis from the Harvard Divinity School. She attended SPU for graduate work in special education. At the time of her passing, Kathi was preparing to teach first grade at Seaview Elementary School in Edmonds, Washington. Kathi is survived by her mother, sister, two brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.
JUDITH “JUDY” MAIN GOODMAN ’66 died April 16, 2019, at the age of 72. Born in Urbana, Illinois, Judy was a teacher for 30 years, teaching in Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan; and in North Carolina. In 1970, while teaching for the Department of Defense Overseas Dependents School System in Okinawa, she met and married Sanders “Sandy” Goodman. She is survived by her husband, Sandy, and a son, grandson, sister, and several nieces and nephews.
FRANCES JOHNSON KING ’54 died March 9, 2019, at the age of 87. Born in Shelton, Washington, Frances was valedictorian of Shelton High School and graduated from Seattle Pacific College with a degree in nursing. She married CARL KING ’55 in 1953. He became a pastor, and Frances and the family accompanied him to Chicago, Bellingham, San Diego, Spokane, and Yakima. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Frances worked as a nurse at Deaconess Hospital. A talented baker, seamstress, quilter, and gardener, Frances was predeceased by Carl after 62 years of marriage. She is survived by two daughters, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.
MARYALICE RATZLAFF KOLKO ’00 died March 15, 2019, at the age of 41. Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, MaryAlice graduated with bachelor degrees in Russian from Seattle Pacific University, and in flute performance from Western Kentucky University, and an MA in flute performance from California State University-Chico. MaryAlice married Jeremy Kolko in Orland, California, in 2007. She enjoyed playing flute in various groups, venues, and occasions. She was also a talented knitter and enjoyed spending time with her husband and her two cats. MaryAlice was the department secretary for the emergency department at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California. Her faith in Jesus Christ shaped her life. MaryAlice is survived by her husband, Jeremy; her parents; her brother, ERIC RATZLAFF ’97; and many other family members.
DORIS KRAUSE LIEBERT ’56 died Dec. 30, 2018, at the age of 84. Born in Alberta, Canada, Doris relocated to Pasadena, California, after graduating from Seattle Pacific College, and there she met her husband, Don. In 1973, Doris earned a master’s degree from Whitworth. She, Don, and their three children enjoyed traveling, even touring in a VW van to 16 European countries and Israel during one two-and-a-half-month trip. After Doris received a doctorate from Gonzaga University in 1987, she became Whitworth’s director of student teaching. She led church members and Whitworth students on a teaching/ministry trip to Kenya. And after moving to Spokane, she started the West Central tutoring program. In 2000, Washington Gov. Gary Locke gave her the Washington State Award for Excellence in Teacher Preparation. In 2002, the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church USA noted: “In addition to being an excellent model as a teacher, Doris is also a terrific role model of the Christian educator. She integrates her faith with her teaching in such a way that her students and colleagues see her living her faith days-in and days-out.” Doris is survived by her husband of 57 years, Don, a son, two daughters, including LYNN LIEBERT CARUSO ’90, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
JAMES LINDE ’59 died May 21, 2019, at the age of 82. Born in Seattle, James graduated from high school in Aberdeen, Wash., before coming to Seattle Pacific College, where he became a teacher. During his long teaching career, James taught a variety of subjects in high schools, including history, English, photography, and electives such as Ping-pong. He retired from Wapato School District. In retirement, he became one of the founding members of Wackie Walkers, helping to coordinate events for 14 years. He was an active member of Trinity Community Lutheran Church, and enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. His many hobbies included music and golf. James is survived by his wife, Joan, three daughters, three step-children, 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins in Norway.
JAMES NORLIE ’74 died July 3, 2019, at the age of 66. Born and raised in Washington, James felt called to be a pastor from an early age. After graduating from Seattle Pacific, he graduated from Luther Seminary, and was ordained as a Lutheran minister, serving for 41 years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. From 1995 to 2017, he was the Lutheran campus pastor at Oregon State University. In 2018, James married his partner of 22 years, Steven Bender. James is survived by Steven, his mother, two sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
MARY BLISS SKIDMORE ’44 died July 19, 2019, at the age of 98. Born and raised in Seattle, Mary lived on Queen Anne Hill for nearly 60 years. A graduate of Queen Anne High School Class of 1940, she attended the University of Washington, the University of Southern Illinois, and Seattle Pacific College. Mary taught school, tutored, and worked in medical records at Swedish Hospital for 22 years. She married Francis Skidmore in 1944, and they were married more than 71 years before his death in 2016. Mary is survived by a son, a daughter, four granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.
KAY DREIBELBIS STEDDOM ’66 died May 8, 2019, at the age of 74. She was a resident of Iowa at the time of her death.
DAVID TILDEN ’86 died April 30, 2019, at the age of 54. Born and raised in Newberg, Ore., David worked for the container and packaging industry as a salesman for TricoBraun in Kent, Wash. Along with his career, David enjoyed the coast and was a member of First Free Methodist Church in Seattle. Predeceased by his parents, Harold and Ruth Tilden, he is survived by his brother, LESLIE TILDEN ’78, as well as several nieces and nephews. His brother, HAROLD TILDEN II ’77, passed away in June 2019.
HAROLD TILDEN ’77 died June 18, 2019, at the age of 64 after a brief fight with cancer. Born and raised in Newberg, Ore., Harold earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon after graduating from Seattle Pacific. He moved to St. Louis, where he met and married Pam, his wife of 36 years. Prior to retirement, Harold was an environmental scientist, dealing with the cleanup and safe disposal of hazardous and radioactive materials. A devoted Christian, Harold was also a talented musician and often led the music in church either vocally or with any of the instruments he played. For several years he also was the bass in a Gospel quartet that toured the Pacific Northwest called Crosspoint Vocal Band. A philatelist, Harold collected stamps from several countries. Harold is survived by his wife, Pam, two daughters, a granddaughter, and a brother, LESLIE TILDEN ’78.
DIANE DAILEY VENABLE ’67 died Jan. 4, 2019, at the age of 79. Born in Seattle, Diane taught elementary school in the Seattle area, specializing in improving children’s reading skills. She met Tom Venable at a singles’ group at church, and they married in 1974. Before she married, she traveled with a mission group to Africa and across Canada. After she and Tom married, the couple traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Egypt, and Turkey. In 1999, she traveled to the Ukraine and helped to develop a wheelchair ministry at an orphanage. Diane taught Sunday school for many years, and she enjoyed crafts, including needlepoint and macramé. She also excelled in Avon sales. Diane is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Her husband of 44 years, Tom, died less than two months after her death.
SUSAN WERKEMA ’81 died March 31, 2019, at the age of 60. She was a gifted massage therapist, having received training and certification in both the U.S. and China. She was creative and practiced her love of art in many forms and mediums. Susan is survived by her parents, three brothers, including GORDON WERKEMA ’80, a sister, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
FAYE IVERSON WESTAD ’51 died Feb. 20, 2019, at the age of 84. Born in Wenatchee, Washington, Faye did missionary work in her early years and spent most of her life serving God by serving others. After graduating from Seattle Pacific College, she attended the University of Montana Western. A teacher and mentor for more than 40 years, Faye was an accomplished singer and musician, as well as an art lover. Her Norwegian heritage was important to her throughout her life. Faye was predeceased by Don, her husband of 58 years. She is survived by four sisters, three children, 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
LYLE WILLIAMS ’52 died Jan. 30, 2019, at the age of 91. Born in a farmhouse near Page, Nebraska., Lyle served aboard the USS Harwood during World War II and was discharged in 1946. He married Shirley Bosell in 1951 and, after graduating from Seattle Pacific College a year later, he attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Lyle became an ordained minister in the Free Methodist Church of North America. After he and his family moved from Oregon to Winona Lake, Indiana, in 1960, he began what became a 31-year career as editor of adult Sunday school curriculum at the Free Methodist Publishing House. Lyle also taught Sunday school and served in youth programs at Winona Lake Free Methodist Church. Lyle is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley, a son, two daughters, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
REBECCA ZALKE ’91 died in March 2019, at the age of 77. Born in San Diego, California, Rebecca became a flight attendant for United Airlines. In her middle age, she attended Seattle Pacific University, graduating with a BS in biology. An active gardener and skilled at landscape design, Rebecca also volunteered for the Seattle Women’s University Club, as well as other local organizations and clubs. She is survived by her second husband, Joseph, five sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren.
