Betty Stoker

It is with a deep sense of loss that we announce the passing of Betty Stoker peacefully in her sleep on January 20, 2025.

She was born Boukje Hoogenberg on September 5, 1930 to Karst and Sieverdina Hoogenberg in Applescha in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. She was the youngest of seven children all who preceded her in death.

As a young girl at home and in school, she learned knitting, sewing, cooking and housekeeping skills. These skills served her well as she immigrated to this country not knowing any English. Her husband Gerrit grew up in the same town across the canal. At 19, Gerrit went to the U.S. to work for his uncle on a hog farm, was drafted in the U.S. Army and became a U.S. citizen while stationed in France. On his leave, he courted Betty and they were married in their home town of Applescha in 1954 after his tour was over. Seeing no future in the Netherlands, they made their first home in the Nisqually Valley and continued to build the Nisqually Trout Farm started by Gerrit’s Uncle John DeBoer. When the boys were too young to work, Betty was known to help load fish, feed fish and butcher fish on occasion.

She learned English quickly and provided a clean orderly household for Gerrit and their 4 boys. The family remembers her cooking delicious dinners at lunch to hungry men and anyone else who dropped by. As the boys married, she was excited to finally have daughters! She quickly sewed aprons, knitted vests and scarves for them all over the years. She taught willing grandchildren to sew “quillows”, pillowcases and quilts. A “girls lunch out” tradition was a favorite to celebrate birthdays with daughters and granddaughters.

Betty and Gerrit were devoted members of Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1954. She was very active as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, member of Elizabeth circle, the “Sew Happy Quilters”, and various social groups including the “Mariners”, their pinochle club and a bible study sharing group. She was a very welcoming member who sought out visitors each week and made sure they were introduced to others.

She is survived by 3 sons, Carl (Nancy), Ron (Carol), John (Polly), daughter-in-law Kathryn,10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Her husband Gerrit, their oldest son Hans and grandson “J.J.” predeceased her.

She loved her family! We will miss her strong faith, beautiful blue eyes, her flying saucer cookies, her lovely sense of humor and the endless hours playing games like pinochle, the penny game, Uno and Rumikub, just to mention a few. We are comforted in knowing

she is not “lost”. She is reunited in heaven with Gerrit, Hans and “J.J.” in eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ!

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 3:00 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia, Wa.

Remembrances may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian’s “Sew Happy Quilters” or City Gates Ministries (Citygatesministries.org)