Betty (Elizabeth) Rose Rahkonen entered heaven on February 4, 2025 at age 95, embraced by the loving arms of her family, in Woodinville, Washington. Born to Alfred and Theresa in Everett, Washington, Betty’s family soon moved to Seattle, and she grew up in Ballard across from St. Alphonsus Church, where she and her older sister Rita attended all 12 years of school. 

After Betty graduated from Holy Angels High School, she enrolled at Seattle University (SU), where she developed life-long friendships with her favorite classmates. It was at a SU lab class where she met the Whittaker twins, Jim and Lou, who introduced her to skiing. An intrepid trailblazer ahead of her time, Betty embraced skiing and would talk of her adventures hiking up Mount Rainier (while carrying skis) and then skiing down… once she was rescued by Lou Whittaker from sliding into a crevasse! Betty graduated from SU with a teaching degree, and embarked on a marathon road trip with several teacher friends along rustic roads all the way to Mexico (and back to Seattle). She then taught first grade; her first teaching job was on Vashon Island, where she rented a tiny place with other teacher colleagues. Betty rode the ferry every weekend back to Seattle for skiing, parties and dancing. In 1952 Betty met dashing, athletic and adventurous Don Rahkonen at a Forelaufer Ski Club dance. Immediately smitten, he persuaded Betty to go skiing with him at Mount Baker the following morning. Their relationship grew, and they were married in July 1957.

Upon the pending arrival of their first children (twins!) in 1959, Betty stopped teaching full time to prepare for motherhood. Tending to newborn twins was an egalitarian tag-team effort; Don prepared formula, fed infants, changed diapers, and helped with other household tasks. Eventually, the family grew to five dynamic children. An avid reader, Betty used her teaching expertise & tutoring skills to teach all 5 kids to read before starting school. As the fourth child was approaching, Betty & Don outgrew their 1,000-square-foot home, so Don designed and built a 4,200-square-foot, 5-level, hillside Puget Sound-view home in the upper Richmond Beach area of Shoreline, where they lived for 45 years. Betty’s passion for landscaping and unique plants led her to design and plant wondrous gardens in their multi-level yard. She also planted extensive vegetable gardens, and cultivated a vast array of flavorful heirloom tomato varieties, earning the fond nickname “Tomato Betty.”

Skiing filled family winter weekends. Don would teach or coach racing, while Betty would guide the children around the ski area’s novice & intermediate runs until they were able to keep up with Don’s ski racing students. After the children gained independence, Betty became a ski instructor in her 50’s and taught for a dozen years!

For decades, the family would go on epic tent camping vacations; Lake Pearrygin, WA and Fort Stevens, OR were favorites; Betty masterfully planned every detail – she could whip up tasty meals on a picnic table camp stove even during drenching rainstorms – or, during snowy family ski weekends, on a steamy stovetop in an overcrowded 6-person camper crammed with 7 people and their damp ski gear. At our busy and bustling home, she was a multi-tasking organizer extraordinaire, preparing detailed weekly job charts, activity calendars, and tasty menu plans while coaching kids with homework and transporting kids to sports and other extracurricular activities. After we kids grew older, Betty explored the world with Don (sometimes also bringing her best friend Lou Niemi along).

Betty was a tremendous example of doing the right thing! She was a loyal friend and mentor; several grateful recipients of her wise guidance and tender support considered her their second mother. She was generous with her time and went out of her way to lend a helping hand. Betty had a multitude of stories and escapades. Everyone loved her storytelling! She had a delightful sense of humor and kept her listeners in stitches often. Betty was an active member of the “Mothers of Twins Club” and “Advocacy & Caring for Children” (ACC) aka “Association for Catholic Childhood.” Betty and Don shared a love for dancing; they took numerous swing and ballroom lessons and went dancing with good friends whenever they could. Betty and Don were devoted members of Marriage Encounter (ME); they hosted and led ME love circle meetings for 35 years. Betty’s marriage to Don was her top priority; her shining example prompted others to continually romance their spouses each and every day. Betty and Don were married nearly 60 years until Don’s passing in June 2017.

Betty is survived by twins Dan Rahkonen (Susan) and Diane Rahkonen Owen (GeneO), Patrick (Lana), John (Chi), and Vicki Rahkonen VanBrocklin (Jerry Johnson), plus 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Don, her sister Rita, and her parents Alfred and Theresa.

A memorial service for Betty will be held Wednesday February 12, 2025, 11:00 am at Beck’s Tribute Center, 405 5th Ave S, Edmonds, WA, followed by a reception at Beck’s until 1:00 pm. A private graveside committal service will be held afterward at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline. Remembrances to Advocacy & Caring for Children (ACC), aka Association for Catholic Childhood, or your favorite charity. 

Mom/Betty, we love you dearly and will cherish your memory forever.