Karen Rae Norman

Karen Denny Lehto Norman Karen was born to Lester and Fern Denny on 2/27/1942 in Buckley, Washington and passed on, at the family home in Spanaway, WA on 4/12/2014. She was raised by her mother and step-father Fern and Irving Worden at various locations around Washington until they moved to Bellingham where she lived for many years and was a graduate of Bellingham High School in 1960. Bellingham was a special place for Karen, where she developed many long term friendships which became an important part of her life. She met, married, and was subsequently widowed, by William Benjamin Lehto, who was killed in 1964 while serving in the U. S. Coast Guard. She raised her two sons, Brian William Lehto (Mae) of Bonney Lake, WA and Eric Benjamin Lehto (Martha) of Tacoma as a single mom. Karen worked for the FBI in Seattle for 2 years and ultimately retired from the Spanaway School District. Karen married her longtime friend, former Bellingham resident Frederic Norman in Spanaway on 5/19/2001. She felt that marrying her best friend made retirement that much more fun. The winters she and Fred spent as snowbirds provided them with many new friends and good times in Apache Junction, Arizona. She enjoyed her grand and great grandchildren, quilting and sewing and loved her constant companion dog Sally Ann. Karen was predeceased by her parents, as well as her sister Patricia Marie Anderson. In addition to her husband Fred, and two sons, she is survived by three grown grandchildren, Derek William Lehto (Stevie) and soon to be born great grandson Drue Carlos Lehto of Seattle, Jeri Alexis Lehto of Parkland, and Rachel LeAnn Lehto Mann (Christian) and great grandson Vincent Dominic Mann of Puyallup, step-sister, Stephanie Almskaar of Everson; aunt Wilda Vandermay (Bill) of Spokane and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Nancy (Norman) and George Kolakowski of Bellingham. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on May 3rd, 2014 at Parkway Presbyterian Church, 714 138th Street E., Tacoma, WA. Donations in Karens name can be made to the local Hospice Foundation.