Inger Margrethe Beckwith

Inger Margrethe Beckwith, 82, passed away peacefully June 9, 2015 at Providence St. Peter Hospital, following heart complications. Inger was born April 1, 1933 in Bergen, Norway to Tor and Solveig Frønsdal. She grew up in Norway with her two sisters, Solveig and Kari. She experienced tragedy and responsibility at a young age, with her youngest sister contracting polio at the age of two and being confined to a wheelchair, and the Nazi occupation that began a couple years later, but she always looked at life with a positive attitude. After the War, she finished business college in Bergen and enjoyed many activities, including skiing, ice skating, tennis, bridge, hiking, and reading. She later worked in the housing office for NATO in Oslo where she met her prior husband. Over the next several years, she had two sons and lived in Iceland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Arizona before finally moving to Olympia in 1975. After becoming a US Citizen in 1981, she became a successful realtor and worked for over 20 years at Century 21, Re/Max, and Coldwell Banker. Inger was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Olympia and remained active in the community, volunteering at the church, Madison Elementary School, the Amtrak station, and the Panorama community to name a few. She was also a member of PEO for over 20 years. Inger is survived by her former husband of 28 years, Budd Butcher, with whom she raised two sons, Budd (Sarah) and Eric (Tara). She was preceded in death by her husband of over 20 years, Wayne Beckwith, by less than two weeks, and is survived by Wayne’s five children, Forrest (Donna), Roslyn, Sally (David), David (Rosalind) and Jeanie (Greg), and 15 grandchildren. She is also survived by her family in Norway, including her two sisters and several nieces and nephews who affectionately refer to her as Tante Fønn. She will be sorely missed by all. Please leave memories of Inger or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.