Patricia E. Perkins was born 5/31/1923 at home on a homestead in the drylands of Montana near Shelby and died peacefully with her family present on 4/16/2023, in Federal Way, WA, just short of her 100th birthday. “Betty” attended school in a one room schoolhouse with her 5 siblings and children from a nearby homestead. She was proud of her classic education. She attended radio school at Boeing field in Seattle in the 1940s to earn her Morse Code certification then was stationed in Alaska, including Nome, a remote location with no harbor access in winter. She was an aircraft communicator during the remainder of the war. She met and married Forrest Perkins “Cy” (deceased 2014) , a Navy communicator who later became an air traffic controller.

By 1955, Cy and “Pat”, the name used by her West coast friends, moved to Seattle near the new Seattle-Tacoma airport and later settled in Enumclaw, WA in 1968. Tey raised 7 children. She is survived by six of them and 11 (grandchildren): Kathy Jones of Enumclaw (Rebecca Coll and Kristopher Jones), Melanie Pepin of Seattle (Ellen Pepin-Cato and Elizabeth Holman), Mark Perkins of Bonney Lake (Naomi Perkins and Reese Perkins), Randy Perkins (predeceased 2021), Cindy Herron of Federal Way (Lindsey Herron and Will Herron), Sarajane P. Swanson of Everett (Leigh Swanson and Jon Swanson), Loretta George of Maple Valley (Natalie Walch) and 11 great grandchildren.

“Betty” or “Pat”, our mom, was the anchor and strength of our family, building unique and personal relationships with each of her children and grandchildren. She had a caring and kind way with all , making friends near and far. She was an extraordinary homemaker, untiring and dedicated. We will miss her always and her shoes will be difficult to fill.

In lieu of her 100th birthday, we will hold a memorial Open House on Sunday, June 4th from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM at Federal Way Masonic Hall. Remembrances may be sent to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Federal Way.