Obituaries

Helen Mae Hanson topped out at 5' 1/4", but she will forever stand tall in the esteem, memory and affection of her many family and friends.

Helen died Tuesday, April 11, 2006 following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

The long, gray days of that battle cannot veil our celebration of her good and productive life and the happy memories it evokes.

Helen was born in Platte, South Dakota, on August 7, 1921. With a high school diploma, and youthful experience ranging from driving a cab to practical nursing, she joined the WAAC (later WAC) in 1943.

West Seattle resident for 48 years.

Stoddard

Marguerite (Skipper) Stoddard passed on to her eternal rest after complications following major heart surgery on April 6, 2006.

She was the beloved wife of Philip Stoddard for 62 years and the mother of Kirk and Mark and the grandmother of Elizabeth, Darren, Adam and Kelly.

A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church at 19834 Eighth Ave. S., Burien, on Saturday, May 13, 2006, at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Tape Ministry N.E. where she was a volunteer.

Guthrie

Aug. 23, 1918 to April 23, 2006,

age 87.

Louise was born to Capt. John C. and Leah (Pratt) Hansen in Pleasant Valley (Bellingham), Washington, as the second of four children. Her brother, Cedric, and sisters, Elaine Mae Hansen and Donna Levin, preceded her in death.

Louise met, and married, John Guthrie in Seattle in 1941. They located in Burien where they spent the rest of their lives, briefly living in Tucson, Ariz., from 1949 to 1951. Together, they raised five boys, Bill (Monica), Bob (Ellen), Don, Dick (Gayle), and David (Monica).

Betty was born January 31, 1923 in Seattle, Washington to Ruby and Leslie Albert Anderson. She grew up in Rainier Valley and graduated from Franklin High School. She married Donald Woodrow Tyler on August 5, 1942 and had seven children. After raising her children she went back to school and got her LPN degree. She worked as a nurse at Virginia Mason and she was named an outstanding employee in 1982.

She was preceded in death by her son John and her husband Donald.

Born June 19, 1927 in Dodge, Nebraska and passed away April 16, 2006 in Seattle, Washington. Survived by wife, Patricia; son Kit (Jenny); daughter, Denis Stahnke (David) and grandchildren, Kelly, Kristina and Matthew. Also survived by his sisters, Doris Launer of Grand Island, Nebraska, Dorothy Baumgartner (Walt) of Dixon, California, Lou Ann Riggs (Gordon) of Stanwood, Washington and Kathleen Fox (Gary) of Sunnyvale, California. Funeral Service will be held at 12:30 p.m, Friday, April 21, 2006 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6701 30th Ave. SW, Seattle.

Passed away April 9, 2006 after a brave battle with cancer. A Remembrance Gathering will be held Saturday, April 29 at the WS Golf Course Clubhouse from 3-6 p.m.

Ralph L. Headman was born June 29, 1936 at home n West Seattle and passed away April 20, 2006. Ralph grew up and lived in West Seattle until September 2000. He and his wife, Mary, currently reside in Maple Valley.

Throughout the years, Ralph exhibited strength and unyielding determination.

Seventeen years ago, he suffered a major stroke which caused paralysis and affected his ability to communicate.

Born 13 November 1920. Died 19 April 2006

He leaves behind his wife, Margie, and four daughters. Jack was born in West Seattle and lived here all his life, expect for five years spent in the Army during WWII. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1938 and spent several years at the UW. He retired from the Seattle Fire Department after 25 years of service. At the time of his death he was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Donald L. Backman passed away peacefully Easter Sunday at the age of 83. He was a man of kindness, gentleness and an easygoing spirit who was the truest of friend and could always be counted on by people in need.

He is survived by his wife, Janet T. Backman, of 62 years, 3 children Meredeth Stucky, Marilyn Crandall and Fritz Backman, 9 grandchildren, sister Doris Kirkpatrick and brother Fred Backman.

Donald was born in Fargo, N.D., moved to Seattle in 1942 where he spent the rest of his life.