Bettie Skinner Romppanen
Bettie Skinner Romppanen of Mercer Island, lovingly referred to by her family as “Queen Bettie”, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on October 29, 2014 in her daughter’s home in Renton. She passed surrounded by a few close family members after a long, hard fight with a series of life-threatening ailments.
From the moment she arrived in this world on January 6, 1936 in Seattle, she represented kindness, love and laughter to all whom she befriended. To meet her was to love her and to love her was a true joy.
Bettie was an extremely devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and loved spending time with her family more than anything in the world. She was always good for a laugh with her quick wit and endless amounts of spunk and sass.
Bettie loved to travel, taking many notable trips and seeing beautiful sights from all around the world. She really enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, in fact, she made numerous trips to various Hawaiian islands throughout her life. She loved to take cruises, and her favorites took her down the Mexican coast and through the Panama Canal as well as a 16-day trip through the rivers of Europe. Her most treasured cruise, though, was one she took with her family up and down the coast of Alaska. She was a huge fan of the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed many trips to British Columbia, Oregon and California. She also split her time between two homes for 16 years, spending summers in her home on Mercer Island and the winters in a second home in Palm Desert, CA.
She was preceded in death by her husband Frank “Skip” Skinner, and survived by her husband Paul Romppanen.
She is also survived by her siblings Billy Thompson and Carole Mickelson and her children Bob Skinner (Brenda), Barbara (Chuck) Markarian, Laurie Romppanen Malmfeldt (Scott Ruggles), and Eric (Sharon) Romppanen.
Bettie’s grandchildren were her crowning achievement. She loved each and every one of her eight grandchildren: Brooke (LaMar) Sellers, Kendel Skinner, Tyler (Mackenzie) Romppanen, Sarah (Dan) Gruenberg, Tyler and Jason Markarian, and John and David Malmfeldt; and three great-grandchildren: Tyson, Taylin and Trey Sellers.
There will be a celebration of Bettie’s life held at New Life Church, 15711 152nd Ave SE, Renton, on November 8, 2014 at 11 am. Please go to: http://bit.ly/1tsEWAJ for more information on the memorial. There will also be a family only graveside ceremony at Sunset Hills Cemetery.
Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Bettie’s honor to the American Cancer Society. We extend our heartfelt thanks to New Life Church for their prayers and generosity during this difficult time.
