Betty Letita Sehlke

Betty was born on May 28, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the youngest daughter of Sidney and Evangeline (Wallis) Searles. She was raised in Detroit and lived there until she and her family moved to the Silvana area in 1970.

Betty practiced real estate for many years in Snohomish County and she wrote a community column for a number of years for the Arlington Times. She was an active member in the Silvana community. Some of her local activities include being a Precinct Committee Officer during election years. She was also a long-time member of the Silvana Fire Auxiliary (Cinderella’s), the Silvana Community Association and participated in the Silvana Community Fair. She loved playing bridge and pinochle with her many friends in Marysville, Smokey Point, Arlington and Stanwood, and bowling in the senior league at Strawberry Lanes in Marysville.

Betty was married to Oscar Sehlke and they had five children; Laura Ann (Sehlke) Straughn, Robert William (Patricia) Sehlke, Gerald (Lisa) Sehlke, Caroline Elizabeth, and Sandra Lynn Sehlke. They were later divorced. She was later married to Leonard M. Tate and Lewis E. Willey. She was preceded in death by her husbands, as well as her parents, her siblings Virginia E. (Searles) Barkholz, Kingsley G. and Sidney C. Searles, and her daughters Caroline and Sandra Sehlke. She is survived by Laura, Robert and Gerald and five grandchildren; Brandon (Amie), Justin, Mackenzie, Madison, and Zoe; and one great grandchild Lilyauna.

A viewing will be held on Friday February 21st from 4:00 – 8:00 PM and on Saturday February 22nd from 11:00 – 12:00 AM at Weller Funeral Home, 327 N. MacLeod Ave, Arlington, WA 98223. A memorial will be held on February 22nd from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at Weller Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Valley View Cemetery, in Silvana, WA with a reception to follow in Silvana.

Arrangements under the direction of Weller Funeral Home, Arlington, WA.