Geraldine "Gerry" K Beatty

January 5, 1927 – August 26, 2022

Gerry (Kalsbeek) Beatty was born in Lynden, Washington, the fifth of six children, to Jake and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Kalsbeek on January 5, 1927. She and her siblings were brought up during the Great Depression. Times were tough but Jake and Minnie worked hard, providing the children with Christ-like love and nurturing that was continually reflected by all of them throughout each of their lives to all who knew them. Mom loved her brothers and sister; and as we children grew up, her love for them and us was the way it was supposed to be. It rubbed off on all of us kids whether we knew it or not.

Mom wasn’t fond of her given name, Geraldine, and early on decided on “Gerry” even though her family wouldn’t have it. To her friends, she was Gerry. She was probably following her mother’s lead in this case.

The family moved a few times in the Lynden-Everson area, as she grew up. For a time, they lived in a small, dove-tailed log house at Glen Echo. She pointed it out to us once when we were up for one of the many family reunions.

She attended the local primary schools in the area and graduated from Lynden High School in 1945 where she was Senior Class secretary, Vice President of the Home Economics club and performed in dramas and musicals.

In 1946, she met Bruce Beatty of Wenatchee at the Christian Endeavor Conferences near Seabeck, on Hood Canal. They married in 1947, setting up house in north Seattle and in the next 12 years bore four children: Karen, Paul, Steve, and Jan. With us four kids, mom’s home economics skills went into overdrive. She cooked, canned, cleaned and cared for her growing family. There are many humorous stories of her command of the household. She was continually picking up after us. Well, at least her boys. Our house had a laundry chute and we were constantly searching the laundry box in the basement for shoes or whatever we hadn’t put away. Her fastidiousness extended to our vacations as well. We recall her sweeping the beach cabins of sand and endlessly whisking the tent when we camped. All this begs the question: If she was only the VP of that high school home economics club, what must the president have been like?

She was a soprano and sang in choirs all her life. We have many wonderful memories of Mom’s solos at church. She wasn’t fond of singing solos but sang like an angel when she did. She also sang duets and trios with her brothers and led singing at church.

In 1967 Christie was born and gave Mom and Dad someone to spoil after all us older kids moved out. After our Dad’s death in 1984 and as Mom grew older, Christie was there to help and care for her. Mom lived with Christie and her husband, Jonah until recently when age related health problems forced alternating hospital, convalescent home stays.

Throughout her life, Mom enthusiastically read her Bible and attended church. She and Dad raised their children to be followers of Jesus Christ. She ceaselessly prayed for her children as we grew up because we really needed it. When we married, she prayed for our children and ultimately our children’s children. She always had a Bible passage to share when we were discouraged or depressed. Her steadfast love of her Creator God was a shining example of the Christian way of life and salvation.

She went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday morning, August 26, 2022. So, at this time we grieve, yes. But we rest in confidence of the Resurrection. Mom is in the presence of her Redeemer.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jake and Minnie, her husband of 36 years, Bruce, and four elder brothers; Marvin, Gerrit, Harry and Morris.

She is survived by her younger sister, Marie TenKley (Gerrit), as well as five Children; Karen VanNatta (Terry), Paul (Anita), Steve (Rachel), Jan Beatty (Roy Hinderer) and Christie Kirk (Jonah). Her Twelve Grandchildren; Scott VanNatta (Andrea), Ross VanNatta (Annetta Madsen), Paul Beatty (Amelia), Anneka Boccio (Anthony), Catie Beatty (Trevor Jordan), Madeleine Lagerberg (Alexey, aka Lucky), Bethany Beatty, Leif Johansen (Melanie), Berit Lytle (Drew), Ethan Kirk (Vanessa), Molly Kirk and Josiah Kirk. As well as fourteen Great-Grandchildren; Ella, Nickols and Nadia VanNatta, Asher and Ivy VanNatta, Micah, Xander and Orion Beatty, Mathilde and Mabel Lagerberg, Evelyn, Anders and Lukas Johansen and Trygve Lytle. Not to mention many, many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate our mom will be held 1:00 PM Monday, September 19, 2022, at Berean Bible Church. The address is 2345 N. 185th St., Shoreline, WA 98133. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations will gladly be accepted and appreciated for the following two ministries that our mom held close to her heart:

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

for Jonathan and Lisa Blomberg (missionaries in Africa)

PO Box 47

Nampa, ID 83653

and

Acres of Diamonds provides homeless moms and kids non-traditional, community-based transition housing.

PO Box 1672

Duvall, WA 98019

(Please note in the check memo or the notes section online that it’s “In Memory of Gerry”