Elizabeth "Betty" L. Nerland's Obituary
Betty passed away peacefully at home on July 4th, 2025, surrounded by her two loving daughters and other close family.
Betty was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, the eldest of eight children born to Helen and Louis Miller. Her mom was a homemaker and her dad was a milkman. They raised cows and chickens and also grew their own gardens for fruits and vegetables to provide the food for their family. Betty and her siblings were responsible for doing all the indoor and outdoor chores around the home.
She was a member of Holy Rosary Church where she also attended elementary school, was baptized and eventually married there. She completed junior high at Baker Middle School. While attending high school, she met Dale and started dating him and eventually they got married and had their two daughters. She was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker and Dale was a garbage man for the City of Tacoma.
They raised their two daughters in a loving and happy home. The family enjoyed going camping, spending weekends with extended family for BBQs, other home-cooked meals, and a day filled with fun whether is was at Betty’s parents’ or Dale’s parents’ home. Betty also enjoyed going to play Bingo with her mom. She liked to have coffee with her neighbors each morning and watched her soap operas every day. Their home was the go to home of the neighborhood for the adults as well as the children because of the loving, caring, fun and inviting kind of people they were.
Betty became widowed in December of 1984 after 23 years of marriage and creating lots of happy memories that will never be forgotten by many. After Betty lost her husband, Dale, she began living with her mom in the wake of her father’s passing.
They lived together for a few years until she met Tom Butler, whom she also loved dearly! They bought a home together in Brennon, Washington. Here she enjoyed visiting and making new friends with her neighbors, doing her crafts, and just the peacefulness in the area around her while Tom worked in the yard, creating a beautiful yard for them to sit on the porch and enjoy. Tom took her travelling, and she got to see a lot of places and experience a lot of exciting adventures. They also volunteered at the local food bank and supported several charities.
Tom watched over her and cared for her, making sure she always had what she needed. He had children of his own and she treated them and loved them as if they were hers. That’s just how she was. A loving, caring, kind, supportive, and most of all, family-togetherness kind of person.
She became widowed again after 25 years of enjoying travelling, meeting new people, spending time with family and friends and just relaxing at home with Tom.
She lived out the rest of her life living with her daughters, and sister, Shirley. She most enjoyed time with her family, watching her favorite shows, laughing and visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Deborah "Debbie" Wolfe and Laurie (Eddie) Young, brothers Bill, Raymon, and Ron Miller; sisters Janet, Kathy, and Shirley; five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bob Miller.
Betty has touched the lives of a lot of people in some way. She will be missed very much but will never be forgotten. Her loving, caring, and joyful spirit will always be remembered and will remain a place in our hearts forever.
She is now in a much better place and someday we will see her again but until then we will miss her very much and love her forever. Life here will not be the same without you, but it’s time for you to rest and enjoy the most beautiful place called heaven and the final stop of your journey. We love you, Mom.
Funeral services will be held on July 23, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the Garden Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home with graveside service to follow. A gathering will be held with food and drink at Shirley’s home after services. All are welcome to come.
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