Pauline Sacco's Obituary
Pauline Sacco
(Koch, Benson, Kluge)
Oct. 27, 1915 B Oct. 12, 2010
Pauline was born in Laurel, Montana, the youngest child of an extended farming family of German-Russians who immigrated from Kolb, Russia in the early 1900s. Proud and self-reliant, the family worked the fields in Montana and Colorado and settled in Tacoma. Throughout her life Pauline celebrated her heritage, exhibiting the steel, resilience, humor, and independence forged through tough times. She survived childhood diseases, the 1918 flu epidemic, mid-western winters, and auto accidents, with a fall taking her life at age 94. Pauline was raised in the German area of Tacoma near 23rd and Sheridan where she attended Peace Lutheran church (23rd and Cushman), which her father helped build in the1920's. She attended Tacoma schools and like many other children during the Depression, put her education on hold to work at Days Trouser Company to help support her family. She was always proud to say she handed her weekly wage over to her father. In Tacoma there were fun times B movies, cards, and dancing at the YWCA, Normanna Hall, and Crescent Ballroom. She met her first husband at one of these dances - Bernard Benson - fresh from South Dakota and looking for work. A whirlwind romance followed and Pauline found herself married and living in Vermillion, South Dakota learning to cook for harvest crews and running the farm. Just four years into their marriage Bernard, a State Police Trooper, was killed, while on duty, in an auto accident, leaving Pauline with Bernadine, age three, and baby, Bernard, on the way. She returned to Tacoma in December 1941 and often shared her apprehension of driving across the country in wartime. Resettled in Tacoma, Pauline married Karl Kluge, a design engineer at the Tacoma shipyards during WWII. They had two children, Kenneth and Beth Ann. They built their home and farm in Riverside. After divorcing, Pauline enrolled in Tacoma Vocational Technical School for certification as an office assistant. That training led her to a position as dietary assistant at Tacoma General Hospital until she retired in 1979. She always said her best job was as a Mom. She was active in 4-H, Cub Scouts, Rainbow, DeMolay, Sunday school, and PTA. She fondly remembers picking berries on different days to add to each child's punch card, then riding home on a bicycle to fix lunch, once crashing into the garage door because she forgot how to use the brakes! Pauline was a 50-year member of Fern Chapter Order of Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron in 1974 and always served as Esther. She was also a member of Amaranth. She met her third husband, Carl Sacco, through Eastern Star, who was a great source of support and fun. She was particularly proud to be a founding member of the Rainier Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia which celebrated her heritage and gave her the opportunity to visit Germany. Joys of her life were her children and grandchildren and her garden (particularly cucumbers), sitting in the gazebo enjoying the sun, breezes and flowers, the Mariners, keeping up with the world with her morning paper, and testing her intellect with Jeopardy and pinochle. As a cook, she was famous for her Christmas stollen, kuchen, pork roast and sauerkraut, kraut ranza and apple pies and her grandchildren remember popcorn and root beer floats. She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Bernadine Terry and daughters, Margaret and Anne; Bernard (Nadine) Benson and his children, Amanda and Sara; Kenneth Kluge (Susan Dogen), Beth Ann (Bruce) Ramsey and their children, Timothy and Molly. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Katherine Koch, brothers, Carl, Heinie, Andy and John, and sisters, Mary and Clara. The family extends a special thank you to all who helped Pauline maintain her independence in her home B particularly neighbors Pearl, Shari, and Denise. Viewing is Tuesday, October 26, from 1-9pm at Mountain View Funeral Home, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd.SW, Lakewood. Services and reception will be on Pauline's' 95th birthday, Wednesday, October 27 at 11am at Mountain View Garden Chapel.
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