Beverly Ramstead

July 1, 1925 – September 8, 2015

Beverly Jane “Babe” Ramstead, a long-time resident of Poulsbo, passed gently into the Lord’s hands while in her sleep on the morning of September 8. She was 90 years old.

Beverly was a loving and supportive wife and mother who adored her family and loved nothing more than having them around her. She was a very loyal friend. It’s likely that she will be remembered for her generous spirit, sense of style, wry smile and dry wit. And she will be greatly missed.

Born in Portland, Oregon on July 1, 1925, the second daughter of Emmett and Inga Coleman, she was raised in San Diego until she reached high school. Beverly remained extremely fond of the city her entire life as it provided many wonderful memories for her.

The family moved to Seattle’s Greenlake neighborhood where she graduated from Lincoln High School, class of 1942. She always had high standards, which she rarely compromised, and had a great command of the English language. Because Beverly was an excellent student, she finished her course work a half year early and immediately entered the work force.

She worked first as a secretary at Owens-Illinois Glass Co. and then at the Alaska Travel Control where she was a clerk/typist. It was here that a co-worker introduced her brother Jim to Beverly.

They began dating, and along with large groups of friends, spent unending hours dancing at clubs around Seattle. Dancing brought them so much joy throughout their lives.

Beverly and Jim married in 1947; they started their family while living in the Shoreline area. In the mid-50’s, they and their three children moved to San Diego where their fourth child was born. It was here that Bev and Jim also built their first house together, were charter members of Clairemont Lutheran Church and took full advantage of the California weather, the beach and spending time surrounded by extended family and life-long friends.

The Ramsteads returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1962, eventually settling in Poulsbo where they built another home. Beverly was a talented homemaker – a great cook who had a keen eye for design and textiles. She and Jim enjoyed entertaining and hosted many great parties.

Beverly returned to work outside the home in 1969 and retired from the North Kitsap School District business office in 1985.

Throughout her life, Beverly was known for her excellent musicianship and was often the center of enthusiastic sing-alongs around the piano. Raised a Lutheran, she was a choir member of every church she ever belonged to. And she served as lodge musician at the Poulsbo Sons of Norway where she was proud to have played for King Olav’s visit in 1975.

Beverly never turned down a game of Scrabble! And took a lot of pleasure from playing cards – bridge, cribbage and gin, but mostly it was the interaction with whomever she was playing that brought her a lot of happiness.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim. Survivors include daughters Pat Smaaladen (Landis) of Bellevue, Susan of Ballard and Julie of Redmond, son Jim (Sande) of Indianola, her sister Charlotte Titus of Lake Oswego, Oregon, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Beverly’s interment service will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent on Friday, October 23 at 1:15pm. A service/celebration of life will be held at the Sons of Norway in Poulsbo on Saturday, October 24 at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her honor to Seattle Children’s Hospital at www.giveto.seattlechildrens.org or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. An online guestbook is available at www.curnowfuneralhome.com.