Obituary of Berte Alden Olson

 

 

Berte Alden Olson, 93, of Heritage Point in Morgantown, WV, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2018.

 

Berte was born March 24, 1924, in San Francisco, the daughter of Victoria Lucille Alden and Ralph Edwin Scovel, both of San Francisco.

 

She graduated from the Katherine Delmar Burke School and, during World War II, married James McBride Shumway, in San Francisco. She and Jim Shumway, a Navy pilot from Assumption, Ill., had two sons, James McBride Shumway Jr. and Ralph Scovel Shumway, whom they raised in Fairfield, Calif., where Jim worked as an attorney. Later in life she married Burt D. Goodman and then William J. Olson. She greatly enjoyed many years as part of the Olson family, embracing her role as Grandma Berte to all of Bill’s grandchildren. In 2004, she moved to Morgantown to be closer to her son Jamie and his family. She lived independently at The Village at Heritage Point for nearly 14 years. As a lifelong bridge player, Berte made many friends through her involvement in bridge groups and other activities at The Village. 

 

Berte was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her elder son, Jamie Shumway, and her step-mother, Isobel C. Krell.

 

Surviving are her younger son, Ralph “Skip” Shumway, of Honolulu, and Jamie Shumway’s widow, Betsy Pyle, and their son, Wesley Shumway, both of Morgantown.  She is also survived by Bill’s family members: Peggy and husband Tom Conway of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and their children, Bob and partner Anaiya, and Ken and wife Liz, their daughters Lauren and Riley; Christine and husband Dave Matley of Fallon, Nev., and their children Ben and Natalie and husband Martin Keeney; Robert Olson and wife Debee Holland-Olson of Weaverville, Calif., and their children, Brian and wife Ami, and daughter Juniper,  and Sharon and husband Riley Tingue, and son Lucas; and Burt Goodman’s daughters Patty and Susan and their families, of California.

 

Following her wishes, Hastings Funeral Home has provided cremation services.  A local celebration of Berte’s life will be held at Heritage Point in March. Family members also will celebrate her life in California this summer.  Contributions in memory of Berte can be made to the Heritage Point Employee Appreciation Fund, and mailed to: 1 Heritage Point, Morgantown, WV, 26505. 

 

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