Aunt Jeanne

My middle name is Jeanne, after my Aunt, Mom's sister. 

Jeanne and Nel were my first overnight visitors when I settled in Rice Lake.  They stayed several days and we had a nice visit.  Jeanne tried to attend her class reunions at Milltown and it worked out that they could stay with me.

In 2016, I took a big trip out West and spent a couple of nights at Jeanne & Nel's house in Stanwood, WA.

 Aunt Jeanne had called me the first week of October, while I was at Quilt Camp.  We had a nice chat about family and what I was up to.  She was slowing down,  but still living alone in a senior high rise.  

We were in the habit of talking on the phone every month or so. I would write letters to Aunt Jeanne from time to time, using large font. I also sent photographs of Emily's wedding, a lunch gathering with my Rydberg cousins, and other family events.  She would usually call after reading my letter.  She always said that she appreciated getting my letters because she could re-read them.

This photo was taken when I visited Jeanne & Nel in Washington, in 2016.

Jeanne Botten

July 14, 1930 - November 8, 2024

Jeanne Eleanor (Bjornton) Botten was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on July 14, 1930, and recently died on November 8, 2024 at her home in Brookdale Senior Living in Stanwood. When she was a junior in High School, she wanted a big change so she went to live with her sister, Pauline, and husband, to attend Milltown High School in Wisconsin, where she graduated. Later she moved back to Minneapolis to attend Augsburg College, where she met Nelvin Botten (aka known as Mel) in a choir class, then married him, thus earning her MRS degree. They moved back to Nel's home town Seattle in 1950. Son Jeffrey was born in 1952, followed soon by daughter Tamara in 1954.

She worked for 33 years for various dentists. In 1977 she and Nelvin moved to Stanwood where they retired to enjoy travel, boating, cruising, bowling and crafting. She would refinish tables, chairs and other small furniture items for gifts and sale in antique stores. She sewed small dresses for African missions, and also enjoyed rosemaling (Norwegian painting) as well as various needlepoint projects. She also volunteered for 20 years with the Northwest Dental van which provided free dental service to those who could not afford to pay, and she helped establish 2 Lutheran churches.

She is survived by her children Jeffrey Botten (wife Toni Burton) and Tamara (Botten) Riggs (whose husband Craig passed away suddenly this past February after 48 years of marriage.) Also four grandchildren---Sam BB, Daylen, Micah and Megan Riggs and 5 great grandchildren. 

After nearly 70 years of marriage to Nelvin, who passed away in 2020 from cancer, she has expressed much desire and extreme happiness to be joining him in heaven with Jesus.