Alice Mae Bottem

Alice Bottem

Alice Mae Bottem, 90, of Kirkland passed peacefully on January 14th, 2024 after ten days of hospice care and in the presence of family.

Alice was born September 12th, 1933, in Flasher, North Dakota to Fred and Corrine Klein. During the depression years of the late thirties, the family moved from their nearby farm in Freda, North Dakota to Enumclaw, WA. In 1946, she moved to Kirkland where her parents started Mountain View Pickle Company on ten acres east of what is now Evergreen Hospital. She shared many stories of pickling cucumbers and working in the family business. It was during this time she met her future husband, Joe, at Trinity Lutheran Church in the youth group. She attended Lake Washington High School and excelled on the bowling team. After graduation in 1951, she attended college in Minneapolis, Minnesota to study nursing.

She returned to Kirkland and married Joe in 1953. They started family life in Bremerton where Steve was born in 1954. Moving back to Kirkland, she worked for a year at the National Bank of Commerce until Mike was born in 1956. Diane joined the family in 1957. In 1959, they built a home in Juanita and welcomed Paul the same year. The family was complete with the arrival of Susan in 1962. Mom made sure home was always a warm and welcoming place. Besides her family, there was always room in her home for neighbors, friends, missionaries and even a German exchange student. She consistently shared the blessings God bestowed. She had the gift of hospitality.

In 1974, Alice and Joe built a beautiful new home on five acres in Woodinville. The home became a focal point for family gatherings and where many happy memories were made. They continued to live in the home until the summer of 2023 when ill health forced them to move to an adult family home and then to Madison House in Kirkland.

Alice enjoyed many different activities. She competed in league bowling in her adult years with both her sister Aggie and good friends. There were many winters when she would get her children off to school and then catch the bus to the mountains to go skiing. Sewing clothes for herself and the family was a necessity with five growing children, but also something she enjoyed. Later, quilting became a hobby, and many beautiful quilts were produced in Woodinville. Alice loved music. As life became less active in the later years, she got a lot of joy listening to all her records, tapes, and CD’s.

Alice carried on both Norwegian and German family legacies through food, with a heavy emphasis on Norwegian krumkake and lefse, which has continued to be a tradition for both her children and grandchildren. Food “canning” included freezer jams and keeping the cucumber pickle recipe alive through her children and grandchildren. Alice kept busy, was hard working, and accomplished in her role as homemaker.

Alice was active in Our Redeemer Lutheran Church until her health limited her activities. She led and hosted many women’s bible study group for several years, was a crucial member of their Women’s Missionary Fund, and helped with a variety of children’s ministry programs.

She had the courage to take family car camping trips with five kids, even on occasion without Joe when he couldn’t get time off from work. Purchasing a camping trailer did make it an easier adventure and continued to create special memories for her children and grandchildren. After Joe’s retirement in 1995, she and Joe enjoyed traveling. They visited the colonial historic sites and saw the east coast fall colors. Hawaii, Norway and condos in Depot Bay and Leavenworth were some of their favorite destinations.

Alice was known by all for her faith in God, her warm and caring personality, as well as being an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She had a generous heart, full of love. She will be deeply missed by family and friends but she remains within our hearts knowing we will be reunited one day.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Joseph Bottem, children: Stephen (Lorraine) Bottheim, Seattle, Michael (Janna) Bottem, Ellensburg, Diane Gordon, Bothell, Paul (Kim) Bottem, Snohomish, and Susan (Scott) Martin, Woodinville, 10 grandchildren: Ashley (Brot) Traxinger, Snohomish, Carmen (Damon) Hintzman, Janesville, WI, Peder Bottheim, Glacier, Washington, Kaitlyn Martin (Nate Conrad), Everett, Jon Erik Bottheim, Seattle, Keila Gordon (Alex Schmale), Richland, Alexander (McKenzie) Martin, Lynnwood, Sarah Bottem, Bothell, and Kaira Gordon, Navarre, Florida, and four great-grandchildren: Liam and Jack O’Malley, MacKinley and Hudson Traxinger and nieces Gail (Randy) Doty and Shellie (Tony) (son, Wyatt) Wornell. She is also survived by her aunt, Gladys Greggs, Seattle, and cousins Tom (Elaine) Greggs, Seattle, Dwight Greggs, Seattle, Paulette (Damon) Fletcher, Bothell, Bob (May) Heltsley, Olympia and Sharon Siemer, Hesperia, CA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Agnes Marie (Jim) Fifer, grandson Brian Van Camp and niece Laurie Hamlin.

A memorial service to celebrate Alice Bottem’s life will be held on February 3rd at 1:00 PM, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 11611 NE 140th St, Kirkland, WA 98034.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to World Vision in honor of Alice’s memory.