Elizabeth Anne Sparks

Elizabeth Anne Sparks "Bette" 11/20/1923 ~ 5/11/2011 Elizabeth was born in Tacoma, WA to Margaretta 1906 ~ 201l and Frederick Johnston 1901 ~1936. She grew up in Seattle and Tacoma with her parents, grandmother and aunt. When graduating from Roosevelt High in 1941, Bette requested gifts of a cameo and the complete works of Shakespeare. The quiet, bookish miss entered Virginia Mason Nursing School. She met Herschel, was swept off her feet, left school and married June, 25, 1942. In 1943, Bette and their baby daughter, Sandra Anne, followed newly enlisted Herschel to Army postings in Texas, Washington D.C., and New York. Thus began their 67 year close partnership in all things. In 1945, they moved to Wenatchee to live on the Sparks apple ranch. Bette came to appreciate the beauty of the valley, so different from coastal Seattle. Their second daughter, Linda Hersch, was born while Herschel worked with his dad growing apples. The new GI Bill made possible his being in the first class graduating from Wenatchee Junior College. Once again Bette, babies and Herschel moved to Seattle for 2 years as he attended and graduated University of Washington. Bette made lasting friendships with other young moms in married student housing. Returning to Wenatchee, 1951, they designed and built their home on land gifted from his dad. Together, Bette and Hersch planted many new acres of apples, raised their two daughters, and followed in his parents steps of community involvement in all things Wenatchee. Bette took classes at WVCC, and participated in service to her church and it's missions, music, book and social groups. She was a good friend to neighbors and Hersh's friends. Bette loved potluck meals, family gatherings, trips to Seattle for holidays, decorating her home, hosting gatherings, sewing, needlework, knitting afgans and always, reading new books to add to her library. She worked for a time at Grant Elementary and the Apple Commission. With their children launched, Bette and Hersch expanded their home, began motor home adventures and international travels. They deeply enjoyed being grandparents as Brian, Matthew, Christianna, Julianna and J. Robby were born and made annual family visits to Wenatchee. The Sparks had fun with each of their Palm Desert and Indio California " snowbird" homes. They spent many happy times touring the Southwest for it's beauty and Hersch's lifelong fascination with geology. Bette chronicled the Sparks' years in orderly, volumes of photo albums. Herschel Hans Sparks "Hersch" 6/2/1921 ~ 8/5/2009 Herschel was born to James Sheridan and Hazel Sparks of Wenatchee. He grew, a skinny kid with glasses, youngest of 3, on the family apple ranch with big brother Sheridan and older sister Piccola. After "bridge walking" to graduate Wenatchee High, he and some fellow hopeful buddies, including Bette's cousin Stanley Palmer of Wenatchee, pooled their gas money to try Seattle for work at Boeing. There, he was introduced to Bette. After the "WWII era", they grew apples, owned 3 different warehouses, diversified into valley properties and the stock market. Hersch came up with ideas, talked them through with Bette and his close friends and acted. His plans always considered the changing fruit industry, economic trends, long term growth and benefiting Wenatchee as a community. Bette did ranch payroll and bookwork and expanded her business and industry knowledge apace Hersch's independent business enterprises. Always, his actions expressed his faithful loyalty to family, friends, and commitment to church service. Hersch cared for his mother and sister for 40 years after his father's death in 1962. For 25 of those years he drove them to Cathedral City CA each fall and brought them back to Wenatchee each spring. He brought back to Bette a lovely new dress or suit each trip. His taste in fine clothes, cars and retirement freedom perfectly fit with Bette's. In latter years, they participated in Museum expansion and built the Sparks Arena at Appleatchee in memory of Hersch's dad who helped found it after arriving in Wenatchee from Kentucky in 1909. Bette and Hersch spent their final years in their home, looking across the valley, quietly, together. A Memorial Service Celebration will be hosted by the family at Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church, Friday, May 20 at 2:00 pm. Memorial gifts in Elizabeth's memory can be made to "Friends of Wenatchee Library" c/o Pat Brooke, 310 Douglas St., Wenatchee, 98801

Elizabeth Anne Sparks

November 20, 1923 - May 11, 2011