Dorothy Bess Erickson died March 12, after suffering complications from a brief illness.

She was born in Seattle to Elizabeth Kay Lewis and Joseph Reynolds Lewis, and was the great-grandaughter of Charles Terry, one of the founders of Seattle.

She graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1943 and then went to work as a “Rosie the Riveter” with the local firm Korry Electronics, manufacturing cockpit panel warning lights for B-17 aircraft.

After the war she went to New York City and graduated from the Katherine Gibbs Institute. From the late 1940s through the 1950s, she worked as an executive secretary in the Seattle area.

She married Erick Gunnar Erickson in 1958, and soon after moved to the Territory of Alaska in time to be a part of the inauguration of the 49th State of the Union.

In 1960, her first child, son David, was born. A daughter Elizabeth followed, but died in infancy. In 1963 daughter Alice was born.

She spent the next 22 years in Alaska. As soon as the children were old enough, she went to work again as a legal secretary for the Anchorage firm of Kelly and Luce.

After the children completed school and retirement approached, she and her husband decided to make their home on Bainbridge Island. She enjoyed her retirement years, spending time in her gardens and taking care of wild birds.

She was very involved with St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Her faith and the people of St. Barnabas were a sturdy foundation of strength and an outlet for her giving.

She had a great sense of humor, and could laugh at herself. Kindness, patience, tolerance, and giving of one’s self are all qualities that she possessed, lived by and taught.

She was preceded in death by her husband Erick, and sisters Martha and Constance. She is survived by her son David of Puyallup, daughter Alice, son-in-law Eric, and grandaughter Dorothy Elaine of Eatonville, and grandaughter Dorothy.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. March 27 at St. Barnabas Church, with a reception following. The service will be officiated by her longtime friend and pastor, Father Joseph Hickey-Tiernan.

Memorials can be made to the church.