Louise (Petrich) Iverson

Louise Catherine Iverson (Petrich) was born on July 30, 1930, in Cle Elum, WA and went to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on October 9, 2023. She was 93 years old. Louise lived a very full life and had spent the last few years at The Kline Galland Memory Care unit in the Seward Park area of Seattle.

Louise attended the University of Washington where she earned her teaching degree. She was also a proud Husky cheerleader during her college years. She was highly active in her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and represented it nationally by going to various campuses to promote proper dress and etiquette to other students.

After college she taught in the Bellevue Washington School District. She also taught in the Seattle School District. She loved teaching and developed special friendships with many students over the years. Toward the end of her tenure, she became an active substitute teacher. She influenced a generation of students who, long after her retirement, would approach her in public spaces, with spouse and children in hand, to tell her what a wonderful teacher she had been and how fondly they remembered her.

She was successful in persuading her parents to let her study dance. Dancing became her first love! She also reveled in ballroom dance with her dance partner, Cle Elum’s late Rich Miller. Together they won many dance contests. Eventually she traveled to New York to train and dance with "Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance” where she learned the Martha Graham Technique. Martha Graham is accepted as one of the greatest influences on 20th century contemporary dance. Not long after, she met her soon to be husband, Bob Iverson, in a jewelry making class at CWU. After a brief courtship, he proposed, and they returned to Cle Elum to be married. She visited London decades later when the Martha Graham Dance Company performed there. At that time, Martha Graham told her she could have become a world class dancer had she stayed with the organization.

Louise had a strong and present spirit. Her notable features included her warm and confident smile and the way her eyes sent out palpable energy. She attracted attention with her graceful and elegant bearing, her carefully composed attire, and the conversational ease she instantly established with everyone she met.

Louise had a deep love for her parents. Her father, Augie Petrich, was the biggest influence on her. He adored Louise and her him. He would often read stories and poems to her before bedtime. She so fondly remembered these shared times with her father and always remembered her favorite poem “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. Hearing that poem always brought tears to her eyes…and the memory of those wonderful moments with her father.

She loved fashion and her clothes reflected her good taste. She took care to appropriately mix and match colors, textures, and fabrics. She also had a collection of shoes and jewelry to match. Rings would adorn her long fingers, a necklace around her neck and a carefully chosen scarf. Her shoes were of every color and manner of design.

Louise was immensely proud to be of Croatian ancestry and of her Croatian community in Cle Elum and Roslyn. She had learned Croatian songs in childhood and, until her dying day, could remember the words. While listening to Croatian music she would move her hands to the music and sing along with the warmest smile on her face. She remained active with the Croatian community throughout her life including the planning of Croatia Fest and other Croatian events.

One of her of fondest memories from her childhood was that of a fishing outing on Lake Cle Elum with the beloved and respected local parish priest, the late Father Edward Weckert, a frequent visitor to their home (especially on Friday evenings at dinner time). They would take turns rowing and fishing as they spoke of many things, including of course, how to be a faithful child of God. Father Ed was an important influence on the community and on Louise. His words made a lifelong impression on her.

Louise loved her family and friends deeply. She was a dedicated mother, wife, grandmother and friend.  She will be missed but we are comforted that she has joined her loved ones in Heaven who left this earth before her. We are especially thankful for Louise’s incredibly special friend, Theo Mittet, whom she met in 2015. She spent her last years loving him, sharing special stories, and making even more memories with him, and he was gracious to share some of these with us. They spent evenings listening to music and dancing and having meals out. When she spoke of him, her entire face would light up. We are forever thankful for Theo and the care and friendship he gave her these past several years.

Louise is survived by her son, Rob Iverson (Cheryl) of Cle Elum, Vincent Iverson (Sienna) of Seattle, Garth Iverson (Maria) of New Mexico, brother Alan Petrich (Shirley) of Cle Elum as well as eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her husband and sons preceded her in death, husband, Robert Iverson (2012), and her son Tim Haase (Tamara) (2022), stepson Eric Iverson (2022), as well as her parents, the late August and Mary Petrich, of Cle Elum.

A big debt of gratitude to the amazing care givers at Kline Galland in Seattle. Thank you for making Louise’s final years of life joyful.

Her funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Church in Cle Elum. Friends are also invited to join the family for a Celebration of Life reception in her honor on Sunday, November 12 starting at 2:00 p.m. at The Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N in Seattle.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Cle Elum.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com