Hilda Maria Batterberry
July 11, 1916 - June 3, 2013
Obituary
HILDA MARIA (LaQUA) BATTERBERRY
Hilda Maria LaQua Batterberry passed away on Monday, June 3rd at 4:20PM in Federal Way, Washington at the age of 96. Hilda was born July 11, 1916 to Joseph and Mary LaQua in Tolley, North Dakota. She was the sixth of seven children born into a farming family of the early 1900’s. At the age of three her family moved to Herman, Minnesota. There her family farmed and she and her brothers and sisters attended country school. Hilda graduated from Herman High School.
After high school Hilda attended teacher’s colleges in Wheaton and St. Cloud Minnesota. After receiving her teaching certificate, she taught at the first one room school she had attended as a young girl in Herman. She taught rural elementary school grades one through eight in Stevens and Grant counties. These were also one room schoolhouses. Being a country teacher, she sought out room and board close to schools she taught in. In 1941, Mike Batterberry, a farmer near her school, had a room for rent. She paid him $20 a month. This is where she met Mike’s son, Donald Batterberry, her husband to be. Don and Hilda were married August 11, 1942. Hilda said Grandpa Mike Batterberry always wanted Don to marry a school teacher. They moved to Seattle and worked in the naval shipyards during World War II. She manufactured stovepipes out of sheet metal. She talked about how difficult it was to cut metal with “scissors.”
They returned to Minnesota in 1944 when Hilda became pregnant with their first child. They had three children in Minnesota before returning to the Seattle area in 1950. They would stay in the Seattle area and settle down for good.
Hilda was the first kindergarten teacher at Sunnydale Elementary School in Burien, Washington. In the early 1960’s she opened her own preschool in the family home and named it “The Child’s Garden”. Teaching children was something that came naturally to her. There are many generations of kids who will always remember “Mrs. Batterberry” as their first teacher.
Even as a young mother Hilda had the time to co-author two books with fellow teacher Phyllis VanDyke. They are titled “Wonderland in Kindergarten – a guide for using handicraft units” and “Trails in Kindergarten.”
Hilda was also an exceptional artist who excelled in many mediums. She loved to paint and much of her work was displayed in the Burien Art Gallery, Seahurst Workshop and the Frye Museum in Seattle. She also loved to paint china. Many family and friends enjoy the labor of her hobbies on their walls and in their china closets.
Hilda loved her family. She and Don had 7 children. She always said “seven is heaven.” The house in Seahurst was always busy and on Saturdays smelled of fresh homemade bread. As her kids, we have many memories of helping to can fruits, vegetables and pickles. During the summer she would work at the Highline Pharmacy fountain where we’d go for an evening ice cream cone with mom. Hilda was a mom who could and did it all. She worked, raised a family and made everything from scratch. When her last son, Tom, came along she became a soccer and hockey mom.
She loved to travel. By travel, we mean it didn’t have to be far. It could be a quick weekend jaunt to the Queets on the Washington coast or a spontaneous trip to Minnesota to visit the family. How we all fit in the car no one knows. Hilda loved all her extended family in Seattle, Minnesota, Ireland and Germany. Even after Don passed she made many trips to Minnesota and spent more than one 4th of July with the Deal’s, LaQua’s and Backmans. She loved learning of her and Don’s family roots. She researched both family trees and wrote books to record each family’s history. She did this before there was an Internet or Google. Even though she was a full German by birth, she was “all Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day. She loved the Batterberrys in Ireland and enjoyed pulling a pint at the Batterberry Pub in Castletowne Roche, County Cork.
Hilda was a woman of great faith and passed it on to her children. The Batterberry family attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for many years. Their children attended the parish elementary school. She was involved with the Legion of Mary. She and her sister Clara would pray for those in need and visit those who were sick.
As her children, we have had the privilege of having our mother longer than most children are afforded. She showed us faith, hope and love. But the most important of all of these was love.
Hilda is preceded in death by her husband Donald, parents Joseph and Mary, her brothers Lawrence, Herbert, Joseph, Ralph and her sisters Dora and Clara.
She is survived by her children Fr. Michael Batterberry, Peggy McFarland (John), Maria Porter (Lance), Patrick Batterberry, Suzanne Martin (David), Heidi Martin (Mike), Tom Batterberry (Locki). Grandchildren Tanda , Lena, Anna, Sarah, Katie, Amy, Seamus, Annie, James, Thomas and Ryan. Great grandchildren Jonathan, Julia, Miguel, Melania, Presley, Carter, Rylan, Payton and more on the way. And numerous nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to extend our immense gratitude to her caregivers the last three years. Hilda has lived at Maple Cottage Assisted Living in Federal Way. The care she has received from Jovi, Cel and Mary Jane has been heartfelt and giving. As a family we have been blessed by the nurturing care you have given our mother. We thank you deeply.
A Celebration of Life Mass will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 12:00 pm. Reception to follow until 2:45 pm in the Parish Hall. Mass and reception will be held at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church 3939 SW 331st Federal Way, Washington (253-838-5924).
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials may be made to the Batterberry Book Fund – Kennedy Catholic High School 140 South 140th Burien, WA 98168. Phone number 206-246-0500. You may donate online at www.kennedyhs.org/giving This fund provides books and school supplies for those who cannot afford them.
Full obituary and pictures of Hilda may also be viewed at http://hildabatterberry.blogspot.com
Our deepest condolences to all the family from St. Vincent Parishioner.
Hi Mike. I was very sorry to hear of the death of your mother .
I will offer the Holy Mass asking the Lord to take this good woman to Himself forever and reward her deep faith. Know that you, Peggy, Maria, Pat, Suzanne, Heidi and Tom are in my prayers at this sad time
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Batterberry family. I was one of Mrs. Batterberry’s kindergarten students at Sunnydale Elementary in 1960. Her excellent teaching well prepared me for elementary school which eventually led to Bachelor and Masters degrees. She was a great lady.
Heidi and family,
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother,. I feel blessed to have known her and was always glad to see her. Mothers are gifts from God that takes care of us while we are here but they are always with us still watching us from heaven. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Always remember that they nurture us to be the people we are. May God give her eternal life with him. God bless all of you and I will be thinking about you.
God bless
Pauline Hoyt
So many fond memories of Mrs. Batterberry. She was a wonderful kindergarten teacher to our entire family and we still make Mrs. Batterberry cookies to this day! Its the same recipe card she gave mom years ago!! Keeping you in our prayers as it is a sad time, but also a joy filled time to celebrate her life. Sue and Roger and John Jacobs
We were very saddened to hear of Hilda’s death. May God’s presence and happy memories help to sustain all who loved her at this time of grief.