Alberta Widman went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 23, 2023 in Bellingham.
Alberta was born on Nov. 27, 1927 in Maurice, IA to Henry and Susie (deJager) Smit. She had been a Whatcom County resident since 1934. Alberta attended Lynden schools. On Nov. 30, 1945, she married Lloyd Widman and together they farmed and raised their family in Ferndale. Alberta enjoyed her role as mother and helpmate to Lloyd. With the farm, a large garden, chickens, and raising their children, she was a busy and skilled homemaker, loving wife and mom.
Alberta’s strong faith in the Lord sustained her throughout her life. Her faith led her to teach Sunday school and host child evangelism events in her home. She was a member of Good Shepherd Community Church.
Alberta and Lloyd enjoyed traveling together throughout the United States and a special trip to Peru in 1973 to visit Alberta’s sister and her family. A few trips to Texas for volunteer work with Wycliffe Bible Translators were also memorable trips. After Lloyd’s death in 2000, Alberta continued to visit family around the Pacific Northwest via Amtrak.
Alberta volunteered within the Whatcom County community. She served as a docent at Historical Hovander House, volunteered at church stuffing bulletins, and knit stocking hats and scarves for Whatcom Volunteers Project Warm-up.
Knitting was something Alberta enjoyed later in life, but she also sewed clothing for her family and crafted embroidery projects. Family and friends will also remember her for the newsy letters she often sent.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd and daughter Sandra Clark; parents Henry and Susie, siblings Leona, Bryant, Bud, and Shirley.
Alberta is survived by her children Wayne (Gail), Gerald (Rosemary), Marlene (Dale) McClain, and son-in-law Wayne Clark; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; sister Elaine Sterk, sister-in-law Ruth Smit, brother-in-law LaMont Schmidt, and sister-in-law Joyce Auvil; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday Oct. 28, 2023 at Good Shepherd Community Church, 1254 W. Smith Road, Bellingham.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Child Evangelism Fellowship, PO Box 3137, Ferndale, WA 98248 or Bellingham Lighthouse Mission, PO Box 541, Bellingham, WA 98227.
