Alpha Peterson

Alpha, her husband Henry "Hank" and three young sons, Dale, Bruce and Wesley moved to Woodinville in the mid-40s, buying the five-acre tract that bordered NE 140th, where KFC and McDonald’s are today behind Goodyear. A long narrow lane led to Back Acres as they named it.

Alpha worked at a Safeway store after high school for 10 years, then at Boeing doing secretarial work.

Alpha began writing poetry and entered a contest, winning first place and went to San Francisco for the prize. Some of her poetry was published in the Woodinville Weekly. She was an ambitious person and entered a contest held by Empire Craft, selling silverware and china, winning first there also, selling more than anyone in the U.S.

She went to just about every house in and around Woodinville and made friends with all the housewives. She was instrumental in forming a pinochle club for the ladies and it lasted until a few years ago when only two ladies were left.

When Back Acres was sold to Molbak’s in 1988, Alpha and Hank moved to Holly Hills and took many trips through the Panama Canal, Orient, Mexico, Alaska, Europe and Hawaii, bringing home interesting souvenirs.

When their boys were still in school, they took them to Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, plus spending time at their cabin on Lake Chelan, that they let friends also use for vacations.

After Hank died in 1993, Alpha moved to Sequim where Dale and Bruce lived and also spent time with Wesley in Chelan and winters in Hawaii.

Alpha was a person who made the most of life and was a friend to so many.

Written by Helen McMahon