Brenda Lee Wika Boldt Beatty

Brenda was a diligent woman who always put her family first. She dedicated her life to her three children and her grandchildren. She beat the odds at 43 years old as an aneurysmal stroke survivor. With hard work and determination, she continued her life and overcame hard life challenges. She was a proud salon owner and hairstylist for many years, including shops in Longview, Washington, Apple Valley, California and Nuevo, California.

Brenda was born to Dorothy Ammons Wika and Gilbert (Skip) Wika in Longview, Washington on March 8, 1963. She was the loving baby sister of five children including her older brothers, Mike, Kris, Rocky and her sister Teresa. She had four stepbrothers, Tim Campbell, Doug Buell, Mike Buell and Jon Buell and one stepsister, Belinda Campbell Brusco.

Brenda and her first husband, John Boldt, married on November 30, 1981, and they raised a family of three children during their 10-year marriage. They lived in various homes in Skamokawa, Kelso and Longview, Washington before settling into a home on 20th Street in Longview. Brenda was a successful salon owner at the Monticello Hotel.

After her divorce she moved with her three children to Wenatchee, Washington. A few years later she met her husband, John Beatty. Brenda was working at a restaurant and John was a regular. Brenda and John became fast friends and after a time they developed a beautiful relationship. Brenda and John Beatty married on November 18, 2000. They would have been together for 30 years this November. They were married for 25 of those 30 years. While raising children, camping, fishing, swimming, and boating were their favorite outings.

One of Brenda's favorite pastimes was enjoying their boat that was docked at the Dana Point Marina. They enjoyed boating life for a good five years. They spent many weekends at Dana Point and on many occasions treated the children and grandchildren to extravagant stays at nearby hotels where they would all spend time enjoying each other as a family.

Brenda's children, grandchildren and her husband were her life. Her favorite times were when they were all together enjoying each other's laughs and personalities. Brenda also adored each family member. Family was everything to Brenda and anyone that knew her knew this to be true. Brenda's siblings and cousins were especially close to her and she made sure to make an effort to maintain those relationships throughout her life. She shined light in everyone's life that she touched. She was a loving friend who will be terribly missed.

She recently retired and was enjoying her beautiful home and the life she and John had created in Nuevo, California. Brenda enjoyed spending time in her yard and had many projects going on, including building a deck to her pool and a garden which she was very proud of.

She was looking forward to the excitement of retirement. Brenda loved to ride bikes at the beach and sit by the fire at night. She and John enjoyed even the simplest of times together like sitting on the patio making s'mores with the grandchildren. Brenda loved car shows, fairs and any time spent as a family.

In 2018, Brenda experienced a great loss when she suddenly and unexpectedly lost her only son, John Arthur Boldt, know lovingly as "Jay". Jay was a severe diabetic, and his life was tragically taken at just 33 years old. Brenda already held a steady faith, even in the darkest of times. She believed her faith in the Lord would one day reunite her with her son. She never lost that faith and always encouraged those around her to keep theirs too.

The family wishes to thank everyone who loved Brenda so dearly. She will be missed and no words can describe the loss. She had a tremendous heartache of losing her son and now is reunited with what she would call the perfect mother, Dorothy Buell and her son Jay in Heaven. What a glorious reunion that must have been.

Brenda is survived by all of her siblings, her husband John; her daughters Seana Boldt, Jillian Boldt-Doss, son-in-law Jeff Doss, stepson Paul Beatty, a stepdaughter Hayley Boldt Garcia, her stepfather Dan Buell, her four grandchildren, Nevaeh, Travis, Cameron (CJ) and Amoni. She referred to her grandchildren as her “littles” – they were her absolute world and influenced every decision she made.

On August 13, a private viewing will be held at 11 a.m. at the Dowling Funeral Home in Cathlamet, Washington. At 12:30 there will be a Luncheon at the family church, the Heritage Bible Church, on Puget Island. The service will be at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the committal at Fernhill Cemetery in Skamokawa, Washington alongside her son.

Pallbearers will be her brothers; Mike Wika, Kris Wika, Rocky Wika; her cousin Jeff Wika and her son-in-law Jeff Doss. Her grandsons, Travis and Cameron (CJ), will serve as honorary pallbearers.