Anne Brachvogel Benson Russell — ‘Mutti’ — was born in Aberdeen, Wash., in 1926 to Dr. and Mrs. Max Brachvogel and died February 2017 in Tacoma, Wash. Her remaining sibling is her sister Mrs. Helen Sundquist. Her sister Mrs. Jean Ehrhart and her brother Dr. Max Brachvogel are deceased. Her children are Dr. David Benson (Mai Mai) and Ruth Thompson (Patrick). She is also survived by Lynn Miller Benson. She has six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren with another expected this summer and one SIDS grand baby.

Mom worked summers in her father’s medical clinic and graduated from Aberdeen Weatherwax High School, class of 1944. She attended the UW nursing program for two years, graduated from Seattle University with a BS in Health Information Sciences and an AA degree in psychology from Fort Steilacoom Community College. She also graduated from Tacoma Vocational School as a Certified Dental Assistant and from Knapp Business School. She is a retired Medical Records Administrator. She had been part owner and vice president of Stacy Plumbing Co.

Anne belonged to AHIMA, University Place Presbyterian Church, American Dental Assistant Assoc., Seattle Women’s University Club, Seattle Tennis Club, Chi Omega Fraternity, and the ESA Sorority.

She was a paramedic in hyperbaric work at Virginia Mason Research Center, an avid scuba diver and an absolutely beautiful swimmer, who taught her children and grandchildren how to swim. She also loved to dance. She said her best job was a grandmother with a car.

Mom was deeply involved in SIDS research since 1971 ‘to forever’, realizing the need for baby apnea monitors for high risk infants and the importance of their sleeping positions. She supplied SIDS material for a NOAH-HEW workshop in Atlanta, Ga. She worked with and was grateful for many valued people on this project and others. We are also so grateful to the nurses, doctors, and Hospice at Allenmore Hospital for their great care of Mom the last three weeks. We have faith in the knowledge that we will be with her again some day. Her children recognize that she let few people into her life but those she did she loved selflessly and with great depth. We hope you are having ‘the best swim ever’ Mom.

If anyone would like to send a remembrance memorial please send to the NW Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N., Suite 350, Seattle,WA 98103.