June Wilson passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on April 30, 2021. Her lifelong hope and prayer that God would “make her a blessing to someone each day,” was complete.

She was born to Norwegian immigrants Axel and Jette (Sundt) Peterson on June 29, 1929, and spent her first three years in the small logging community of Brooklyn, Washington. Following her father’s death in 1932, she, her mother and older brother Arnold relocated to Montesano. Later her mother would remarry, and June and Arnold would get a new baby sister, Louise.

June attended school in Montesano and graduated from M.H.S in 1947.

Following graduation she married John Wilson, a handsome young man who had recently returned from the service. They set about to raise their family and to serve their church and community. First born was John Michael (Mike) followed by Jan, Jim, Tom and Tim. They made their home in South Aberdeen where they shared life with some of the best neighbors anyone would want.

As her children grew, June began taking classes at Grays Harbor College. She later enrolled in the college’s nursing program and studied to be an LPN. She graduated first in her class. She worked in the Emergency Room at St. Joseph’s Hospital and later in the Hospital’s Care Unit. In or around 1978, she proudly received the hospital’s Employee of the Year Award.

June was a devout Christian from the time she was 7 when a friend invited her to attend church one Sunday. She often spoke of a gentleman named Elvin Biles who, for years, drove out to Brady to pick her up for church and then back again following services. June became a member of the Aberdeen Church of Christ soon after she and John married. Shortly after joining the church she began teaching Sunday school, something she loved and continued non-stop well into her 70s.

In 1969 she was reunited with her family in Norway and began traveling every other year to Bergen to visit numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. Since then her daughter Jan has traveled to Norway and met many of these relatives.

She was grandma to nine grandchildren: Jay, Mindy, Dean, Dan, Jennifer, Lyndsay, Jessica, Melanie and Lexi and great-grandma to 11: Nicholas, Danielle, Montana, Tyler, Justin, Heather, Dallas, Rayce, Dashyl, Adelae and Solvi. June was always available to love and spoil these kids. She loved to celebrate the holidays surrounded by grandkids and would go to extremes to hide Easter eggs, purchase special gifts (like matching WSU Cougar sweatshirts) and prepare huge meals.

In 2008, a medical setback left June blind in one eye and with minimal sight in the other. This slowed her down greatly and eventually required she move to an assisted living facility where she spent most of her remaining years.

June was preceded in death by her husband John, mother, father, brother Arnold, son Jim, and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her sister Louise Burk, son Mike (Robin), daughter Jan Gudaz (Dan), sons Tom (Denise) and Tim (Stephanie).

When possible, a celebration of life gathering will be scheduled.

The family encourages memorial gifts in June’s honor to be made to the Aberdeen Church of Christ or the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association