Obituary of Theresa Welton

Theresa “Teri” Welton died at Franciscan Hospice House in University Place, WA of complications from Boerhaave’s Syndrome. She was 69 years old.

Teri is survived by her husband Dale Welton and her children, Kjerstina “KJ” Anderson, Nikki Anderson, Charmagne Layton, Tiffany Anderson, and Julie Gravley; and siblings Cynthia Haddock, Kevin Wallace, Jennifer King, Jim Wallace, and half-brother Darryn Wallace. She was preceded in death by her parents Patricia and Doug Wallace and step-father Ed Roskoski.

Teri was born on October 6, 1953 in Portland, OR. She graduated from Woodland High School in 1971 and was valedictorian of her class. She received a four year scholarship to attend Brigham Young University where she graduated in 1975 with a BS degree in Microbiology. Teri married Steven Anderson in 1975 whom she met during college. They welcomed five children into the world and had many travelling adventures together. When their marriage ended in 2004, Teri rediscovered herself and then moved to the Pacific Northwest to start anew in 2008 with Bill Emerson. She took over management of the Franciscan health system's blood bank services for the South Puget Sound. She found a loving LDS church community as well as new places to seek out and hike. Teri was married Dale Welton in 2018. They loved each other very much and enjoyed many happy years together building each other up as they added to their shared home. Teri's hobbies and talents included a love of music - piano, organ, violin, and singing in and directing her church choir. In her church community she was a genealogist, an emergency preparedness leader, seminary teacher and a teacher of many children and adult classes. She also held many leadership positions in the Church Her passions were hiking in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, admiring the stars in the night sky, and collecting Native American art and rocks. Teri had a voracious appetite for learning and reading was her passion.

A memorial service for Teri will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Gig Harbor, WA. She will be interred at Haven of Rest Memorial Park in Gig Harbor, Washington.