Byron Iverson
Byron (Barney) Dale Iverson, of Kirkland passed away Monday, February 21, 2022, after a long hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Services will be held Sunday, March 6th at 3:00 pm at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 10021 NE 124th Street, Kirkland, Washington. A reception will follow.
A private military burial will be held at a later date.
He was born on March 28, 1934 to Henry and Pearl Iverson, in Carpenter, South Dakota. The third of four children. He attended school in a one room schoolhouse. Prior to joining the Army, he did a multitude of things – from painting barns and working with the combine crew traveling between North Dakota and Nebraska. He joined the Army in April 1954 during the Korean Conflict and was Honorably discharged in 1956. While in the Army he was a locomotive operator.
After leaving the Army, he met the love of his life, Margie Johannson on a blind date. They married February 24, 1957. They then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah for one year attending telegraphy school. Dots and dashes were not that much fun, so moved to Milford, Nebraska for two years of automotive trade school. They returned to South Dakota after three years and lived in Woonsocket where he worked at the Ford Garage. They then moved to Huron and he worked at the Ford Garage there also.
While training for the Army he traveled to Fort Lewis in Tacoma. He loved the mild climate, so when the Boeing boom began, he jumped at the opportunity to move his family west. He and Margie packed up their 4 kids and the few belongings that would fit in a U-Haul trailer and moved with friends Dale & Bonnie Cleveland. They purchased their first house for $12,000 in Kirkland – site unseen. He went to work at Metke Ford in Bellevue as a mechanic and at other dealerships in Bellevue until his retirement. When not working as a mechanic he ventured out and ran a couple of businesses with friend Ron Snedeker — auto detailing and a gas station.
While working his day job, he took on the real estate world and purchased homes for rentals, working many days as a mechanic and evenings as a painter/plumber/carpenter and all around “jack of all trades” to keep the rental properties in tip top shape. After his retirement, he spent time tinkering in the garage and working in the yard. Barney also enjoyed many TV programs – Gold Rush, Wheel of Fortune and of course the nightly news. He also loved to read the newspaper – from cover to cover, word searches and jig saw puzzles. Card games were also a passion, he was always up for a game of cards or cribbage.
Some of the many trips he and Margie took were summer travels to South Dakota to visit family and friends. Cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. Margie and Barney traveled to Branson, MO with Don & Shirelly. Annual trips to Reno and Spring fishing trips to Eastern Washington with family and friends.
Barney will be remembered for his willingness to always find time to help where/when needed. From helping at Trinity Lutheran Church with his good friend Larry Thompson, where Barney & Margie were members for many years. He helped family and friends through the years with so many things – car repairs, painting, yard work and just plain advice when asked.
He is preceded in death by his parents Henry & Pearl Iverson, brother Kenneth Iverson, sister Maxine Peterson, in-laws Pete & Lucille Johannsen, brother-in-law Don Snedeker and granddaughter Julie Howell.
Barney will be missed by his many friends and family. His wife of 65 years, Margie of Kirkland. Daughter Debbie, of Kirkland, grandsons Ryan (Jennifer) of Covington and Jason of Kirkland. Son Jim, of Lynnwood and grandsons Mitchell (Grace) of Mukilteo and Matthew of Snohomish and great-granddaughter Capri of Mukilteo. Son Larry (Lien) of Fairfield, CA and grandson Jon Howell of Fairfield, CA. Son Doyle (Lisa) of Shoreline.
He is also survived by his sister Sharon (Dan), of Freeman, SD and Shirelly Snedeker of Woonsocket, SD and many nieces and nephews in South Dakota and Minnesota.
The Iverson Family would like to thank Dr. Vincent Picozzi and his team for all of the care and support to Barney and the family.
We would also like to thank Evergreen Hospice Care for all of the care and support during this time.
Donations can be made in his honor at Evergreen Health Hospice Care 12822 124th Lane NE, Kirkland, WA 98034 or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.