Suzanne Berven Nicholson
December 3, 1931 - February 26, 2026

Redmond, WA. - Suzanne Berven Nicholson died peacefully on February 26, 2026, at Emerald Heights in Redmond, WA. She was born on December 3, 1931, in Spokane, WA and at a few months old was adopted by parents Ivar and Esther Berven and grew up in Tacoma, WA.

Suzanne graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma and met husband, Richard Nicholson while attending the University of Puget Sound. Married in 1953, their lives took them to Ann Arbor, MI; Ithaca, NY; Oak Ridge, TN; Madison, WI; Walnut Creek, CA; Idaho Falls, ID; Columbus, OH; Richland, WA; Besozzo, Italy, and eventually to Lopez Island, WA where they retired. Many summers the family went to their cabin in Kyuquot, BC.

Suzanne spent many busy years with 4 children: volunteering at their schools and as 4-H leader, endless driving to activities, reading books aloud, and always cooking the family a hot breakfast every morning as well as delicious baked goods and dinner at 5:20 every night. Once the kids became more independent, she added weaving and spinning to her repertoire of textile arts. She became quite accomplished at weaving and while living on Lopez Island was active in the San Juan County Textile Guild, mentoring other weavers and participating in the sheep to shawl event at the county fair. Besides family, her great love was her Newfoundland dogs. She had 4 Newfs over the years and though they were often larger than she was, they were well trained and friendly. Once "retired" to Lopez Island, she spent many years at the Lopez Island Library as a volunteer and employee.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by husband Dick and daughter Ellen Walker. Surviving are children Lisa Nicholson, Paul Nicholson, and Ingrid Vliet, grandchildren Matthew Walker, Philip Walker, Eli Nicholson, Benjamin Cleave-Nicholson, Naomi Vliet, and Aaron Vliet, and great grandchildren Ross Walker and Makaio Walker.

A service will be held on June 15th on Lopez Island. Those who wish to remember Suzanne in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (imaginationlibrary.com), The Wilderness Society (Wilderness.org), or by planting a tree. If you prefer to have a tree planted for you, to support reforestation you can donate to A Living Tribute and select the U.S. National Forest where it will be planted (alivingtribute.org).

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