Ollie Merleen (Tweeden) Armstrong passed away peacefully on September 2, 2017, at Valley View Home, in Glasgow, MT. Ollie was born June 24, 1925, the only child of Amos and Ethel Tweeden, in Tacoma, Washington. She was raised in Spanaway, and attended Spanaway Elementary School. She spent much of her childhood at the home of her grandparents, Spanaway pioneers Chris and Nettie Turner. Her parents had a gas station and car lot where Ollie learned to drive in an old wrecker out behind the station. She also loved to sneak into her father’s laundry truck so she could go to the horse races with him after laundry delivery. Ollie attended Stewart Junior High and Lincoln High School, in Tacoma, where she graduated in 1941. She went on to attend Pacific Lutheran University. Ollie was active in swimming, skiing, school newspaper, forestry and student government. She married Hartzell (Hank) West in 1943 while Hank was serving in the Navy. Together they had two children, Stormy and Sandra. In 1954, Ollie married Robert (Bob) Armstrong. Together, they added two more children, Mary and Patrick, to complete Ollie’s wish of having four children. She taught her children to work hard, be honest, and to value family above all. Ollie could make a dollar stretch a mile. She always found a way to get that perfect birthday and Christmas present for her children, despite being a single mother on a tight budget.
Ollie worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses in Tacoma before she worked at both Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force base in the civil service. During that time, while she was raising her children, she attended night school, sometimes four nights a week, to finish her associate degree in accounting. She eventually became the budget office manager for Civil Engineers at McChord, retiring in 1987. After she retired, Ollie learned to play bridge and golf. She volunteered for 15 years at St Clair Hospital’s gift shop. Ollie’s happiest times were spent with her children and grandchildren. She travelled extensively with daughter Sandy, and granddaughters Stephanie and Denise, eventually taking a trip to visit her grandpa Chris’ birthplace in England, and her father Amos’ birthplace in Norway. She enjoyed reading and playing cards, shopping with her kids and grandkids, drinking wine and martinis with her girls, and going out in the boat. She loved the water, was a great swimmer, learned to surf in Hawaii, and loved trips to the ocean. Ollie was an avid Seattle Mariners’ fan, and had a beautiful home in Fircrest. The family especially loved to get together at Grandma Ollie’s every Christmas Eve.
Ollie had an amazing spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. She lived in her own home until she was 87 years old. She then lived in Long Beach, California with her daughter Sandy, and granddaughters Stephanie and Denise, for two years before moving to Valley View Home in Glasgow, Montana.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her oldest son, Stormy West; and her grandson, Shane West. She is survived by daughter, Sandy Swick, Long Beach, CA; daughter, Mary Armstrong (John Lamb), Glasgow, MT, and son, Pat Armstrong (Stacy), Wenatchee, WA, daughter-in-law Debbie Yager (Jeff); grandchildren Kenneth Alvin Swick, Jr (Roberta), Stephanie Swick (Denise Tonini), Neil Good (Danielle), Jeremy West (Charlene), Daniel Russell, Reilly Armstrong and Jacob, Joshua (Soeni), Zack (Melanie) and John Ross Lamb; great-grandchildren Keith (Jen) Swick, Jeff (Meghan)Swick, Griffin and Alexandria Swick, Dylan Good (Leanna), and Destinee Beckner; great great-grandchildren Taya and Neve Swick, and Oliver Good.
The family will hold a celebration of Ollie’s life in Washington State at a later date.
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Loren Adkins says
I admired Ollie so much. She was a huge person in a small frame that was a big part of my life when growing up in Spanaway. She was fun, feisty and determined to achieve goals that benefited her kids. She was an amazing lady. Peace to you sweet Ollie.
Jim York says
So sorry for your loss, but it would seem she had a wonderful life.
Donna Baker says
I had the opportunity to spend time with Ollie back in the early 1990s and she was a spitfire! How many grandmas do you know that would ride sideways sitting on the jump seat of a Nissan pick up! Right then, she stole a piece of our hearts! She was gracious, entertaining, and her eyes danced as she told stories! She was one of a kind and the world was a better place because she was in it! Ollie, you will be missed for so many reasons. Travel safely, until we meet on the other side! They just do not make them like you anymore, DEAREST Ollie!
Carol Delvecchio Olinger says
Can remember staying at her house with Sandy. Making potato salad with Sandy for Ollie. She was always pleasant. She was quite the lady! Enjoyed her very much. I am certain that she will be missed by all who knew her.
Brenda Prettyman says
ollie sandy and mary, patrict, Storm and stephanie rest of the kids and cousin. i am one of those lucky cousin grew up with Ollie as a older sister who was love and raised by my parents Alice and Merle. Aunt Ethel her was favorite person we learned the art working from young children we had a great family and a wonderful grandpa chris and did not know grandma nettie but we as a family had many thnksgivings anand christmas and February nighteen for joint birthday party for grandpa, Ron and Stormy my with the whole family my brother Ron is now oldest living grandchild we lucky to our grown up years. Marla, sandy and stormy and cecile Ann and Billy his mom betty and wonderful historian of our family stan Bobby and Billy.. we were all there i will never forget you Ollie you were pretty and so fun to be around i loved baby sitting Sandy and Storny, and Mary and Pat we your lake place did a lot swimming and sking yu live to the same time as your hero Grandpa Chris . The memories of the family will be forgotten Rest in piece my dear cousin . i will never for you son Stormy he such fun and those big eyes he was so cute when he learned to talk some of his words he mis pernounced but we loved him so much God all the family and already in heaven i will never forget you held the oldest granchild forever RIP tell my parents and relatives i miss them all give my Aunt Ethel and uncle Murf a hug.
SANDY Swick says
Ollie was my Mom!! She was so amazing..we did not know this growing up. We just thought it was normal. I never wanted for any thing..we celebrated all the holidays and vacations together..we did not know that she would go without to be sure we grew up great. My one wish is to have a small amout of her goodness in me. Wish you were here Mom..I miss your humor 🙂 :-)!