Annette Iverson Minkler celebrated her 89th birthday in style on Sept. 12 and peacefully passed away on Sept. 14, 2015, in Oak Harbor, a life well-lived.

Annette Irene Swanson was born on Sept. 12, 1926, in Mount Vernon, the only child of Swedish immigrants, Anton and Emmy Ajax Swanson. She was raised on Conway Hill in and around English Logging Camp, where her father worked. She attended Conway School and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1944. She was baptized and confirmed at Fir-Conway Lutheran Church.

She married G. Willard Iverson of Mount Vernon in California where he was stationed with the Navy. After his service, they returned to Mount Vernon and had four sons: Gary, Gail, Mark and Jay.

Annette was a hard-working, fun-loving, entertaining woman who prioritized her family. She worked in office work and bookkeeping most of her life. While raising and providing for her sons, she worked for Drs. Kaiser and Hodge, Straub Farm Supply and Gubrud Datsun and retired from Barnett Implement after many years of service. After retirement and well into her 80s, she was a fixture in her son’s florist shop, Mark’s on Pine Square, answering phones, bookkeeping and visiting with any and all passersby.

After her sons were grown, Annette married Robert Minkler, a retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, in 1976. They raised Bob’s daughter, Christine, in Sedro Woolley and lived there for 35 years. After Bob’s passing in 2011, Annette returned to Mount Vernon and lived there until earlier this year when she moved to Home Place in Oak Harbor to be closer to family.

Annette was known by a variety of names to her family and friends: Annette, mom, grams, Grandma Precious, “the warden,” and, most notably, Nettie. She loved a good game of bridge or pinochle, especially when Manhattans were being served. She enjoyed car travel but had a fear of flying. This did not stop her family from enticing her to important events like the birth of her first granddaughter in Denver, a special trip to Sweden and Europe with Mark and Jay, and, in the last few years, trips to California, Hawaii and Alaska to be with family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; sons Gail, Gary and Mark; and her sons’ father, Willard. Annette is survived by her son Jay and his wife Jean of Palouse; daughters-in-law Barbara Iverson of Beaverton, Ore., and Cherie Iverson of Oak Harbor; and step-daughters Christine Strand (Ron) of Woodinville and Dorothy Lubey (Jim Wood) of San Diego, Calif. Her grandchildren include Keli Mumford (Jim) of Chandler, Ariz., Chad Iverson of Redmond, Ore., Matthew Iverson (Heidi) of Coupeville, Kari Lee (Chip) of Bellingham, Mimi Johnson (Scott) of Coupeville, Jenny Iverson of Seattle, Nels Iverson of Socorro, N.M., Anna Iverson of Anchorage, Alaska, Chelsey Guay (Ryan Mulenga) of Seattle, Lindsey Guay of Seattle, Matt Brasseau (Jenny), Erin Brasseau, Allysa Lubey and Noah Lubey all of California; and nine great-grandchildren.

Annette’s family would like to thank Home Place for the wonderful care that she received, the new friends that she made, and the many calls, cards, and visits from friends and relatives while she lived there.

Donations in Annette’s name are suggested to the Gail Edward Iverson “Circle of Friends“ or the Mark Iverson Cardiac Gym, both in care of the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation.

Services will be held at Hawthorne Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Sept. 28, 2015, with the Reverend Abby d’Ambruoso officiating. Interment and a reception will follow at Hawthorne Memorial Park.

Please share your thoughts of Annette and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, 1825 E. College Way, Mount Vernon.