Gertrude Marie Anderson

Gert passed away on Wednesday, January 3. She died peacefully in her sleep. She was in no pain and did not have any illness.

Gert was born in Seattle, WA to Norwegian immigrants Albert Gjensto Jacobsen and Johanne/Johanna Roksvag Jacobsen. She joined brothers Gilbert and Martin who were born in Norway. Soon brother Albert Junior followed. They lived a typical family life in the Norwegian Ballard area. She graduated from high school in 1945.

Her first job was as a dental assistant in downtown Seattle. During this time, she met Weston Brush who worked for a nearby optometrist in Seattle. They married on Nov 2, 1946.

After birthing 4 kids in an 8-year period when she went to work selling Christmas wrapping paper and cards. She left samples and order sheets door to door and sent in the orders to earn a commission. During this time in Seattle, Gert was active in the school PTA and played in a bowling league. Her social life included home cocktail parties with neighbors. During the summers, she prepped meals and joined other friends in watching the kids at the Clearwater River in Idaho.

In 1960, Wes’s job moved the family to Sacramento, CA. During their 3-year stay here, she was employed by the San Juan Unified School District as a teacher’s aide. This experience would be the starting point for her employment in the Beaverton School District beginning about 1964 when the family moved back to the Pacific Northwest in Portland, OR. Because of her tenacity, will, and positive nature, she worked through the years, to concluding her career in 1993 as the hiring manager for non-certified employees. Without a college degree she managed to find her calling based on the incredible tools she was blessed with.

Gert lived a very full life in 96 years. She was active in bowling, golf, and swimming, and loved going to a casino and playing slot machines. It was surprising how often she got into bonus rounds and was often very lucky. She also loved card games. From poker to bridge and her more recent favorite, Nickel Nickel, this was also her social time when friends came to her house to play. When she was not at home with card games, she and Andy enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. They often found an Elks Club where they could have a cocktail and dinner, and sometimes a little dancing. She was loved by everyone she met, never held a grudge, and accepted all.

She joins her Norwegian ancestors, parents Albert Sr. and Johanne. Brothers Gilbert, George, Albert Jr., son Johnee Brush, Weston Brush, and her loving husband Andy.

She leaves 3 children: Terry, Jeanne, and Scott; 7 grandchildren: Andrea, Rebecca, Tim, Tracy, Ryan, Ashley, and Brian. Also 3-1/2 great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Parker (Rebecca), Lance (Ashley), Ander (Ryan) and a granddaughter due April 2024 (Brian). She also had 3 stepchildren: Cathy, Barbara, and Joe. Three step-grandchildren: Heidi and Natalie (Cathy), Evan (Barbara) and Avery (Joe), and 1 step great-grandchild: Moses (Heidi).

If you wish to make a remembrance in her honor, kindly contribute to The Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Society, or the Salvation Army.

A Memorial Service will be planned for later in the year. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gertrude Marie Anderson, please visit our floral store.