Obituary of Inta Biruta McBeth

Inta Biruta McBeth was born in Koknese, Latvia on October 20, 1933. Her parents were Augusts and Alma Graudins. In the midst of World War Il, as Soviet troops were moving in to occupy Latvia, Inta's parents took the family to Germany where they remained until the end of the war. In 1950, having lived several years in Displaced Person (DP) camps, the family got a sponsor from Yakima, Washington and moved from Germany to the USA.

In Yakima, Inta attended Yakima Senior High School, graduating in June 1952. During the next four years, she became an integral part of the local community and in September 1956 represented Yakima as a princess for the "Fruit Bowl of the Nation." In November of that same year, having lived in the USA for five years and met all the other requirements, Inta became a naturalized citizen.

        A year later, Inta met and married Duane McBeth and together they soon owned and operated the "McBeth Fine Furniture Co." in Yakima. Years later, after selling the furniture store, Duane retired, and they moved to Vashon Island. Inta, continued to work at the Seattle First National Bank, commuting from Vashon to Seattle on the ferry. In October of 1982 Inta lost her husband to cancer.

After she retired, Inta loved to work in the garden. She supported cancer research and animal welfare causes. She hosted a Christmas gathering of her Vashon friends each year and an annual BBQ for family and friends that became a delicious steak and salmon tradition up to 2019 when she moved to Olympia to be closer to relatives.

Inta died suddenly on May 24^th , 2021, in her apartment in Olympia.