Obituary for Thelma Muriel Ballatore
The life of Thelma Ballatore (May 17, 1930–November 27, 2022) will be celebrated on Sunday, July 30 at 1:00 pm at the Weatherly Inn, 6016 N. Highlands Pkwy, Tacoma. Friends and loved ones are welcome to join Thelma’s family in sharing stories and memories.
The youngest of five children of Norwegian immigrants Toris and Hanna Lyng, Thelma spent her childhood in Grandview before the family moved to Tacoma. She married Lewis Ballatore in 1953, and they opened the Ballatore School of Dance in 1959. Thelma worked at the studio as a teacher and office manager, and Lew and Thelma would often travel as far as Portland to give dance lessons. She also worked at Mayfair Market and eventually became a cashier training instructor and administrator at Clover Park Technical College, where she was affectionately known as “Mrs. B” and won several teaching awards.
Thelma was devoted to her family, and took great joy in raising her boys, Joe and Tom. In retirement, she enjoyed cooking, gardening, golfing, listening to the music of Dean Martin, and spending time with Lew at their cabin in the mountains outside Packwood. Known for her warmth, kindness, positivity, and humor, Thelma was beloved by everyone who had the great fortune to be a part of her life.
She is survived by her sons, Lewis “Joe” Ballatore Jr. (Rachel Ereth) of Spanaway, and Thomas Ballatore (Sara Cody) of Los Angeles, as well as her stepson Pedro Boregaard of Narrowsburg, NY, and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care she received at the Weatherly Inn during her final years.
The youngest of five children of Norwegian immigrants Toris and Hanna Lyng, Thelma spent her childhood in Grandview before the family moved to Tacoma. She married Lewis Ballatore in 1953, and they opened the Ballatore School of Dance in 1959. Thelma worked at the studio as a teacher and office manager, and Lew and Thelma would often travel as far as Portland to give dance lessons. She also worked at Mayfair Market and eventually became a cashier training instructor and administrator at Clover Park Technical College, where she was affectionately known as “Mrs. B” and won several teaching awards.
Thelma was devoted to her family, and took great joy in raising her boys, Joe and Tom. In retirement, she enjoyed cooking, gardening, golfing, listening to the music of Dean Martin, and spending time with Lew at their cabin in the mountains outside Packwood. Known for her warmth, kindness, positivity, and humor, Thelma was beloved by everyone who had the great fortune to be a part of her life.
She is survived by her sons, Lewis “Joe” Ballatore Jr. (Rachel Ereth) of Spanaway, and Thomas Ballatore (Sara Cody) of Los Angeles, as well as her stepson Pedro Boregaard of Narrowsburg, NY, and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care she received at the Weatherly Inn during her final years.