Tedford Matthias Picha

Ted Picha died peacefully at his home in Puyallup on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 
surrounded by his wife and five children. He had been battling cancer the past few 
years and would have been 79 years old on February 28. Born in Puyallup in 1926 to a 
pioneering farming family, Ted carried on that heritage his entire adult life. He was the 
youngest of five children and is survived by his sister Florence Wade of Selah and 
brother Warren of Puyallup. He was preceded in death by his sisters Beth Keene and 
Verle Kramer. Ted married his devoted wife of 55 years, Bettylou (Goore) in Tacoma on 
June 7, 1949. Their family includes five children all of whom reside in the greater Puget 
Sound area. They include Gary (Gerry), Bow; Doug (Cassie), Bainbridge Island; Dan 
(Diane), Puyallup; Connie (Brett) Willis, Puyallup; and Russ (Mary Ellen), Puyallup. One 
of Ted’s great joys was being an active participant in the lives of his fifteen 
grandchildren. They include: Matthew, Stephanie (Jason), Michael, Teddy, Elise, Joe, 
Allie, Erik, Drew, Sam, Lauren, Regen, Garrett, Tyce and Addison. A memorial service 
celebrating Ted’s life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 18, at the Puyallup 
United Methodist Church, 1919 West Pioneer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be 
made to the Children’s Therapy Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital, c/o Linda Yates, 402 
15th Avenue SE, Suite 100, Puyallup, WA 98372.

Pub Date: 2/13/2005
Tacoma News Tribune