Laura Mae Saftich, 84, died August 24, 2023 in Renton, Washington. She was born February 20, 1939 in Deerwood, Minnesota, the 2nd youngest of 15 children, to parents William Peter and Myrtle Mae (Murphy) Booth.
Laura was raised on a farm in the small town of Deerwood. In her early years she walked with other family members to a distant county school. In the winter months they were transported home by horse and sleigh, by her dad. Later they progressed to school bus rides. That was a treat!
Laura attended Deerwood Grade School, grades 1-6, then Crosby Ironton High School, grades 7-12, graduating in 1959. During her senior year she was employed at the Miners Hospital, in Crosby as a nurse’s aide.
In 1960, Laura relocated to Osseo, Minnesota where a brother and his family were living. She was employed as a nurse’s aide at the Osseo Nursing Home.
In 1961 Laura took a big adventure to the state of Washington to visit relatives. That is when she met the love of her life, Hans “John” Saftich. They were married on July 7, 1962 and together they raised three sons, Frank, Jim and Mike. Laura made her home in Ravensdale, Washington for the rest of her life.
Laura loved spending time with her many relatives and friends. She enjoyed cooking large meals, baking sweets, crocheting, putting together puzzles, listening to old-time music, and dancing. Her favorite dances were the Polka, Waltz, Butterfly, and Circle. She had fun meeting friends at McDonalds for coffee and going out to breakfast.
Laura is preceded in death by her husband, Hans “John” Saftich; her parents; and 13 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by sons Frank Saftich of Ravensdale, Jim Saftich of Black Diamond, and Mike Saftich of Tukwila; brother Dwaine Booth of Aitkin, Minnesota; sister Mary Lou Hamilton of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; sister-in-Law Helen Booth of Enumclaw; and many nieces, nephews, and adopted grandkids.
Graveside services will be held Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Black Diamond Cemetery. Arrangements are by Weeks’ Enumclaw Funeral Home.
Please share a memory of Laura on the tribute wall at www.weeksfuneralhomes.com.
