Suzanne A. Badten

Suzanne A. Badten was born in North Bend, Washington to Markvard and Thelma (Mueller) Sorensen on September 18, 1932. Suzanne peacefully passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 9, 2021.

She graduated from Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington at 16, in 1949. Suzanne found love when she met Eugene(Bud) L. Bush, who was originally intended as a date for a friend of Suzanne's. Eugene and Suzanne married in 1950, on October 29. After their first daughter was born they moved to Montana and both worked on a road construction crew, where Suzanne drove a dump truck. They moved to Casper in the mid-1950s after their second daughter and son were born.

"Bud" and Suzanne had 3 children; daughters, Linnea, born in 1951 and Judy, born in 1955; and son, Eugene "Geno" born in 1956. Suzanne was homemaker until their eldest entered high school, which at that, time she accepted a position at WESC Federal Credit Union, where she worked until her retirement. In 1979 she earned a degree at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

When her children were very young Suzanne took much pride into making their clothes for them, and received many blue ribbons at the Natrona County fair in the late 50s. The family loved to spend time camping, fishing, traveling to see family in Washington and at the lake boating and watching Bud waterski and teaching the children to as well. Suzanne often sewed matching bathing suits for Bud and herself. Including the now infamous Turquoise speedo for Bud, and turquoise bikini for Suzanne. She also made the dresses for both her daughter's first weddings, as well as her granddaughter's wedding gown and her great granddaughters christening gown. The couple also enjoyed square dancing with the Maverick Square Dancing Club in Casper. Including going on many trips all over the United States to participate in square dancing events. Both Suzanne and Bud always had stylish matching outfits, many which Suzanne made for them. Suzanne was an omnivorous reader from the age of 3, of anything she could get her hands on, being particularly focused on history. After the death of Bud She was a volunteer income tax preparer for many years at Casper College.

Suzanne found an early and lifelong passion in genealogy. She traveled to Norway, Latvia, Germany and many other places internationally to do research, after Buds passing, as well as a yearly sometimes biyearly trip to Salt Lake City, Utah to research her ancestry.

Suzanne was widowed in 1994. In 2001, Suzanne reconnected online with childhood next-door neighbor(first crush), Norbert Badten after losing touch when Norb enlisted in the Army, when she was 14, and fought on the beaches of Normandy in World War II. As young friends, Norb and Suzanne implemented their own telegraph line between their houses to talk in the evening. Once reconnected, it took only 6 months for them to marry and for Suzanne to move to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with Norb. They honeymooned in France and other European countries. ( they were also married in France when there. )Suzanne enjoyed rock hounding with Norb, and fishing with her new son and daughter in law in Wisconsin and dove into her genealogical research - including helping write genealogical books with other genealogists. She became a member of the Ohio Valley Historical Society among other genealogical organizations Nationwide. Her estate maintains a fleet of file cabinets full of Suzanne's genealogical research some going back to the 1500s- slated for inclusion at the North Bend Historical Society in Washington, where her Mothers and fathers families homesteaded Around the turn of the century, are historical photographs, furniture and documents, Pertaining to that specific area.

Suzanne's generosity was featured in an article on WauwatosaNow featured an article on Suzanne's generosity when she – at 83 years of age – gave away 2 large hanks of her hair , which she originally wanted donated to the World War II war effort in producing weapon sights. Read the story here: https://
archive.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-woman-donates-hair-to-good-cause-70-years-after-itwas-cut-b99535714z1-315354991.html

After Norb passed away Suzanne continued to be extremely involved in genealogy, still making trips to Salt Lake City to do research. As well as traveling to Wyoming and Washington to visit family and friends. Unfortunately in 2016 an official diagnosis of Alzheimer's, prevented Suzanne from continuing to travel and do the work she loved so dearly. She spent many of her remaining days, looking forward to family visiting from out of town, as well as spending time with her son and daughter-in-law and their dogs, whom she called her grand dogs. Suzanne was well known for her warm hospitality, fierce intelligence, impeccable sense of style, Her tenaciousness, incredible articulation, her firm demeanor, her wonderful cooking and beautiful afghans. Suzanne was preceded in death by her first husband, Eugene Bush (1994); daughter, Linnea Borreson, (1994) Eugene "Geno;"(1995) grandson, Austin Shelton (2008) and second husband, Norbert Badten (2014?)and younger sister Judy Brekke in 2017.

Suzanne is survived by daughter, Judy S. Ingram; grandson, Shane (Danielle) Ingram, great grandson, Oliver Ingram; granddaughter, Stacie (Jack) Metzker; great-granddaughter Lily Metzker, step-son, John (Heather) Badten; several nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends.

Suzanne's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

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