Alma Glenrose Williams

Alma Glenrose Williams, April 27,1930 - Feb. 24, 2026

Alma Glenrose (MacDonald) Williams nee Bust passed away peacefully in her sleep at nearly 96 years old.

Glenrose (her preference) was born April 27,1930 in Sedro-Woolley, WA to Glendon and Charlotte (King) Bust and grew up in the Skagit Valley towns of Hamilton and Birdsview surrounded by extended family. She grew up tramping through the surrounding forests, picking berries, fishing and camping with her parents, and taking the bus to Seattle to visit relatives. She graduated valedictorian from Concrete High School in 1948 with many awards for school activities.

Glenrose wanted to be a forest ranger - a novel concept for women then - and studied forestry at Washington State College for two years. In 1949 she spent a season in the Sauk Mtn. fire lookout and in 1950 was the first female USFS log scaler in the state. One driver/trucking company owner caught her eye and she married George MacDonald in 1951. They had two sons, settled in Birdsview, WA in 1952, then moved to Gold Bar, WA in 1959 after George decided to go logging. They divorced in 1962, then Glenrose married Wes Williams in 1963 and divorcing in 1971. Glenrose remained in Gold Bar until a stroke in June, 2022 left her unable to walk, then moved to an adult family home in West Seattle.

Glenrose retired from the Sno-Isle Regional Library system, often serving as a local history reference librarian (claiming it was because she was an “old-timer”). She was active in several Gold Bar and Sultan civic groups including PTA, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Garden Club, Gold Bar Historical Society, Friends of the Sultan Library, Sultan Harvest, elected to the Gold Bar town council and was a Commissioner for Snohomish County Fire District #26. She was always an avid reader who also enjoyed, classical music, quilting, and spending time in her gardens. She was notorious for pulling over on any road to dig up plants to transplant into her gardens. She also loved to drive (except in Seattle) especially in mountains and the Arctic, the Alcan Highway (twice), to the Arctic Circle and visiting relatives in Arizona, usually driving a little Chevy 4x4 or renting an RV. She also made several such trips with George, with whom she remained friends. For many years she made a monthly drive to Sedro-Woolley for lunch with cousins.

Glenrose was preceded in death by her parents, both former husbands, younger sisters Donna (MacComber) and Ardis (Vier), grandson Brett MacDonald, nephews Kelly MacComber, Michael Vier and niece Shelly MacComber. She is survived by her two sons Glen (Lori) and Gordon; 2 grandchildren, Reid and Emma MacDonald (Preston Rodriguez) and great granddaughter Maisie Rodriguez MacDonald. Her ashes will be interred with her parents at the Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley; some will be scattered on Sauk Mountain.

We are grateful to Laurie Yamashita and the staff at Florence of Seattle where Glenrose lived for the last 3 years of her life. They provided excellent care and accommodated her idiosyncrasies with grace. Her last few weeks were peaceful and comfortable with the assistance of Evergreen Health Hospice Services.

Please share memories & sign the guestbook located below. 

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle