Burton P. Groth

Burton P. GROTH
Beloved husband of Delyght. Father of Debbie and Beckie. Brother of Gladys Splitt, Alice Thompson, Polly Neville, Blenda Gossard and Eunice Carder.
Services, Tuesday, April 24, 1984 2pm, First Lutheran Church West Seattle. Interment, Forest Lawn. Services under the direction of Groth Funeral Home
Family suggests memorials to Medic One or the First Lutheran Memorial Fund.

Seattle Times April 23, 1984

Burton was a second generation funeral director. His wife and he bought the White Funeral Home in West Seattle in 1964.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155126053/burton-p.-groth

Delyght K. GROTH

1927-2008

Delyght Kathleen Fode was born on November 3, 1927 in the sod house on her parent’s farm near Jud, North Dakota. She was the first of three children born to Albert and Amelia Irion Fode. She was followed by her sister, Della Mae, and her brother, Kermit LeRoy d. 1994. Their parent’s families had immigrated to North Dakota from Bessarabia, Russia and German was the language spoken at home. Delyght was baptized and confirmed in the Congregational Church in Jud, and her parents required her to memorize the catechism in English and German for her confirmation.

Delyght began school in a one-room country schoolhouse and in order to finish school, she had to move to town to live with relatives. She graduated from Kulm High School at age 16. Following high school she went to Valley City State College and earned a teaching certificate. She returned to Jud to teach first grade at her former school. Her principal reprimanded her for dating the high school’s seniors, who were her same age at the time. The next year she moved to LaMoure, the county seat, to teach first grade. It was there that she met Burton Palmer Groth, a businessman who had grown up in the community. Their first date was to the fall fireman’s dance and they were engaged the following summer. They were married on September 4, 1949 at her parent’s home in Jud. Their honeymoon was spent visiting his family in Seattle and her relatives in Portland.

Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Deborah Jean and Rebecca Jane. Burton owned and operated a hardware and furniture store and the community’s funeral home, as his father had before him. They visited Seattle frequently, where Burton’s parents and 6 sisters had moved in previous years, and decided to relocate to West Seattle in 1964. They bought the White Funeral Home, which had been built and operated by Roy E. White since the 1920’s, and both became licensed funeral directors in the state of Washington. The family lived above the funeral home and their daughters attended Schmitz Park Elementary, Madison Junior High, and West Seattle High School.

Burton and Delyght were very active in the West Seattle community. They joined First Lutheran Church in 1964 and remained dedicated members through their lives. They were also involved in numerous local civic and Masonic organizations including West Seattle Hi-Yu, Eastern Star, Commercial Club, and Business and Professional Women, to name just a few.

Burton died in April 1984, at age 63, after suffering a massive heart attack. After 34 years of marriage, Delyght was widowed at 56 years old. She continued to operate the funeral business, with the assistance of Parker’s Chapel in Burien, for several more years. After closing the business, she sold the classic ‘White House’ to Sharon Best for her law offices. Delyght relocated to an apartment that she loved, conveniently located in the West Seattle Junction. She remained busy with family, her memberships in many organizations, and friendships formed from the community, her church, and the YMCA.

Following a brave year-long battle against cancer, she died at her home while holding the hands of her daughters on October 14, 2008 at the age of 80. She is survived by her sister Della Chuck Henderson, her daughters Deborah Michael May and Beckie Steve Stwan, her grandsons Kelby and Shaun May, her granddaughters Berkeley Brian Murray and Ella Stwan, and 2 great-granddaughters Kate and Tatum Murray, as well as many extended family members.

She truly was a Delyght and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. May God bless her memory among us.

Due to their generous care and loving support to us during her illness, we request that donations be directed to Group Health Hospice of Seattle, c/o Group Health Community Foundation, GHQ-E4S, 320 Westlake Avenue N, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98109.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 1, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle. Committal will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Burton P. Groth, please visit our floral store.