Thursday, October 1, 2026
Colleen Lundberg, April 28, 1938, died on January 12, 2026 at the age of 87. She was predeceased by the love of her life, Larry Lundberg, on September 18, 1998.
Colleen was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, but she was also an explorer, a tennis player, a baker, and a dog mom. She was kind, expressive, and always picked up the phone.
From September 1998 to January 2026, Colleen wore her late husband’s wedding band on a gold chain around her neck. To know Colleen was to know her devotion to Larry. Colleen and Larry were high school sweethearts, and they married shortly after high school when Larry joined the army. Although Larry predeceased Colleen by nearly thirty years, she kept him close to her always - in his ring, his photos, her memories. Her children remembered him through her love, and her grandchildren knew him through her stories.
A teacher, Colleen earned her degree from the University of Puget Sound. For much of her career she drove daily with her friend and fellow teacher, Marlene, from Chelan to Pateros where she taught second grade. After Larry passed, she pursued a different kind of teaching as a house mom for Alpha Phi sorority’s University of Washington chapter. Her annual cookie baking parties, making good use of the commercial kitchen in the sorority house, were legendary.
In retirement, Colleen played tennis, bridge, and did crossword puzzles. She camped in the forest and relaxed on the beach in Hawaii. She wrote cards and scrapbooked. She adored her beloved dogs - Maizie and Sugar. She made “lattes” in her blender, and they were the best.
Colleen was the best grandma. A constant presence in their lives, she encouraged her grandchildren on every project and hobby. She kept every card, every poem, every painting. When they called - which was often - she always answered.
Colleen played Waltzing Matilda at Larry’s funeral. After she passed, it was discovered that she had written out the lyrics to that song over and over again on scraps of paper.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me"
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
Colleen is survived by her children, Julie, John, and William, by her grandchildren, Arianna, Jason, Andrey, Alex, John Nelson, Auna, and Casey, and by her dog, Lockie.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Colleen’s memory to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (https://www.wenatcheehumane.org/).
Please express your thoughts and memories on our online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com.
Arrangements are by Jones & Jones - Betts Funeral Home.
