Van
Anderson

Evangeline “Van” Eleanor Anderson, age 95, passed away peacefully from natural causes on May 5, 2022. She was a highly regarded professional woman. Many will miss her.

On September 28, 1926, Van was born in Tacoma, Washington, to Roy and Ethel (Hubbard) Peterson. She grew up in Parkland, Washington.

On March 8, 1947, Van married the love of her life Clarence Eugene “Gene” Anderson. Together they had three daughters and one son. They enjoyed entertaining, gardening, vacationing on the ocean beaches, boating in the San Juan Islands, and engaging in civic and political activities.

Van loved gardening and flowers. She was talented at arranging flowers and did so for many family and friend occasions. She also enjoyed genealogy and traveled to Sweden, Ireland, England, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania, all ancestral regions, to learn about her family roots.

As Van worked at home raising four children, she championed quality public school education in Bellevue, where her husband Gene was a school principal. She later worked as a florist before becoming a Realtor in 1963.

Real estate became Van’s passion. During her 55-year career, she worked as a sales associate, a broker, and an owner-broker. She taught real estate classes at Renton Vocational College for more than two decades, launching the careers of scores of new Realtors. Van also held many positions, including serving as a member of the Washington Real Estate Commission appointed by Governor Gary Locke, Director of the Washington Association of Realtors, and President of the Seattle King County Association of Realtors. She especially enjoyed working on the First Citizen’s Committee. Her most recent active real estate position was Associate Broker at Windermere Realty on Mercer Island. Until her passing, Van served on the King County Boundary Review Board.

Van’s commitment to fair housing, social justice, equity, and support of multiple causes led her into political activities throughout her adult years. She was an ardent supporter of the Democratic Party and participated in many local, state, and national campaigns. She worked tirelessly for affordable housing serving as a lead delegate from the Washington Real Estate Association to the Washington delegation in Washington DC. She especially enjoyed mentoring multiple up-and-coming candidates for political office and boards at all government and public education levels and advising those in office at the local, state, and national levels.

Van often served as a ready counselor and compassionate ally in real estate, politics, associations, and friendships. In the words of many admirers, she was lovingly called “Mother Van.” Her annual Christmas Eve Chowder Feed was a favorite gathering time for her wide variety of friends and associates. Many celebrated with Van at her 95th birthday open house, which served as an opportunity to honor her for her impact on the lives of so many.

Van was a resident of Bellevue for 67 years, the last seven of which she lived at the Gardens at Town Square. Van was elected as President of the Residents Group three times and helped start the Gazette Newsletter. She also served as an ambassador for new residents. One of Van’s proudest accomplishments was working relentlessly with the City of Bellevue to install a crosswalk so the Gardens’ residents could safely cross the street to nearby businesses and restaurants.

Van is survived by daughters Cathy Jean Anderson, Susan Anderson Gregory, Nancy Loorem (Ron) Adams, and son Stuart Anderson; four grandchildren Kirsten Garland, Laban Coffin, Dawit Gregory, and Dena Berni; two great-grandsons Joel and O’Rynn; and like-a-daughter Alene Reaugh and like-a-grandson, David Wood. Van was preceded in death by her husband Gene, her parents, her brother Tom Peterson, and her grandson Dylan Loorem.

The family hosted a virtual Celebration of Van’s Life on Thursday, July 7, at 3:00 pm 2022, to be respectful of health issues at that time. The memorial was live-streamed for all who joined. The celebration was also recorded for later viewing. Van’s family gathered for the interment of ashes on July 8 at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue. The gathering was intimate, touching, and a beautiful “farewell.”

Instead of flowers, please donate to Seattle King Country Realtors Scholarship Program.