Deleva Ann Ulseth

Dee was born at Tacoma General Hospital, to Gladys and Nick Alfonso on March 20, 1943. Dee grew up in University Place until 1952 when her parents divorced, then Dee and her mother moved to Long Beach, CA to be closer to her grandmother, Cora Calton. Dee graduated from David Starr Jordon High School in 1961. While looking for a job she discovered that IBM was training key punch operators. With an operator’s certificate Dee could then apply to any company using an IBM computer. Once trained, she found employment at a furniture manufacturing company. It was not too long after starting at the furniture company she met first husband, Harry Tice. About two years later, Dee and Harry were married and less than two years later their son Robert was born and another two years later their daughter April came along. Along the way the family moved from the Los Angeles area to Escondido, CA. In Escondido, Dee met and became lifelong friends with Don and Joan Weeks; it was not too long afterwards that Harry left Dee, the kids – and the mortgage! It was 1972 and Dee hadn’t been in the workforce for 10 years and needed a job. She found a job as draftsman trainee in the Engineering Department and then later in the Construction Department at the Bell Telephone Company and worked there for the next 25 years ending in customer service. In 1977, Dee’s dad Nick passed away and she decided it was time to move back home to University Place and the house she had lived in as a little girl. She was also able to transfer within Bell Telephone so she could keep her job as well. 1982 was a special year for Dee, she finally met her Mr. Right, Gary Ulseth. Dee and Gary were married in 1984 and lived their happily ever after for the next 40+ years. By 1997 Dee decided it was time to retire from the phone factory (as she liked to call it) and become a full-time grandma. Who knew being a grandma could be so much fun! And it got better as the grandkids got older, she could be their friend as well as their grandma. What joy! Dee liked working in her dad’s vineyard, planting flower and vegetable gardens, as well as cooking and in particular Italian cooking. She enjoyed reading a good book as well as watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. She was always looking for a good deal, and didn’t matter if it was grocery shopping or going thrifting at Value Village. She also truly treasured her phone calls with her dear friend Joan. Dee and Gary became members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in 1999. During her time at Redeemer Dee served on council, taught adult ed, taught Sunday School, worked on prison ministry and conducted Bible study during the week. She loved her Redeemer family very much. Dee died January 2nd, 2025 at Tacoma General Hospital after a brief illness. Preceding in death are her parents, Nick and Gladys Alfonso, brothers Don Alfonso, Gerald Pollock, Duke Pollock, Jim Pollock, as well as sister Dorothy Thompson. She is survived by her husband Gary Ulseth, son Robert (Elaine) Tice, daughter April (York) Doidge, stepson Rick (Ana Fe) Ulseth and Stepdaughter Lisa (Malcolm) Dickson as well as grandkids Perry, Madison, Andrew, Autumn, Ethan, Ryan, Robbi, Asher, Michelle and Noah. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Elaine and June Pollock as well as Bo Tice and many nieces and nephews. Finally, she is survived by her best friend Joan Weeks of more than 50 years. A Celebration of Life will happen Saturday, January 25th, 1 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church 1001 Princeton St, Fircrest, WA 98466.

Please consider donating to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society in honor of Dee.