Margaret Helen Walsh

Passing with family by her side on November 23rd, 2025, in Kirkland, WA., Peggy was just seven days shy of her 95 th birthday. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, cousin, and aunt.

Peggy was born in Miles City, Montana to Katie and Les Perkins. She attended Girls Butte Central High School and went on to the Nursing program at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Her first job was sharpening needles so they could be reused on patients. In 1950 she married Fred Walsh in Butte, Montana leaving college to raise their family. She had unwavering love and passion for her family.

Peggy and Fred moved from Butte to Bothell (Kenmore), WA in 1962. They loaded up the car in the middle of winter with six kids and headed west. On their way coming down 4th of July pass going into Coeur d'Alene, Idaho the snow was so bad that they slid down a large hill along with many other cars and a semi. No one was hurt, and all finally made it to Seattle. Peggy worked at several hospitals and nursing homes in the Seattle area but she never forgot Butte and always considered herself a “Butte Girl”.

Peggy had a zest for life and loved to travel. You never knew where the family was going until the day of, or, if you were lucky, the night before. She would wake her kids up and say we are going to Montana, Canada, San Francisco or Florida. Camping was always a big part of Peggy's life. Her and Fred would fill the camper with their kids and their friends and off they would go. Whether it be motorcycle riding or adventures in Sun Lakes, oh the fun that was had. Fred and Peggy spent many summers in Libby, Montana on the Kootenai River. After Fred retired they would spend a month or so at a time in Mexico and she loved it. She was also able to travel to Alaska and Ireland. When spending time at home she welcomed family from out of town and always had an extra bed in the house.

Whether it be to Kenmore five times a day, or other adventures, Peggy loved to be behind the wheel on the go. She loved company on her adventures and coming across hitchhikers made her day. She gave everyone she saw hitchhiking a ride no matter where they wanted to go or if she knew them or not.

Peggy loved animals. She had many animals over the years, from dogs, to cats, and even a pony. She would make peanut butter sandwiches for the squirrels, all known as Chipper, and had around 30 or more raccoons that she fed daily. People were afraid to get out of their car because of all the raccoons but not Peggy; she always made sure the raccoons were fed and watered for the day.

Peggy was a devout Catholic and made sure to raise all her children in the Catholic faith. If friends were at the house when it was time for five o'clock mass, Peggy would tell them to get in the car and that they were going to church too. Peggy was proceeded in death by her husband Fred Walsh, her parents Katie and Les Perkins, sisters Joanie Swisher and Ann Jean Nastansky, daughter-in-law Anita Walsh, great-granddaughter Kaitlin Pike, special cousin, Mary Kay Derzay.

She is survived by all eight of her children, Pat (Linda) Walsh, Dan (Sheila) Walsh, Colleen (Dennis) Mallory, Fred Walsh Jr., Deanna (David) Williams, Tom Walsh, Jerry (Annissa) Walsh, and Shawn Walsh, her sixteen grandchildren, Stephanie Walsh, Michael Walsh, Kimberly Walsh, Brian Walsh, Kevin Walsh, Christi Smith, Devon Mallory, Jacob Walsh, Angela Dunn, Paul Gott, Nicole Pike, Susan Williams, Lani Kona, Keeley Walsh, Erin Walsh, and Declan Walsh, fifteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law Earl Nastansky, along with numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

Special thanks to Cyndy Measor, and to her special friends at Life Care Center of Kirkland for taking excellent care of Peggy for so many years. Thanks also to Fr. James 'Jim' McGloin, S.J. for presiding over services. Funeral mass to be held December 22, 2025 10AM, Saint John Vianney 12600 84th Ave NE, Kirkland.

Donations to the charity of your choice.