Nancy Young

Our shining light of a wife and mother, Nancy Ruth Young, passed away on May 3, 2026. Nancy was born in Spokane on March 4, 1948 – the youngest of four – to Evelyn (Soderberg) and Thorsten Berggren. Over the years, life with her college professor father had her living in Cleveland, Ohio; Billings, Montana; back in Spokane (where she ultimately graduated from West Valley High School in 1966); and Forest Grove, Oregon.

It was in Forest Grove, where she attended Pacific University, that she would meet and marry Charles “Chuck” Young in 1969. They had two children, Brian and Melinda. Throughout their marriage, thanks to Chuck’s time in the Air Force, they lived in many states as well as in Japan, Germany, and England. She moved back to Spokane – this time for good – in 1989 when Chuck was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Nancy always counted herself fortunate for the travels, including many cruises, that she got to do around the U.S. and the world. In her later years, it was her trips to Seattle and Tacoma to see her kids and her beloved Mariners that were her favorite.

When her children were still in school, she worked as a substitute secretary in school districts in Texas and Spokane. After her kids moved out, she found a role she loved in the Human Resources Department at Holy Family Hospital. She gained a reputation as the gregarious, quick-witted receptionist who was always ready to banter.

A devout Christian, she was a longtime member of Whitworth Presbyterian Church. When she was still able, she enjoyed being a Deacon and engaging in church activities.

She loved her family fiercely. She was a caring wife and mother who told anyone who would listen about how proud she was of her kids and their spouses. Nancy was quick to laugh and smile, quick to crack a joke, and quick to be kind to everyone she encountered. In particular, she never met a young child or a dog who she didn’t want to gush over and make feel special.

Her favorite things were books, coffee shops (although her drink of choice was always tea), scones, chocolate, picking out greeting cards for people she loved, and making friends out of strangers. It’s not an exaggeration to say librarians, baristas, bakery owners, and waiters all over the north end of Spokane knew her by name.

Even when Alzheimer’s took hold of her over the last years of her life, she never lost her infectious laugh or her sass (for better or worse!). She would still frequently break into song – as she had her whole life. She remained known for her hugs. And she never stopped loving the Seattle Mariners, or more specifically, her “Danny” Wilson.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Chuck; her children, Brian Young (and wife Christina) of Tacoma; Melinda Young-Flynn (and husband Greg) of Seattle; siblings Lennart, Judy, and Carol; and too many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends to count. She would’ve also wanted to mention the dogs her family had over the years – Auggie and Bogey. Her Celebration of Life will be held at Whitworth Presbyterian Church on July 25 at 1 pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor.