Primary Name: Vrooman, Betty

Filed as: Vrooman, Betty

Also known as: Betty Baggen Vrooman

Occupation / Association: Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo; homemaker

Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Annette Island, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska; Gustavus, Alaska; Yakutat, Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska; Stillwater, Oklahoma

Keywords: Betty Vrooman, Betty Baggen Vrooman, Baggen family Juneau, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo women, POA Roll Number 413, Juneau Alaska families, Sitka Alaska residents, Annette Island CAA Station families, Alaska territorial families

Biography

Betty Vrooman was born in Juneau, Alaska, on May 7, 1923, the daughter of George Baggen and Olga Sandbery, both immigrants from Norway. The Baggen family was among the Norwegian families who settled in Southeast Alaska during the territorial period.

On April 19, 1943, she married James R. Vrooman in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The couple later returned to Alaska and lived for a period at the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) station on Annette Island, where they resided for two years. Their daughters, Lynda and Jamie, were both born during this period.

Over the years, the family lived in several Alaska communities, reflecting the mobility common among families connected with federal aviation and territorial services. In addition to Annette Island, Betty lived in Sitka for seven years, Fairbanks for two years, Gustavus for two years, Yakutat for two years, and Anchorage for two years.

Betty was initiated into the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo, on January 28, 1955, receiving Roll Number 413. Her membership application recorded that she was five feet two inches tall and weighed 118 pounds, with a medium complexion, blue-green eyes, and light brown hair. At the time of her application, she was noted to be in good health.

Her application was endorsed by Joan M. Baggen and May Wright and confirmed by members of the membership committee: Edna Anderson, Leona McKinnon, and Odelia Light.

Her relatives included George Baggen Jr. of Sitka, L. C. Baggen of Juneau, and Elsie Johnson of Granite, New Mexico.

Betty Vrooman died in Sitka, Alaska, on February 11, 1975.

Sources

Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo Membership Application records.