Victoria Helen Mitten-Kaleff, 58

Victoria Helen Mitten-Kaleff went home to heaven on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. She died peacefully at her home in Redmond, Wash., surrounded by her family. She was born on Nov. 6, 1959, to Raymond and Joyce (McDonald) Mitten, in Inglewood, Calif. Victoria was the fourth of eight children: her siblings were Jan, Debbie, Martin, Lisa, Michele, Kelly and Christopher. The family moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in the summer of 1969.

Victoria loved growing up in North Idaho. She attended Coeur d’Alene High School, where she served as a guardian angel for the wrestling team, performed in the drama department and was crowned Kootenai County Junior Miss. Victoria graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1978 and then continued her education at North Idaho College, where she earned her liberal arts degree in 1980. She ultimately went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in fashion merchandising from Boise State University in 1983.

Victoria began her career in the retail industry, working for The Bon Marche in 1990 in Boise, Idaho. She received a promotion to buyer and was relocated to the Seattle office until June 2001. Victoria was then hired by Lamonts, where she continued her work as a divisional merchandising manager until October 2005.

Victoria met James Crawford Kaleff in 1986; they were married on Feb. 13, 1988, in Kirkland, Wash. Together they shared passions for travel, physical fitness, sports, movies and food. In December 1995, they welcomed a baby girl, Mackenzie Lauren Kaleff. Divorced in Dec. 2003, they remained close friends and have raised Mackenzie together with great love and joy.

Victoria transferred her retail experience to the high-tech industry when she joined the Microsoft team as a contractor in February of 2007. She was then hired as a full-time employee and remained a loyal and dedicated Microsoftee. Victoria loved her work and her Microsoft family.

Victoria’s passions included faith, family, friends, travel, sports and fitness. She was a devoted mom, sister, aunt, friend and mentor to many. She cherished the people in her life. She often knew the names of every family member of her friends, including birthdays, and the smallest details of significant events in their lives. She poured her heart into those she loved.

In 2014 she joined the Overlake Christian Church family. Victoria treasured gatherings with her women’s Bible study group. Her favorite word in life was HOPE. To her it stood for Having Only Positive Expectations. Hebrews 6:19 tells us “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Those words provided comfort and peace and guided her in every aspect of her life. She loved serving families in need and always found a way to help through auctions, events, giving-activities and fundraising campaigns. She set a high bar in giving back to her community.

Victoria was preceded in death by parents, Raymond and Joyce (McDonald) Mitten. She is survived by her daughter, Mackenzie Lauren Kaleff of Redmond, Wash.; her siblings, Jan (Barry) Feely of Hayden Lake, Debbie Carr of Post Falls, Idaho, Marty (Celeste) Mitten of Omaha, Neb., Lisa (Jim) Bern of Rathdrum, Idaho, Michele (Shannon) Kirby of San Diego, Calif., Kelly (Brad) Murray of Dalton Gardens, Idaho and Chris (Laura) Mitten of Hayden, Idaho; the father of her child, James Kaleff of Palm Springs, Calif.; 17 cousins and nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends too numerous to list.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, Wash., with reception following.

Our sincere thanks go to the highly skilled and compassionate staff members of Evergreen Hospital and the City of Hope, as well as the special angels on her care team who have walked beside her through this journey.