In re the Marriage of Williams

Ringold, J.*

Sandra Rae Williams and James Eldon Williams were married in 1960. Sandra worked to support the family while James acquired a master's degree in engineering. Sandra then became a full-time homemaker until 1978 when she began some part-time employment in the retail field. In January 1985, the parties separated, and in 1987 the wife filed a petition for dissolution of the marriage.

The parties, with the guidance of Northwest Mediation Service, entered into a settlement agreement which contained a detailed provision for maintenance payable by the husband to the wife for a period of 4…