Elizabeth Eleanor Kelley

Elizabeth passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, Sept. 30th after a long illness. She was born in Powell Township (Ipswich), South Dakota on April 25, 1924. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Dennis Robert Kelley, parents John W. and Martha Richards, brothers Milton and Benjamin.

She is survived by daughter Cynthia “Cindy” Richards Kelley Gilbert and husband Robert “Bob”, grandsons Kendall (28) of Valletta, Malta and Collin (25) of Denver, CO, sister Mary Jane Opsahl of Ipswich, South Dakota as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

She was very proud of the Richards family and the impact of a loving, hard working, God-fearing family with which she thrived as a child. Her early days growing up on the family farm brought many cherished memories that she spoke of often: learning her Welsh heritage and language from her immigrated grandparents, riding her pony to school or in winter by sleigh, and being the first family in the area connected to electricity.

Life on the farm meant farmhands to feed during harvest, so in the kitchen she went alongside her mother Mattie and sister Mary Jane to fix volumes of food. It’s those times during the Depression that her family’s mantra of “never leaving the table hungry” was seared into Betty’s being and we will always smile thinking of her constant refrain “did you get enough to eat”.

In 1942 after graduating from Ipswich High School, she worked briefly as a school teacher and a secretary before she discovered her true passion in the banking and finance industry. Her first job was an Executive Secretary to the VP at the First National Bank of Aberdeen. During this time in Aberdeen she met the love of her life on a blind date, Dennis. She resigned in February 1953 so she could begin her married life on Valentine’s Day and a new life in Anchorage, Alaska. Her career included Executive Secretary at the First National Bank of Anchorage, Seattle-First National Bank and Merrill Lynch here in Seattle and subsequently in Cleveland, Ohio when Dennis was transferred with Northwest Airlines. It was in Cleveland where she gave birth to her only child, Cindy, and there began her new career as a stay home mom with a brief stint as our local ‘Avon Lady’, until Cindy’s high school years. In 1976 she re-entered the work force at Dean Vincent, the Allison Group and finally Weight Watchers of Washington where she retired in 1990. She will be forever remembered as a great baker, cook, piano player (by ear!), knitter, and world traveler. She was a long time member of Sand Point Country Club and Sand Point United Methodist Church in Seattle and cherished the many lifelong friendships made while serving the church. She actively volunteered at the University Food Bank and PROBUS international.

She was a devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend who will be missed dearly but never forgotten. She is once again resting with the love of her life and ALL are at peace.

A celebration of her life will be held on January 27 at 11 am at the Sand Point Community United Methodist Church, 4710 NE 70th St, Seattle, WA 98115. Reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to Powell Cemetery Association 14220 – 365th Ave., Ipswich, SD 57451, Sand Point Community United Methodist Church 4710 NE 70th St, Seattle 98115, or Union Gospel Mission P O Box 202 Seattle 98111.