Elizabeth Hanset Terhaar

May 27th, 1932 – January 24th, 2012

Betty Terhaar, beloved spouse, partner, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend passed peacefully from this world to the next, surrounded in her home by her loving family.

Born in Portland to Leon C. Hanset and Elizabeth Ann Hanset (Coiteux), Betty joined a large, loving and growing family that came to include more siblings and also a new step-mother, Martha Jolin, after her mother passed.

Betty attended St. Rose Elementary School and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. In 1954 she married Jerry Terhaar and they had 4 children. Always an active person, her career as a mail carrier fit her personality perfectly! The only thing she liked more than being outside and walking was meeting people and making new friends.

In 1970, she met her partner Gwyn. Together they made it their mission to care for their growing family of grandkids, nieces, nephews – you name it! Everyone knew her as ‘Aunt Betty’ or ‘Grandma Betty’. In particular, they took care of a succession of aunts and family friends including Myrt, Marg, Margueritte, Thelma, Julie, Lucylle and Thea.

She is survived by her partner of 42 years, Gwyn Terhaar, and her children and their spouses: Tricia and TJ, Eric and Lynn, Curt and Lynn and Dirk and Terri. Also 15 grand children: Noah, Nathan, Daniel, & AeriElizabeth, Lauren & Alec, Brian, Melanie, Erik, Liisa, Sarah, Kyle & Nate, Joshua & Jenelle, and 15 ½ great-grandchildren. She leaves behind her siblings and their spouses: Marilyn and Gordon Earsley, Carol and Jake Maurer, Susan Hanset and Rick Surratt, Kathleen Hanset, David and Irma Hanset, Bob and Jean Jolin and sister-in-law Doris Kellogg. Also, numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Preceeding her in death were her husband, Jerry Terhaar, brothers Gene and Jim Hanset , and brother Merle Hanset and his wife Rena.

Services will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th at 2:00 on Tuesday, January 31st.