Beth Betz

I read something the other day. It said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." I think mom would want that said about her life. She loved her kids and grandkids, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. I know she spent many an hour praying for each one. You were included in those prayers.

Beth Betz was born March 18, 1921 to Clara Aurora and Harry E. Mitchell in Bellingham, WA. The second of five children she shouldered many responsibilities early on. She excelled in school and graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy early in her seventeenth year, 1938. Having lost her father the previous year, there were not the finances to start college then. So she hired out as domestic help to at least two families in the Bellingham area for the next couple of years.

She attended La Sierra College in California starting 1940 for 2 years before coming to Portland in 1942 where she met Jack Betz on a downtown street through a mutual friend. They courted while Beth finished an internship in Medical Technology, and Jack started dentistry school. Jack was taken into the army and was to be sent overseas to Japan. Before he left, Beth joined him in Springfield, MO where they were married on May 11, 1944. While Jack was stationed in Fort Lewis, WA, Beth worked as a Medical Technologist at the hospital on base. From there Jack was shipped overseas, and Beth moved back to Portland where she found work at the Red Cross until he returned from the war.

When Jack returned, they made their home in Portland where they have lived together for 68 years, 55 of those were in a house they built on Mount Scott. Jack continues to reside there. Jack built many homes, and Beth worked for several Laboratories before staying home with their three children and handling the finances for business and home. She again worked at Portland Adventist Medical Center from 1974-1993/94.

Beth, a life long member or the Seventh-day Adventist church joined the Sunnyside congregation where Jack was already a member. She was active and served as deaconess, and in the children's divisions, always contributing food for potlucks and other meals as needed.

Three children, Robert Dean (1948), Raymond Keith (1953), and Georgia Ann (1960), joined the family. Beth spent most of her waking hours caring for, praying for, preparing food for, teaching, and cleaning up after them. Most important of all, though, she loved them unconditionally.

Beth loved her family. She camped, hiked, canoed, and spent many hours in the outdoors with the family. At age 80 she accompanied Raymond (son) and family on an eighty mile canoe trip, with portages, around Bowron Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, and it rained every day. An annual event was going to Mount Adams to pick huckleberries. She collected many a pies' ingredients there. Her children remember her reading to them by the hour and helping them with school work at the kitchen table. She often had a saying or poem that was applicable to the situation. She enjoyed cooking, simple, yet delicious, meals; and anyone was welcome at her table. Fruit pies and fresh bread were her specialty and there were always homemade cookies in her cookie jar. She sewed many a garment for family members. Shirts, Georgia's wedding dress, comforters, and quilts were among her creations . Gardening took her outdoors in the spring and summer with Jack, as they cultivated a large garden from which they shared the harvest with family and friends. Beth's faith played a major role in her life. She spent many hours in devotion and prayer. She believed in living her faith not preaching it.

During her life she welcomed nieces, nephews, and grandchildren into her home to live for various lengths of time. She enjoyed feeding them whenever they would join her for dinner and hearing about their day. She often spiced the conversation with quotes from literature and interesting sayings learned in her childhood.

Beth's table was always filled with food and if you were there she took

it as a personal offense if you didn't partake. You were wanted and welcome

in her home at any time day or night rain or shine. It wasn't just OK if you

stayed. You were wanted.

After retirement, they traveled some throughout the US and abroad making sure to take in the grandchildren's milestones: birthdays, recitals, concerts, vacations, Christmases, graduations and weddings. Anything her grandkids were involved in was of interest to Grandma, and she wanted to hear about it. She loved everyone of them and told me so. When she could do very little for herself in the last couple of months, she shared how much she missed going out to choose and buy gifts for birthdays and Christmas. She cherished their phone calls and visits, visits from family these were the high points in life for her.

Beth Louise (Mitchell) Betz is survived by:

Husband - Jack E. Betz

Siblings - (brother) Robert Dalton Mitchell of Loma Linda, CA; (brother) Harry Elroy Mitchell of Portland, OR; (sister) Metta Arlouine (Mitchell) (Miller) West of Lynden, WA.

Children - Robert Dean(son) and Mary Betz of Walla Walla, WA; (son) Raymond Keith and Marion Betz of Portland, OR; Georgia Ann (Betz)(daughter) and Don Schaber of Poulsbo, WA.

Grandchildren - Benjamin G. Betz, Joseph P. Betz, Jonathan M. Betz, Raymond K. Betz II, Edmond J. Betz, Kirk Q. Betz, Julie A. Betz, Dustin D. Schaber, Demi S. Schaber and wives of those grandchildren who are married.

Step Grandchildren - Darrell C. Schaber, David K. Schaber and wife Shasta

Great Grandchildren - Jackson R. Betz, Amelia R. M. Betz

Step Great grandchild l- Desirae L. Schaber

Numerous nieces and nephews

Beth was predeceased by: Ruth Marie (Mitchell) Jansen (sister) and David Miller (nephew) and Anita Mitchell (niece)