Elizabeth "Betty" Couch

It’s not the way she would have wanted her life to end, this hard-working mother and wife whose fondness for numbers led her into a major healthcare C-Suite. But dementia finally stitched the wings onto her earthly body on Monday, September 19, at 7:30 am—no doubt she attended the Queen’s funeral that day from her heavenly seat!

Born in Portland August 1, 1931, Betty was the first of Ed and Gertrude Derrah’s three daughters. After attending 12 years of parochial school graduating from The Madeleine School then Holy Child Academy, she became an Alpha Phi at the University of Oregon in 1949 and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in 1953. After heading to San Francisco to work in the buyer’s training program at the Emporium, her days as a single woman soon came to a halt when her Kappa Sigma boyfriend, Dick Couch, offered her a cigarette pack with an engagement ring inside. Who could refuse such a romantic gesture?

Portland is where they set up home, raising four daughters, and sadly losing a young son. Always looking to stay busy, she took tailoring classes, knit extensively, ironed altar cloths, volunteered at school and made sure her girls had the best education. When it came time to send her oldest daughter, Christie, to St. Mary’s Academy, one income was not enough—so she earned the $500 she needed for tuition by going door-to-door for the 1970 US Census. Finally using her degree, she got a job in bookkeeping—but noticing how much the auditor made for reviewing year-end financials, she went back to school at Portland State for classes that would qualify her to sit for the CPA exam.

Armed with her CPA license and extensive Medicare knowledge gained at a large Portland accounting firm, she jumped at an offer from Kaiser Permanente as Director of Financial Planning, living the lesson she taught her daughters: take the job that scares you! Betty proved repeatedly that hard work pays off, especially to her daughters who would all go off to professional careers of their own. She retired as the Chief Financial Officer for Kaiser Permanente, a job she absolutely cherished.

Once retired, she travelled extensively and volunteered in many capacities, especially within the Catholic Church and as a leader with Catholic and interfaith charities focused on eldercare and hospice care. She enjoyed the parish communities she became part of as she moved about the Portland area (St. Francis in Sherwood, Holy Redeemer and The Madeleine in Portland) —and taught many a priest how finances work. Whether they fully understood is another issue altogether!

She loved her grandchildren dearly, and generously set aside college funds for them, as her belief in the benefits of education never wavered. What an example she set.

Family includes her daughters Christie Kmetz (Gabe), Vicky Boubel (Tom), Erin Couch (Rich Hammons) and Lisa Gambee (John), her sister Nancy Derrah, 8 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her young son Ricky, her husband Dick and sister Mary Lee Rundle.

A very special call out to the caregivers at The Pavilion Mt. Tabor who ensured mom was well cared for, especially in her final weeks. There are no words to adequately thank you all.

In honor of Betty, please consider gifts to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (www.myotonic.org/donate) or The Madeleine Church (www.themadeleine.edu/parishgiving)