Betty Irene Rhodes

During Betty's growing up years, Willard and Gladys had a lot on Mason Lake where the Aunts, Uncles, and cousins would gather for holidays and weekends. They helped build the house, dock and shop. Betty even helped build the Mason Lake community center. Everyone had a happy and crazy time playing in the lake.

Betty graduated from Garfield High School then married Leo Garbarino. They had one daughter; Christina (Tina). After a divorce, a couple of years later, Betty married Art Rhodes, and they had 3 boys; twins John and Mike, and Ted who came 11 months later. Betty and Art divorced a year after Ted was born. Fifteen years later Betty married then divorced James Morrison

Betty became a single mother of 4 small children. She managed to raise her children on her own with the help of her family. She was always known for her undeniable kindness, great work ethic and determination.

Betty worked for many years at Sears alongside her sisters and mother. She also worked nights at Boeing for a short while. She then moved on to Reliable Parts and retired from there.

After the children were grown, Betty met her soul mate and life partner, Stewart Earl in 1997. The two spent the next 18 happy years living their days traveling, gardening and tinkering as they loved to do.

During retirement, Betty enjoyed traveling to Arizona with Stewart and being a snowbird. They traveled to Hawaii many times and enjoyed the warm waters. Betty, Stewart and Tina traveled to China in 2000 and it was a memory for the scrapbooks. One of Betty’s recent trips was to Cancun with Tina, Cheryl (John’s wife) and Lori (a family friend). She saw the Circ du Solei and ancient ruins. Betty's last venture was an Alaskan cruise with Tina, Lori and Tammi in 2023. Betty made each experience a happy memory. Tina will dearly miss her traveling partner, but may be a stowaway with her on future travels.

With Earl’s passing in 2015, Betty, in 2021 moved to Puyallup to reside with her daughter Tina and her husband Rex. She was well cared for and was never alone. She was even known to venture out on Rex’s Harley Davidson sidecar for a spin around the block or out for dinner with family.

Betty passed away peacefully at home on July 26th, 2024.

Betty is survived by her children; Tina, John, and Mike, four grandchildren; Ryan, Emily, Nick (Mikes children), and Jillian(John's daughter); and a great-grandson -Hudson(Ryan's son)

An open house Memorial for Betty will be held on September 8th at the Des Moines North Hill Community Center from 1pm to 4pm. 20827 3rd Ave S., Des Moines WA 98198

“Bye for Now”…..Betty