Bettie Irene Cook
Bettie Irene Cook went to be with her Savior on Feb. 15, 2005. Bettie was born on Feb. 23, 1930 in Lincoln, Neb. She lived an exciting life traveling with her mother Alverta Brenneman McLain and stepfather, Benjamin Franklin (Mac) McLain, who was in the Merchant Marines. Bettie was proud of the complete set of Noritake china that her stepfather brought back from Occupied Japan. She felt pride that she had never broken any of the set, and continued using the dishes throughout her life and marriage.
Bettie graduated in Moro, Ore. the only female in her graduating class of 11 people. She was the first secretary of the Appaloosa Horse Club Registry when it started while she attended high school. Bettie met her husband Fred a few years after he returned from World War II. Fred had broken a leg while they were dating, and always said that Bettie had him "caught!" At the age of 18, Bettie married Fred in 1948 in Ephrata, Wash. The wedding was performed by the local judge, a story that Bettie always found humorous, if not romantic.
Fred and Bettie settled in the Okanogan County area and started raising a family. In 1950, Fred joined the Carpenter's Union, and the family began following construction all over the Basin area for the next 50 years. Bettie and Fred bought a farm in the Warden area, and stayed about five years. Next, Bettie and Fred spent a year farming in the Toroda Creek area, near Bettie's parents. Since 1961, Bettie has resided and farmed with Fred near Ephrata on the Two-Bit Ranch that they purchased together. They raised four children, and farmed the land to raise Angus cattle, Arabian and Miniature horses and many vegetables in the family garden. Bettie prided herself with a beautiful rose garden and enjoyed caring for it and giving bouquets away throughout the summer. Bettie like to help others, and showed support for the local youth by leading a 4-H group for over 16 years. Bettie and Fred had many annual outings with their close friends Jack and Phyllis Abbott, including traveling to Packwood Flea Market and numerous camping trips as well as their weekly pinochle games.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Fred, at the family ranch. She is also survived by her son Jim and wife Claudia Cook of Moses Lake and their sons, Chris and wife Deena, Quincy and wife Lexi, and Brady; her daughters, Peggy and husband Ted Murray of Tonasket, and their sons Rob and Brian and daughter Kim and husband Jamie Lamb; Suse and husband Doug Cook of Ephrata and their son, D.R. McGrew; and Sherri and husband Scott Tripp of Wenatchee. She is survived by six great-grandchildren and her special cat, Yowler, who liked only Bettie.
A memorial service for Bettie will be held at Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. A potluck luncheon will follow at the Moose Lodge in Ephrata. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Inurnment will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21 at Eagle Cliff Cemetery on Toroda, near Wauconda, Wash. Arrangements are under the directions of Nicoles Funeral Home, Ephrata.