Betty Louise Brice

Betty Louise Brice, long time resident of Othello and Moses Lake, Washington, passed away into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 11, 2012 in Moses Lake, WA. She was 88 years old.. She was a beloved mother, step-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Betty never knew a stranger, was highly creative, and blessed many with her crochet, her sewing, her crafts... and especially her talk, her jokes and kidding!

Born April 21, 1924, in LaGrande Oregon, Betty was the daughter of Jim Smith and Josie Northcott of Othello.

Betty grew up in Pondosa, Oregon and attended Union High School, graduating in 1942. Later in life, after Alaska and Hawaii achieved statehood, she loved to tell people that she was from Pondosa: the Geographic Center of the United States!

During WWII Betty first attended Radio School in Pendleton, Oregon and worked as a civilian with the Army Air Corps on wrecked airplanes repairing their radios at Pendleton and Walla Walla. She then moved to California and worked for McDonald Douglas as the proverbial "Rosie the Riveter" working on airplanes for use in the war.

Following WWII she moved to Othello, working various jobs then retiring in 1989 after 24 years with "Chef Ready", which is now McCains. After retiring from McCains she moved to Moses Lake and worked for Ace Hardware. Betty really enjoyed working with everyone at Ace.

Betty is survived by her son, John Loewen and his wife, Diane Loewen of Moses Lake, WA, her daughter, Melanie Brice of Lynnwood, WA, her brother, Leonard Smith and his wife, Carole Smith of Dublin, VA as well as step-grandchildren Ronald and Sarah Bartsch of Fayetteville, NC, and Carmen and Jacob Koehn of Othello, WA. She is also survived by numerous cousins.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents Jim Smith and Josie (Northcott) Smith, as well as her brothers Melvin Smith and Earnest Smith.

Following cremation, celebration of Betty's life will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Grace Harvest Church in Moses Lake, WA.

Further information can be obtained by calling Diane Loewen at (208) 407-3073 or John Loewen at (208) 577-8069.

Betty could be described as a woman who loved to talk, never knew a stranger, and who possessed an open, giving heart.

She was well loved and will be missed.