Betty Mae Wood

April 1, 1925 – December 4, 2022

Betty Mae Kister Wood, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully Dec. 4, 2022, at the age of 97.

Betty was born April 1, 1925, to John and Irma Kister in Lincoln, Nebraska. She grew up and graduated from high school in Lincoln. During World War II she met and married Walter Wilson with whom she had three children: James, Terri, and Deborah. After the war she was a military wife living in Lincoln; Tucson, Arizona; Browns Mills, New Jersey; Bossier City, Louisiana and finally Moses Lake, Washington.

After Betty and Walter divorced, Betty stayed in Moses Lake working as a seamstress and was the assistant manager and then manager of Jeanne Dale Fabrics in Moses Lake.

Then she was introduced to and married Norman Wood, who was a longtime Moses Lake resident running a CPA business. Norm had a daughter, Rebecca. Betty then settled back into being a stay-at-home housewife and mother helping to raise Rebecca. Norm loved the outdoors and introduced Betty to many aspects such wild mushroom picking, wild huckleberry picking, camping and fishing. They filled many hours doing these activities over the years. Later they did significant traveling. They went to Alaska twice, once pulling a camping trailer up the Alcan Highway. They also went to Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Betty was highly creative and took numerous classes over the years. She took a painting class and painted still lifes. She also had a loom for weaving, weaving material that she then made into clothes for herself and Norm.

Norm passed in February of 2009 and Betty stayed in Moses Lake even though she had invites from Terri and James to come and live with either of them. She always said no, “No, my friends are here in Moses Lake.” She was involved in the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church as well as fundraising for the Central Basin Community Concert Association.

Betty was proceeded in death by her parents, brother Arnold, husband Norm and two daughters Terri and Deborah. She is survived by her son James and daughter Rebecca, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for Betty on Feb. 26, 2023, starting at 1 p.m. at the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers a contribution can be made to the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church in Betty’s name.