Elizabeth Mary 'Betty' Warnick
Betty Warnick learned to fly before she learned to drive and she loved her family with her entire heart. She is greatly missed.
Elizabeth Mary “Betty” (Vickerman) Warnick, 100 years old, passed away peacefully at her home Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, surrounded by her family. Betty was the beloved matriarch of the Warnick family to her seven children, children-in-law, foster children, many grandchildren, grandnieces and grandnephews, great-grandchildren, friends and community members.
Betty was born Jan. 18, 1925, in the small town of Harrold, S.D. She was the second oldest of five children and the only girl in a ranching and farming family. Betty went to a one-room schoolhouse with 15 kids and, as she described it, three bullies. Maybe this is where she began to develop her sharp wit and wonderful communication skills. She also grew her independence and daring spirit there as a young girl, riding bareback on her horse, Patty, for miles across the big, wide fields and prairie all by herself, strong and adventurous.
After graduating from Cathedral Catholic High School in Rapid City, S.D., at age 17, Betty worked as a telephone operator. Two years later, she headed west for Hanford, Wash. It was 1944 and the war effort was on. She provided much-needed office help but hoped for more. Betty had always yearned to fly and soon began taking flying lessons. If the war had continued, she would have joined the Women's Air Force Service pilots. She later moved to Yakima, Wash., and began working at Central Aircraft, where she met her husband, Hugh, who was also learning to fly. Our remarkable matriarch learned to fly an airplane before she learned to drive a car.
In June of 1946, Hugh and Betty were married back in Rapid City. They returned to Washington state, living on the Warnick family dude, guest and farming ranch in the Wenas Valley, 30 miles outside of Yakima. They operated the ranch with Hugh’s brother and when times got tight, they decided ownership of the ranch at the flip of a coin. Losing the toss, Betty and Hugh ended up in Moses Lake and had a business opportunity to start Central Bonded Collectors in 1954. Betty was an active partner with Hugh in the business, and they had many successful decades. Their oldest son, Roy, joined the business in 1970 and, together with his wife, Judy, eventually took over the business and operated it until 2025.
After several years living in town, Hugh and Betty began looking for farmland as they missed country life. By this point, the family was growing, and life was very busy. But they had a vision to recreate some of what they loved and missed from the Wenas Ranch. They bought a farm and acreage, eventually recreating a ranch-style home with the pond, summer parties and hayrides, alfalfa hay farming, an orchard, 4-H animals and, of course, a big garden.
Betty was a certified Master Gardener and known for her magnificent roses and abundant vegetables. She maintained her cherished garden right up to the very end.
Beyond her dedication to and love for her family, Betty was an active community member. For example, she held office in Women’s Rotary, was the first president of the Lakeview Terrace Elementary Parent Teachers Association, Cub Scout den mother, 4-H leader and active member at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, where she belonged for over 70 years.
She was preceded in death by husband Hugh Warnick, son Joseph Warnick, grandson-in-law Trevor Tibbs, son-in-law Thomas Shelby and great-granddaughter Emma Mae Hamsher.
Betty is survived by her son, Roy (Judy) of Moses Lake, son Dale (Karen) of Bellevue, daughter Taelor of Moses Lake, son David (Diane) of Driggs, Idaho, daughter Lorray Shelby of Moses Lake, daughter Mitja Stansfield (Tom) of Bellevue, Wash., foster daughter Carmen and foster son Ramon Castellanos of Florida, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Betty left an indelible mark on all who knew her. Her legacy is left to the countless people she impacted through the generous, positive, adventurous and guiding light that she was. We will forever remember our Mom, Grandma, Grandma Great, our Queen, especially as she left us on Thanksgiving Day. Even in her passing from an extraordinary life well lived, she’s guiding us still.
Services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, as follows: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 200 N. Dale Road, Moses Lake: 9 a.m. — Viewing, 10 a.m. — Rosary and 10:30 a.m. — Mass. Burial immediately following at Guarding Angels Cemetery, Moses Lake. Then a luncheon will follow to be held at the Fatima Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Betty’s memory to either of two of her favorite organizations: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Moses Lake, www.olf.church, or the Grant County Master Gardeners, https://bit.ly/MSTRGRDN1.
Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at https://bit.ly/BETTYWARNICK.
Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.