Obituary of Betty D. Thomas

none Betty D.Thomas Betty D. Thomas, nee Betty Helen Davis, born January 21, 1923, in Forsythe, Montana, died surrounded by family on March 22, 2011, at the home of her daughter in Lacey, Washington. She was the first child of William Graham and Ethel Irene (Rountree) Davis. She grew up in Montana, graduated from Forsythe High School in 1940. In April 1941, Betty was married to Ralph Elton Thomas (who preceded her in death in December of 2003). She is survived by her daughters Betty Irene Thomas of Lacey, Washington, Sammy Graham Armstrong of Tenino, Washington, five grandchildren, Robert and Deanna Jackson, Lacey, Washington, Robert Elton and Kathryn Taylor, Mililani, Hawaii, AnnaLee and Darryl Giesman, Lacey, Washington, Jennifer Moree and Brian Hanson, Lacey, Washington, Patrick Allen Thomas and Sharon Taylor, San Diego, California; eleven great-grandchildren, Gail Melissa and John Jensen, Alexander Martel and Chrissy Jackson, Joshua Graham McDaniel, Nicholas James Giesman, Ashlee Irene Giesman, Payton Erin Hanson, Michael Elton Taylor, Rachel Graham Taylor, Daniel Orville Taylor, Carter Allen Taylor, and Spencer Thomas Taylor; four great-great grandchildren, Onaka Lynn Jensen, Jacob Michael Jensen, Katelyn Elizabeth Jackson and Thomas Robert Jackson; one sister, Susie Lipschultz, and her husband Bill, of Napa, California, one brother, Thomas Charles Davis, and his wife Jan, of Reno, Nevada, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, two sisters, two grandsons and one great-grandson. For several years Betty and Ralph traveled around following Ralph’s employment in construction and, in 1955, they purchased their home in Tenino. Betty attended Business College in Olympia and ultimately worked as office manager for Remington Rand in Olympia and later as Executive Secretary to the Director of the Bridge Division at the Washington State Department of Transportation until her retirement in 1982. Betty and Ralph enjoyed retirement, traveling to Arizona in the winter and home in Tenino in the summer. During her retirement, Betty was an avid quilt maker and also enjoyed machine knitting. She loved making sweaters and quilts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. If she wasn’t reading a book, watching the Discovery Channel, she was working on a quilt. Betty attended church at the Assembly of God Church in Tenino and loved the Sunday evening singing services. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A memorial service is scheduled for both Betty and her husband, Ralph, at the Forest Grove Cemetery, Tenino, Washington, on July 9, 2011. The time will be announced later. Please leave a message for the family in the guestbook below.