Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell

Our loving, amazing mom, Elizabeth “Betsy” Bell, went to the great beyond Monday morning, November 13, 2017. She went peacefully with amazing grace in her cozy bed at her beloved East Bay condominium. Mom was a month and a half shy of turning 94 and her body just grew weary. Mom was born to Leonard and Gertrude Bahensky on December 16, 1923 in St. Paul, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm in Gage Valley where she and her sister Marion and brother Leonard attended a one-room school. Being a very bright girl, Mom graduated from high school at the age of 16. She attended the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1949. Mom wanted to study art; however, her mother wanted her to get practical job skills so she completed a degree in social science. In 1950, our parents moved to the Pacific Northwest, a place mother always said she loved more than any place in the world. Making their home in Olympia, the family, consisting of four children, Kitty Jane, John and Nancy, were carted off to Jeffers Studio for the annual Christmas photograph. Mother loved the hunt of antiquing. With her dear friends, Lenore Olson and Pat Lewis, the trio opened an antique store on the property adjoining Dick Lewis’ Cadillac dealership. Mother had special interest in collecting antique figural souvenir spoons, Rookwood pottery, and antique tea tins. Later in life, Value Village became one of her favorite places to shop. Mother was an amazing seamstress, sewing beautiful dresses for her daughters. Sadly, we wanted store-bought and didn’t always appreciate her creations. Mother later took up needlepoint and made beautiful needlepoint pillows for all of her children. Following mom’s divorce, she worked for the State of Washington Office of Economic Opportunity where she met some really cool people that would come around the house, impressing her kids. Later, she went back to graduate school, getting a Master’s Degree at PLU in Social Science in 1975. Mom worked as Governor Dixie Lee Ray’s secretary. Mother continued her career with the state, working as a grant manager until 1982. Mother enjoyed a post retirement part-time job, working at Thompson’s Gallery, assisting her dear friend, Paulette, frame beautiful art. Mother loved chocolate and ice cream. She and her dear friend, Lenore Olson, completed crossword puzzles, checking in with one another daily. Our home on South Central Street was always a haven for many Olympia kids. Many friends would stop by the house for cinnamon toast on the way to school. Mom would sit around the dining room table and we would have some pretty amazing conversations. Mom became very active in the women’s movement, attending a National Organization of Women’s convention. She impressed upon her kids compassion and kindness for other people. Her graciousness and thoughtfulness knew no bounds. She had special dog friends and loved when they would visit. Most recently, the sweet dogs at Mother Joseph’s gave her much joy. Mom was a very frustrated interior decorator. Her beautiful water-view home displayed her thoughtful collections. Her use of color and texture was something out of architectural digest. Mom hated to cook though, and had a sign in her kitchen that said, “The only reason this house has a kitchen is because it came with one.” Her bratty kids named her cooking endeavors such things as chicken icky. Over the past several years, Mother finally returned to her passion for reading mysteries, discovering large print books from the Lacey library. It was always so sweet to drive by her condo and see her sitting on her patio enjoying a good mystery. The Sunday before Mom passed, all four of her children and John’s wife, Abbe, gathered around her bed for one last family photo. She was so happy that we could all be together. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, and younger brother, Leonard. In 2014, Morgan Bell Kosenski, Mom’s only grandson, passed away. Mom is survived by her four kids and John’s wife; her granddaughter, Iris of Bellevue; two great grandkids, Elizabeth Buffington of Bellevue and Jason Bell Kosenski of Olympia, and sister, Marion Bahensky of St. Paul, Nebraska. Please leave memories of Betsy or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.