Betty Jean Mitchell

Betty J. Mitchell died on November 19, 2022, at Washington Odd Fellows, her home, for the past nine years. Betty was born in Yakima, Wash., to Ted and Ruth (Fries) Burdin. The family moved to Walla Walla, where she married Edward J. "Ted" Mitchell in 1950. Following graduation from Whitworth College (now University) and after their daughter Sandi was born, the family moved to Alaska, where Ted taught school for Native Alaska Services in Unalakleet and White Mountain. Betty taught for a short time until the birth of Judy and then of Nancy. The family returned to Walla Walla in 1956, where their son Jonathan was born.

Betty was a homemaker while her children were young; she then worked as the bicentennial secretary for the City of Walla Walla and later as information secretary at the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce. Betty and Ted were early members of Trinity Baptist Church, where Betty later served as secretary; the couple were deeply committed to ministering to young people serving as Sunday School teachers, youth group leaders, assisting with AWANA or wherever they were needed. They enjoyed deep and lasting friendships with other church members.

Following retirement, Betty and Ted spent two years in Macau as volunteers in the Missionary Assistance Corps. Their time in Alaska and Macau were significant and defining experiences in their Christian lives.

Betty and Ted's remaining years focused on family; they showed their deep love and support to their children and grandchildren. They developed an interest in genealogy and, as a result, traveled across the U.S. and abroad to connect with distant relatives.

Because of their deep faith, Betty and Ted were passionate about sharing God's love with the world. They lived their faith in too many ways to count and touched many lives.

Betty was predeceased by her husband of 65 years; survivors include Sandi Villwock (Paul, deceased), Judy (Todd Pisek), Nancy (Pat Keef), Jonathan (Jana); grandchildren, Mark Villwock (Heather, PaigeAnne, and Corban), Kim Villwock Bringhurst (Jody and Nathanael), Aaron Meister (Tessa Matson), Colin Meister, Ellice Mitchell, and Lydia Mitchell.

The family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Joanne Perez and the team at Washington Odd Fellows for their loving care and support of Mom during her final years.

Memorial gifts may be made to Trinity Baptist Church's youth ministry, the Christian Aid Center, the American Diabetes Association, or a charity of choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.

A memorial service will be held from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Trinity Baptist Church, 595 Abbott Road. The service will be livestreamed on YouTube: "Trinity Walla Walla."