Elizabeth (Betty) Barbara Felicijan Kelley, 93, died peacefully at Guardian Angel Home in Richland, Washington in the presence of her loving daughter, Katie, on September 29, 2024.

Betty was born on March 21, 1931, in Melvindale, Michigan to Jacob and Mary Felicijan. She was the middle child of 3 and the only girl. In 1945, she and her family moved to a small farm near Sunnyside, Washington. There, she attended Sunnyside high school and met her best friend and love of her life, Walter Kelley. In high school, Betty was a talented athlete as well as a thespian. She had the lead role in the high school play that earned the admiration of her future husband Walt. After high school, Betty put her specialty for organizing numbers to work as a bookkeeper for Sunnyside Chevrolet, where she gained her savvy business skills.

On December 21st, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart Walt Kelley. After their marriage, the couple moved to Bremerton and then San Diego while Walt served in the navy. After his service, they moved to Pullman where Walt received his degree in education. While in Pullman, they welcomed 3 sons: Mike (1953), Dan (1955), and Jim (1957). After graduating, Betty and Walt moved to Tonasket, Washington, where Walt accepted a teaching position. Very soon after their arrival in Tonasket, Betty and Walt lost their first-born son to cancer. Betty and Walt were so supported by the community in Tonasket through this tragedy that they made Tonasket their permanent home for the next 55 years. While in Tonasket they welcomed 2 more children, a son Dave (1960) and a daughter Katie (1965).

Betty was no ordinary woman – a superwoman, she was the energizer bunny. She was an avid vegetable gardener, and her thrifty nature drove her not to waste a thing; she spent her summers, drying, canning, and freezing her harvest along with feeding her family fabulous healthy meals. Fall was filled with running a crew of workers to harvest all the fruits from the family farm, and her sharp skill in accounting was the pillar of the family business. Winters were full of perfecting her talents in textiles and she was known to make her children and grandchildren's outfits, knitted socks, slippers and crocheted blankets. One winter she used a tanned deerskin leather from the fall's hunt and made her boys 'cool' 70's leather fringe vests. In the spring, you could find her riding the motorcycle out in the orchard harvesting asparagus. She was always up for an adventure; she enjoyed watching local sports while her kids were in school and of course taking stats for each game! She never missed a single event and was always there to celebrate her children's triumphs and support them through challenges. Betty was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Tonasket, served in altar society and parish council for many years. She was also a lifelong bridge player and enjoyed hosting bridge parties at her home in Tonasket.

After retirement, Betty and Walt spent many years travelling as snowbirds to California, where they would visit family, friends, and putt around on the golf course. They enjoyed numerous cruises and travel with friends and family visiting Hawai'i, the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Canada, and Australia, as well as many trips across the country to visit family. After Walt's death, Betty moved to Brookdale Canyon Lakes Senior Living in Kennewick where she became involved in trips, bridge, water aerobics, and many community activities. She is warmly remembered by her grandchildren for teaching them many skills, especially gardening, cooking, and sewing. She also adopted many other relatives and treated them like her own grandchildren. Betty was a dedicated wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all.

She is survived by her children, Dan Kelley &; daughter-in-law Jeanne of Hartsville, South Carolina, Jim Kelley &; daughter-in-law Lynne of Kennewick, Dave Kelley & daughter-in-law Teria of Post Falls, Idaho, Katie Kelley Nissinen &; son-in-law Kimmo Nissinen of Seattle. 10 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Michael, husband Walt, parents Jacob and Mary, and brothers Jack and Elmer Felicijan.

A Celebration of Life is tentatively planned for May of 2025 in the Sunnyside area. If you would like to make a donation in Betty's honor, the family is suggesting the Tonasket Senior Center, The Tonasket Community Scholarship Fund or the Tonasket Food Bank.