Elizabeth “Bette” L. McGowan
Elizabeth “Bette” Louise McGowan, née Klomsten, 92, of Longview, WA, passed away December 20, 2022.
Bette was born April 20, 1930, in Whitehall, to her late parents, Oswald Klomsten and Alvina (Hanson) Klomsten. She was the eldest of six children. Bette grew up in Whitehall and graduated from Whitehall High School in 1948. She continued her education at the Franklin School of Practical Nursing in Minneapolis. As a licensed practical nurse, she worked in Denver and in Minneapolis where she met and married her husband of 37½ years. Shortly thereafter, the couple moved west to Azusa, CA, where Bette stayed home to raise their three children. Over the years, the family made wonderful memories with their yearly vacation trips, camping and fishing, often in Oregon or Washington, where they had the “best of times” together!
In 1983, Bette returned to work, finding “the best job I ever had”, working 8½ years with Dr. James Dobson and his wonderful team of fellow Christians at Focus on the Family in southern California. Upon retirement, Bette (and Jeanne, her best friend/neighbor of 40 years), embarked on numerous senior trips and travel adventures, doing “everything possible”. With excitement in her voice, she recalled having “a lot of good times” with “a calendar book that was always full” with “anything we (she and her friends) could possibly do“ including trips to Catalina, San Francisco and Branson, Missouri!
Bette is survived by her devoted and loving son, Timothy “Tim” McGowan of Longview, WA; daughter, Mary (Gregg) Powers of Victorville, CA; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father as well as her husband, Wilford “Mac” McGowan of Azusa, CA; daughter, Patricia “Patti” (Ruben) Castellanos of Kelso, WA; and her granddaughter, Stacy Powers of Victorville, CA.
Bette was also preceded in death by her sisters: Alice (Robert) Havel of Naperville, IL, Mary (Delmar) Dahl of Black River Falls; and her brother, Oswald “Ozzie” Klomsten of Trempealeau. She is survived by her sister, Bonnie (Don) Terrell of Black River Falls; and brother, Gerald “Jerry” (Joanne) Klomsten of LaGrange Highlands, IL.
She will be laid to rest alongside her late husband at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.
