"We are so sorry to hear of Betty's passing. We have known your family all our lives and treasured our times together. Betty was so fascinating and lived such a full, rich life. She always welcomed us warmly no matter how unannounced when mom would want to drop in. Brenda has a cabin painting that captures Alaska so beautifully that Betty gave mom. Being with Betty was always so fascinating and in more recent years we kept in touch on facebook. Betty truly lead a life well lived and well loved. Our deepest condolences,
The McKean Family"
In loving memory of
Betty H Bair
April 26, 2016 - October 16, 2016
Betty Belle Hummel was born in New Madrid, Missouri, to Floyd Sherwood Hummel and Kathleen Estelle Waters on April 26, 1921. Her grandparents were John Anthony Hummel and Bell Sherwood Hummel, Richard Jones Waters and Nancy Orra Sherwood; all of New Madrid. She passed in her sleep on October 16, 2016 while living at her daughter's home in Renton, Washington.
Betty grew up in St. Louis Missouri where her father worked as a bank examiner for the state of Missouri. She graduated from Culver-Stockton College with a degree in languages and a minor in chemistry. She often said that she regretted not discovering chemistry until late in her college experience. During the Second World War she worked in the St. Louis Lambert Chemicals lab on war related products. Following the war she married Jerry L. Bair who attended the same high school as she did. In 1947, before the Alcan Highway was opened to civilian road traffic to Alaska, they took an Alaska steamship from Seattle to Alaska. They landed in Valdez and from there drove the two lane gravel road to Fairbanks. There they put up a small cabin near the Chena River.
After several years in Fairbanks, Betty returned to the lower Forty Eight. Following the birth of the children, the family returned to Alaska and settled at Lawing, Alaska. That was before electricity was available in the area. The living was rural. Heat was with wood, Coleman lanterns and oil lamps were the light, water was hauled, the bathroom was an out-house, and the battery radio was the evening entertainment. Groceries and other supplies were bought in Seward, twenty three miles away on a gravel road. While there, Betty went through the great Alaska earthquake during which she saw the ground undulate to the extent that the trees appeared to bend to almost touch the ground.
Betty and Jerry continued to reside at Lawing after he retired from the Forest Service. She became an avid fisherman and taught herself to identify Alaskan birds by their songs - which she taped. She took many trips including trips to Australia, Rome, London, Ireland and different parts of Alaska (both on and off the road system). Betty and Jerry moved to Honolulu for two years before finally settling in Lynnwood Washington to be near family. While in Lynnwood, she continued to travel to various parts of United States to see historical sites and museums. She also returned to Hawaii to snorkel at Hannama Bay having developed a passion for tropical fish while living in Honolulu.
Betty was always actively engaged in politics, taking the time to fully evaluate candidates and issues before voting. Over the years, she contributed to many reputable groups who were in need even though she was on a limited income. She passed on to her children the following regarding old age: no one regrets having left the dishes in the sink to do something interesting. Her family will miss her greatly.
Betty's parents, sister, Emma Jean, and brother, Jack, preceded her in death. She is survived by her three children, Dan of Anchorage, Alaska, Ann Fonken of Renton, Washington, and Kathy Pullar of Everett, Washington. Surviving also are her nine grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.