Elizabeth Jean "Betty" Holm

Elizabeth J. Holm, "Betty", passed away on May 22, 2015 in Longview, Washington. She was born in Astoria, Oregon to Wendell and Emma (Jackson) Holm and was the oldest for four children. Betty lived on the family farm in Naselle and was Valedictorian for her graduating class from Naselle High School. After graduation she attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. She worked as a CPA first in Bend, Oregon and then returned to Washington where she worked for several employers including Pay-N-Pak in the Seattle area, finally retiring from Longview Fiber in 1986. Retirement was a term used lightly in Betty's life. She continued her accounting work for private clients and worked every tax season until the age of 88. Betty had many interests in life. She enjoyed playing bridge and bowling, participating in a bowling league for many years. She was a master knitter and created many beautiful projects for loved ones and herself. Betty loved history, especially of the local area; she was a member of the Pacific County Historical Society. She enjoyed genealogy and recorded the Holm and Jackson family histories. Betty loved picking blackberries and digging for razor clams. The family was glad to take her digging because she did not like to eat clams but was happy to contribute a limit for the fry pan or pot of chowder. The blackberries were a different matter; blackberry pie was her favorite desert. She also loved to travel, highlights being several trips to Hawaii, a trip to Nova Scotia to visit relatives, and to Scotland and Scandinavia to explore her Finnish heritage. Betty was an avid reader and was rarely found without a book in her hands. She enjoyed shopping and was a collector of antiques, dishware and Finnish glass. She delighted in gardening and grew beautiful roses and peonies. She also collected cookbooks and recipes and liked to cook. Betty was an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. She spent many hours listening to the Mariner games on the radio. It was only in the last couple of years that she finally got cable so she could watch the games on TV. During football season it was the University of Washington Huskies or Washington State University Cougar games on Saturday and on Sunday, the Seahawks. Family was important to Betty, she loved to visit about happenings in the past and present. She was a kind and generous person, loved by family and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her parents Wendell and Emma (Jackson) Holm, her brothers Edwin Holm and Dr. William Holm, her sister Louise Holm Hunter, and a nephew Lloyd Holm. She is survived by nieces Mitzi Hunter, Jennifer (Jonathan Hamel) Holm, Jill Holm, Eileen (Micah) Bickford and nephews Peter Hunter, Keith Holm, Ian (Victoria) Holm, Jonathan (Amanda) Holm, and Matthew (Cyndi) Holm. She has many great nieces and nephews, and cousins. A family graveside service at Peaceful Hill Cemetery in Naselle will be at noon on Saturday, June 6, 2015. A memorial service will be at 1 PM at the Naselle Lutheran Church with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Emma Holm Memorial Scholarship Fund. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.