Alice Rose Okeefe Bortnem

Former Peninsula resident Alice R. O'Keefe Bortnem, 98, died in Hillsboro, Oregon on July 30, 2010. The daughter of William and Ella (Walby) Benton, she was born in Keuterville, Idaho on August 9, 1911. She was the 22nd recorded birth in the State of Idaho. At age six Alice moved with her family to Portland, Oregon where she grew up, received her education and graduated from high school. In 1929 Alice moved to Union, Washington to live with her sister. On October 26, 1929 she married Roy Newell of Seattle and that was her city of residence until his death in 1941. In October of 1941 Alice moved to Long Beach where she resided until 1980 save for a short period residing in Deep River. She married James O'Keefe in 1942 and he died in 1967. She and James were parents of a son and a daughter. Alice graduated from Grays Harbor College where she received her education as a licensed practical nurse. She was employed by John Campiche MD from 1959 until 1974 in his medical practice in Long Beach. While residing on the Peninsula Alice was active in various community and civic organizations. Alice married James Bortnem in 1974 and he preceded her in death in 1994. Alice moved from Long Beach to Longview in 1980 where she resided until 1995. For the following 6 years she resided in a retirement home in Shelton, Washington before moving to Hillsboro, Oregon 5 years ago to be near her daughter Patricia Hughart. Alice is survived by her daughter Patricia (Vern) Hughart; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and neices Barbara Whittick of St. Helens, OR and Shirley Erhart of Shelton, WA as well as several other nieces and nephews. Besides her husband Alice was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Louise and Elizabeth; son James Michael O'Keefe; a niece Lynn Horton and a nephew David Haglund. Graveside service will be held Thursday, August 5, 2010, 11:00 AM at Ilwaco Cemetery. Alice had requested memorials to the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.