Washington - Bette B. Phillips went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2022 after suffering a stroke a week previously.

Bette was born in Tacoma, WA, on October 21, 1930 to Harry and Leona Broomfield. She lived in a cabin on Mount Rainier in her early childhood and in Spokane for several years before moving to Seattle and graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1946. She completed one year of college at Washington State College and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.

Bette met her loving husband and the love of her life, James (Jim) in 1951 and they were married on August 9, 1952 in Seattle. Bette worked for a brief time until the birth of the first of their three children in June of 1953 when she became a full-time homemaker who provided loving care and support for her family. She was a terrific cook and baker as well as being a talented seamstress for herself and her daughters and a skilled knitter for multiple family members. When she returned to work, she discovered her favorite job while working as an elementary school secretary. Soon thereafter, Jim accepted a new job which in 1961 moved the family to Pittsburgh, PA for four years and Smithtown, NY on Long Island for five years before returning to Seattle in 1970. Bette worked part-time as a secretary for public school systems during this time while remaining active in her children's activities. When she returned to Seattle, she worked in high schools and retired in 1986 after several years as head secretary at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle.

Bette and Jim moved to Camano Island permanently in 1986. Bette worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for one of the independent fire districts (that subsequently merged to form Camano Island Fire and Rescue) until Jim retired in 1990 and they began their annual trek to their home in Mesa, AZ as 'snowbirds' to play golf. She was also active in the Fire Jets auxiliary that supported the fire districts. She continued her lifelong history of active involvement in her faith communities at Stanwood United Methodist Church. As in her previous church communities, she sang in their choir as well as in a choral quintet. She was also active as a greeter and in many other church programs, committees, and activities from hospitality and finance (she also served as church treasurer) to community outreach programs, women's groups, and bible studies (including leadership roles).

Bette was a gracious hostess who loved to welcome family and friends into her beautiful homes for excellent meals and lively conversations. She loved to garden and created and maintained beautiful gardens at all her homes. Jim introduced Bette to bridge and Bette found a bridge group on Camano Island that met regularly and in which she enjoyed many hours of bridge, lively conversations, and warm friendships. Bette and Jim enjoyed many golfing activities in their Camaloch and Mesa, AZ golfing communities. Bette enjoyed golfing in women's 9-hole golfing communities in both locations for many years in addition to golfing with family members and friends. She belonged to many clubs that allowed her to share her multiple interests, learn from the experiences of others, and develop warm friendships including gardening clubs, book clubs, and the Camano Yacht Club.

Bette will be remembered for her beautiful, friendly, and welcoming smile, her warm welcome in her homes, her kind, helpful, and caring nature, and how deeply she loved and cherished her family and valued the many friends she encountered throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, Jim, her daughter, Diane Lewis, her brother, Jack Broomfield, and her sister-in-law, Patricia Entrop.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Jim) Hansen, her son, Donald (Linda), 4 grandsons, and 4 great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Joanie Broomfield, her brother-in-law, Robert Entrop, and several nieces and nephews.

Bette's family wants to extend sincere thanks to her caregivers at Sunrise of Edmonds for the compassionate care and support they provided for Bette and her family.

To see Bette's full obituary, to sign her guestbook, and/or to share memories and/or condolences with her family, please visit www.kernfuneralhome.com. Bette's family does not plan a memorial service at this time. Memorials can be given to Stanwood United Methodist Church, the Alzheimer's Association, or a charity of your choice.