Elisabeth L. Grote passed away suddenly on Dec. 30, 2007 in Lawton, Okla.

Betty, as everyone knew her, was born on July 17, 1935 in Rheinberg, Germany and grew up in Hanau, Germany during World War II. Betty came to the United States shortly after her marriage to James K. Grote on Dec. 24, 1956 (James passed away April 7, 2006). Betty later became a United States citizen in 1961.

Betty and Jim made their home in the Lake Tapps area of Washington State. There they raised their five children. In 1994 they bought a farm in Chewelah, Wash. and lived there until Jim sadly passed away. Betty recently moved to Lawton to be with her younger sister, Imgard Manual, who had recently lost her husband as well.

Betty loved to cook and bake for her friends. Whenever someone would come to visit, there was always something cooking. She also loved to garden and grow beautiful flowers and vegetables. Betty always looked forward to her phone conversations and her visits with her family. In her earlier years she would travel across the country with her husband Jim, via motorcycle. She lived a life of hard work and was an inspiration to her family and friends.

Betty is preceded in death by her loving husband Jim of 50 years, an infant son, James Leroy and four siblings: Martha, Gertrude, Kurt and Hugo.

Betty is survived by her five children: John (Dawn) of Sumner, Wash., Jerri Silvernail (Dave) of Orting, Wash., Judith of Tacoma, Wash., Jeffrey of Orting, Wash., Joseph (Pam) of Valley, Wash.; two sisters Maria Kreutz of France and Imgard Manual of Oklahoma; two brothers, Herman and Walter Frey of Germany; 15 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Memorial services for both Jim and Betty were held on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Calvary Community Church in Sumner, Wash. and on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. family and friends were invited to a get-together with a potluck at the United Church of Christ in Chewelah.