Bette A. Ternes of Irrigon died on Dec. 11, 2023 in Kennewick, Wash. at the age of 86.
She was born on May 12, 1937 in Bejou, Mahnomen County, Minn. the eldest of seven children to Joe and Eva Kraft Volk.
Bette grew up on a farm in Selfridge, N.D. where she graduated from high school in 1954. She attended college in Bismark, N.D. and later taught on a reservation in Cannonball, N.D. from 1956 until 1958. Bette met Frank Ternes at a dance in 1956 and they were united in marriage on June 4, 1958 in Selfridge, N.D. They moved to Flasher, N.D. to operate a grocery store that Frank owned until 1960 when they moved to Billings, Mont., where a truck driving job was waiting for Frank. They relocated to Portland in 1963 for another truck driving job. Bette did babysitting in her home for a time before working for Michaels of Oregon, where she assembled gun accessories.
Frank and Bette always strived to keep their family close. They frequently had large get-togethers at either their home in Portland or at their second home in Rockaway Beach. After retirement, they moved to Irrigon so that they could live on a small farm again. They both enjoyed going “all out” with the Christmas lights, once getting second place for Irrigon. Bette and Frank had both volunteered for Morrow County, driving the senior bus. They also regularly operated the snack shack at the Boardman rest area on I-84. Frank and Bette greatly enjoyed their final years camping, working in the garden, flower beds and raising farm animals. Bette was a longtime member of the Catholic church, most recently attending Our Lady of Guadalupe in Boardman.
She is survived by her children, Brenda (Bob) Murray, Jacksonville, Fla.; Cheryl (Mike) Temple, Damascus; Dale (Shannon) Ternes, Hermiston, and Lynnette (Cris) Veenstra of Irrigon; grandchildren, Kristine (Kevin) Perryman, Karen (Erik) Wilhelm, Kelly (Kenny) Sly, Christopher Temple, Caitlyn Temple, Heather (Landon) Alexenko, Matthew (Jessyca) Ternes and Jaycee Ternes; six great grandchildren; a sister, Judy Slininger; brother, John Volk; and many nieces and nephews.
Bette was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Frank Ternes; son, Bryan Ternes; and brothers, Gary, Edward, Bill and Jerry.
Services were held on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Please share memories of Bette with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
