Betty Hillis Rasmussen passed away in Salem, Ore. on Dec. 25.
She was born in Buffalo, N.Y. to Alice and Richard D. Hillis and spent her first few years in Kennebunkport.
Alice and Dick Hillis moved to Christmas Cove in 1938, until they died in 1986; Betty visited there many times throughout the years.
She was the granddaughter of William A. and Eleanor Silliman Rogers of Kennebunkport and Buffalo, N.Y., also Dr. Newall Dwight and Annie Patrick Hillis of Brooklyn, N.Y. Dr. Hillis was a well-known preacher in the Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her aunt was Marjorie Hillis, author of the best seller in 1938, “Live Alone and Like It”, now being republished in England, Europe and Japan.
She attended the Bronxville School in Bronxville, N.Y. and finished high school at Westover School in Middlebury, Conn., class of 1938. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, class of 1942 and was a member of the Mortor Board Honorary and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
She married Donald L. Rasmussen in 1946, and together they moved to Salem, Ore. She and Don were members of the First Presbyterian Church, where she was employed as Founder and Director of the First Presbyterian Weekday Preschool, as well as Director of Children’s Activities, retiring in 1975. During this time she served as state president of the Oregon Association of Treatment Centers. She was a member of Chemeketa Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Chapter CB of the PEO Sisterhood.
Her hobby was genealogy.
Daughter Beth Cowman, and husband Donald L. Rasmussen predeceased her.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Marjorie Sherman and son-in-law, Dick Sherman of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandsons, Michael Sherman of Flagstaff, Ariz., and David Sherman of Phoenix, Ariz.; son-in-law, Robert Cowman of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Mrs. Melvin (Nancy) White of Ranchester, Wyo., Mrs. P.T. Sowden, Jr. (Margaret) of Greenville, S.C. and South Bristol, and Ms. Ann Hillis of Brunswick; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service March 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Salem, Ore.
Remembrances may be sent to the Union Church, South Bristol, ME 04568.