Marlys Elizabeth 'Betty' Evenson died peacefully in the arms of her family at Chandler House inYakima, Washington on February 11, 2013.Mrs. Evenson was born on April 16, 1917 to Dr. Nelson K. and Ella Kay Hopkins in Arlington, South Dakota. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1935 and from South Dakota State College in 1939. After graduation, she taught school at Elk Heights, South Dakota. She married her high school sweetheart, George Evenson, in Arlington, on August 29, 1941. Betty and George moved to Toppenish, Washington in 1941 to begin a career in the funeral profession working for Betty's brother, Kingsley Hopkins, at his funeral home in Toppenish. Betty also taught home economics at Zillah High School. In 1945, they graduated from the Los Angeles College of Mortuary Science and returned to Washington. In 1946, they purchased the Honeycutt Funeral Home in Ellensburg which they owned and operated as the Evenson Funeral Home until their retirement in 1984. Betty was the first woman licensed as an embalmer in Washington and served on the Board of Directors of the Washington State Funeral Directors' Association. With her husband, George, Betty, pursued an active life of community service and recreational activities in Ellensburg. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ellensburg in which she served as Elder, Sunday School teacher, and Circle Member. She was a member of Altrusa, the Music Study Club, and the Boards of Directors of the Laughing Horse Theater and the Ellensburg Public Library. She was a member of the Nature Conservancy and was instrumental in the preservation of Elkhorn Pond in Ellensburg. Betty and George collected antique, classic, and vintage automobiles and matching costumes and enjoyed car club tours, meets, and rallies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her home, and especially her kitchen, were always open to friends and her extended family. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Bryan (Mary) Evenson of Yakima; daughter, Kay MacKenzie of Pendleton, Oregon; nephew and nieces, Bruce (Elaine) Hopkins of Puyallup; Kathy (Robert) Elgas of Waterloo, Iowa, and Jeanette (Charles) Metribian of Thousand Oaks, California; grandchildren, USAF Cap't. Andrew (Lisa) MacKenzie of Scott AFB, Illinois, - Alexander MacKenzie of Portland, Oregon; US Army Sgt. William MacKenzie of Fort Carson, Colorado, and Emily (Nathan) Fulfs and great-grandson, Kieran of Seattle, Washington; grandnephews and nieces, Cameron Hopkins (Sheri) and great-grandnephew Kingsley of Los Angeles, California; Brandon (Gina) Hopkins and great-grandnephew Kinglsey of Colfax, Washington, Ashley (Scott) McDaniels and great-grandnephew, Oscar of Spokane, Washington; and many friends in Ellensburg. Mrs. Evenson was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, and nephews, Cameron and Craig Hopkins. Viewing will be Friday, February 15, 2013 from 3:00 -8:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 West Yakima Ave., Yakima. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1307 E. Third Avenue in Ellensburg, WA. Burial will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery at 1900 Brick Rd., Ellensburg. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Ellensburg.The family also wishes to thank the nurses and care-givers of Chandler House in Yakima and Hearthstone Cottage in Ellensburg for their affectionate care and support of Betty in her last years.