Betty Fern Bowen Perkes

August 6, 1934 - January 4, 2026

Betty Perkes, 91, passed away peacefully at home in Mesa, WA on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Betty was born August 6, 1934, to William and Edith Hobley Bowen at the base of the Grand Teton Mountain range in her home in Driggs, Idaho. She joined her big brother and lifelong friend, Bill.

At the tender age of 7, she lost her loving father, which began a difficult journey of loss and hardship that forced her to grow up quicker than any young child should have to do. However, through those difficult times she became a strong-willed, driven woman who found her way with the help of her loving maternal grandmother, Eunice Moon Hobley, and Aunt Shirley Hobley Metcalf. Her connection with these strong role models helped her solidify her strong morals and ethics that she then shared with her own family and those she met.

Betty met a tall, blonde gentleman, Robert Perkes, and was quickly swept off her feet. They courted for less than two and a half months before they married in the Idaho Falls Temple on February 5, 1953. Shortly after, Robert received his draft call, forcing them to start their new family on military bases in Washington, California and Illinois, before they settled on their dry, dusty, sagebrush covered land in Mesa, WA.

As they built up their homestead, bringing electricity, water and indoor plumbing to their ever-upgrading home and farm, they were also raising children and tending livestock. They were a strong family, who worked together to create an environment of hard work, faith, love, encouragement and compassion. They lived on their homestead until each of their passings.

Betty was known to be Robert's little 5' firecracker. She was little, but fierce. She had spunk to her and a drive that could match her husbands. She never hesitated to help care for or defend anyone in need. Whether it was someone needing a place to stay, guidance or medical attention. She always welcomed people into their home, and they became part of the family and felt the love she so easily shared.

She, along with other local residents, helped bring light to unjust government treatment and exposure to Hanford's toxic and detrimental practices. She risked her and her family's reputation by standing up for what was right, even when others could still not see the reality of the harmful health effects due to being the governments guinea pigs. Being a strong advocate, Betty has been quoted in many books, newspapers, articles and was even kissed on the cheek by Connie Chung after being interviewed for her televised 1986 news magazine show.

Betty was never one to sit idle, and aside from raising children, daily farm and livestock chores, she became a nurse in 1968, graduating at the top of her class. She was hired on the spot based on her test scores, without even being interviewed. She worked with Doctors Pershall, Bunch, Betz and Snyder in Othello and continually strengthened her resume by adding nursing positions with the Professional Nursing Services, TatorBoy, Vista Elementary, and caring for terminally ill family.

With the loving attention she gave to the children under her care at the school, a student's mother was impressed and asked Betty to open an in-home Adult Foster Care. After some consideration, Betty opened her Adult Family Home business, welcoming three residents who quickly became part of the family. Betty and Robert worked together caring for these men before retiring 20 years later.

Betty's family and animals had a strong place in her heart. She enjoyed painting, cooking, and reading. She had a way of making everyone feel so enveloped in her love, even without saying a word. Anyone who met her can attest to that. She never let a visit go by without telling you how much she loved you.

She taught her family how to love unconditionally, welcome all with compassion, stand up for your beliefs, care for the ones in need and to know they have the power to face any hardship with grace, love, faith and a knowing that there's always a brighter, more fulfilling outcome waiting for you. You are not what happened to you, you create what you are meant to be, so do so with love, joy, effort and faith.

Betty is survived by her children: Susan (Kim) Pauley of Mesa, WA; Rex (Sharalyn) Perkes of West Richland, WA; Brenda (Ray) Koehler of West Richland, WA; Shirli Perkes Bowen of Richland, WA; Randy (Sharon) Perkes of Kennewick, WA.

12 Grandchildren: Amy (Shane) Ouderkirk of Pasco, WA; Jed (Alyssa) Pauley of Mesa, WA; Bob (Britta) Perkes of West Richland, WA; Tom (Brianne) Perkes of Oak Ridge, TN; Beth (Ryan) Douglass of Pasco, WA; Christi (Byron) Nield of Rose Hill, KS; Jake (Fernanda) Hilderbrand of Los Alamos, NM; Kalli Shupe of West Richland, WA; Kami (Tim) Johns of West Richland, WA; Taylor (Rayne) Huntzinger of Eltopia, WA; Kenneth Perkes of Kennewick, WA; and Tana (Max) Smith of Kennewick, WA.

25 Great Grandchildren: Ridge (Sydney) Pauley of Deer Lodge, MT; Sierra Pauley of Spokane, WA; Bouwe VanderMeulen of Mesa, WA; Rex Perkes of Rexburg, ID; Eli, Asa and Max Perkes of West Richland, WA; Jayni Perkes of Auburn, WA; Mason Perkes of Oak Ridge, TN; Ender, Cooper, Amelia and Claire Douglass of Pasco, WA; Stryker, Drake and Paisley Nield of Rose Hill, KS; Pearl (Jaxon) Blackburn of Rexburg, ID; Emily Hilderbrand of Alburquerque, NM; Jacob Hilderbrand of Los Alamos, NM; Hudson Shupe of Spokane, WA; Makenzie and Wyatt Shupe of West Richland, WA; Heather (Jonathan) Winegarden of Rochester, MN; Reid and Cade Smith of Kennewick, WA.

3 Great Great Grandchildren: Knox and Vivian Pauley of Deer Lodge, MT; and Adalyn Winegarden of Rochester, MN

Siblings: Kent Ames and Patricia Ames.

Betty joins her husband and infant son, Robert and Bobby Perkes, parents William and Fern Bowen, stepfather Arnold Ames, and brother and sister-in-law, Bill & Jeri Bowen.

A graveside service will be held at Country View Cemetery on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 1:30pm.