Betty Jean Allen

1920 - 2011

Betty Allen was born Betty Jean Gottlieb July 1st, 1920, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Louis and Grace (Mankuss) Gottlieb. She grew up within a tightly-knit Jewish community, losing her mother at age eight. Her father, a merchant, raised her and her sister Maxine, and at age 16 she entered Whitman College. It was there she met her husband, Stewart ("Stew") Allen of Grangeville, Idaho. The two wed and left college in June of 1940.
Betty and Stew started an ice-cream shop and locker plant in Rigby, Idaho, a venture that ended with Stew's World War II service. Theresa Allen was born in Idaho Falls. After the war, the new family moved to Ellensburg where they started "Allen's IceCream," Ellensburg's first in-and-out, roller skate, curb-service business and a favorite "hang-out" for CWCE and EHS students and local families. She made and sold her popular candies here and at their downtown restaurants, Carlyle's Lunch and the Snack Shop and Webster's Café. Michael Allen was born in Ellensburg.
During their first two decades in Ellensburg, Betty worked along-side her husband in their restaurant and retail clothing businesses. She also ran her own ballroom dance business after graduating from the Arthur Murray School of Dance. At age 50, after earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from Central Washington State College ('68, '70), she was hired by Cle Elum High School to teach physical education, English poetry and literature, drama, and journalism. She was well-known for her creation of the P.E. Demonstration ---an annual community event featuring skills of all of the students of Cle Elum High School. She retired after 13 years of service.
Betty was a warm, energetic, and sociable person who pursued a variety of interests throughout her life. She was an avid reader, poetry lover, library board member, proponent of progressive causes, bridge player (she earned the rank of Life and Bronze Master and served the Boards of both the Ellensburg and Yakima Duplicate Bridge Clubs), Cub Scout Den Mother, post-card collector (a founding member of the Seattle Antique Post Card Collector's Club), gardener, cook and hostess, nature-lover, and long-term member and/or officer of Altrusa, Kittitas County School Retirees, Weight Watchers, and Friday Clubs; in the latter she helped facilitate the "Downtown Clock" and refurbishment of the original exterior wall advertisements.
Betty was a friend to all cats and dogs. She was active in the lives of her children and their families. And she was the devoted care-taker of Stew, who died of Alzheimer's disease in 1992. Throughout her life she kept her Jewish faith.
Betty lived the last twenty years of her life surrounded by friends and family who loved her vivacious personality, bold spirit, and commitment to social justice. She lived a long and fruitful life, and at age 90 succumbed to heart failure after a brief period of illness.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Stewart, and her sister, Maxine Carlisle. She is survived by her daughter, Theresa Roberts (Jack) and son, Michael Allen; five grandchildren--- Debra (Doug), Deann (Jochen), Jim, Davy, and Caroline; five great-grandchildren--- Cameron (Kylee), Colton, Austin, Justine, and Laurel; one great-great-grandson--- Cohen; and all her Carlisle relatives.
A memorial service and potluck to honor Betty Allen will be held at the Hal Holmes Center of the Ellensburg Public Library at noon on Saturday, April 16th. Cards may be mailed c/o Mike Allen, Box # 116, 110 W. 6th, Ellensburg 98926. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ellensburg Public Library Trust.