Beverly Groth

Beverly Clara (Mitchell) Groth
September 11, 1935 ˜ September 18, 2024

Beverly Clara Groth joined her beloved sisters, Margaret and Anna Mae, and parents, Cleo and Madyln Mitchell, in heaven on Sept. 18, 2024. Bev’s life was dedicated to her family and to her faith.
Bev was born Sept. 11, 1935, in Portland, OR. She attended Evergreen High School in Vancouver, WA, and cherished friendships with many of her classmates throughout her life.
She is survived by the love of her life, husband of 72 years, Ray; children, Patti Yinger (Gary), Chuck (Corina), Sue Westbo (Gary) and Bill (Lisa); 9 grandchildren Bryan Yinger (Kathleen), Cyndi Ridenhour (Brad), Charlie Groth (Sarah), Curt Groth (Dorizel), Adam Westbo, Beth Koch (Derek), Lucia “Ted” Westbo (Steven), Marc Groth (Tanya), and Jennifer Foster (Jeff); and 14 great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Carson, Audrey, Cameron, Addison, Katie, Emily, Eva, Jordan, Gin, Lia, Kolton, Cooper, and Griffin.
An extraordinary homemaker, Bev shared her many talents and time to enrich the lives of her family and friends potlucks, holiday traditions and meals and vacations with her sisters, parents, cousins, Ray’s family, and many friends. Bev was a talented seamstress sewing clothes for her family, creating many home decorations and other crafts, including Afghan blankets cherished by children and grandkids for their warmth. Each summer her yard boasted a beautiful rose garden, a rainbow of Rhododendrons and colorful floral baskets, especially fuchsias. Inside, sunny windowsills blossomed with African violets, a favorite gift of St. Joseph School teachers.
Her family joined St. Joseph’s Parish before the original school and church were built. Bev and Ray were the fifth couple married in the new parish on April 8, 1952. After many decades as a volunteer, Parish Council Member, Altar Society Member, and Eucharistic Minister, she worked as Parish Secretary for the late Fr. Anthony Domandich for ten years. She also served as a room mother at St. Joseph’s school, CYO swim team coach, Camp Fire Girls leader, and Cub Scout Den Mother.
Bev lived her faith. She was a role model in showing kindness to all and a willingness to help the less fortunate. She was a regular visitor to area nursing homes and supported many charities. The couple served as a living example for newlyweds, teaching Marriage Preparation classes to many couples.
In 1977, Bev & Ray purchased a cabin at Government Mineral Springs in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that became their second home. They hosted family and friends for picnics, overnights, hiking adventures, church retreats, and skiing and snowmobiling from their cabin homebase. In addition to summer weeks with the grandchildren, Bev became an avid watcher of Pacific Northwest birds and woodland flowers along with picking wild huckleberries and Chantrel mushrooms to bake into cabin treats.
Bev and Ray’s neighbors in the Vancouver Heights knew her from daily walks with their Boston Terrier pups (five in all) over the years. Her home boasts an extensive collection of Boston Terrier memorabilia.
Funeral services for Bev will be Thursday, Sept. 26 at St. Joseph’s Church, Vancouver. Rosary, 10 a.m.; Funeral Mass, 11 a.m. followed by lunch and fellowship in the Parish Hall. Internment and graveside services following at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits