Elizabeth Gale Deutsch

Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan as the first of 3 daughters to Mildred and Alex Gale, fruit farmers in SW Michigan where the family was active in the Congregational Church, community and family. Beth went to Oberlin College where she met her husband Steven Deutsch, and joined him attending Friends Meeting. They married on June 15, 1958 and began a wonderful 56 years together.

She taught early elementary school in Ohio and Michigan and earned at MS at Michigan State University. The family moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1966 where Steven joined the University of Oregon faculty, while Beth taught schools and raised 3 beautiful children, who all graduated from Earlham College. Over the next decades there were many opportunities for professional travel from Australia to Sweden, New Zealand to Italy, Slovenia to England. Beth loved learning about other cultures and studied how children learned, what programs worked best for immigrant children, and how non-violence and peace were taught. Longer involvement in Friends Meetings in Stockholm, Sydney, and Adelaide were appreciated.

Beth and Steve have 8 grandchildren who were a source of pride and great pleasure for Beth, who was a loving and wonderful grandmother. Beth was an active member of the Eugene Friends Meeting and active in many and justice organizations (WILPF, CALC, FOR). She led several AFSC projects and work camps and always wanted to make a difference for children, and those exploited such as farmworkers. Beth was on many committees of the Eugene Friends Meeting.

She loved the beauties of nature and treasured the Northwest which she loved. Her life in education made her eager to relate to children and she was a great teacher in many settings. Her warmth, love and caring of family and friends, affected all in her life.

Beth appreciated the love and support she received as she struggled with the multiple myeloma which took her life in Seattle where she was being treated. She is survived by her husband, 2 children (Peter Deutsch, Felton, CA and Jennifer Bender, Seattle; daughter Pamela died at age 51in Seattle in 2013) and 8 grandchildren, two sisters, and other nieces,nephews, cousins and next generation in the extended family. She leaves a large community of loving family and friends. She will be remembered) by all whose loving life she touched.