Elisabeth “Beth” Huntsman was born to Myron Huntsman and Ruby Thomas Huntsman in Bozeman, Montana, on June 10, 1942, coming home from Bozeman Deaconess Hospital to the one-room cabin built by her father on land originally owned by her grandfather, Joseph Thomas. She was the second of six daughters. She began her school years at Irving School, with her favorite subjects being health and math. She attended Gallatin County High School before moving to the new Bozeman Senior High School, where she was a member of the Latin Club, Library Club, Gaelic Athletic Association, Future Teachers of America, and Future Homemakers of America. After graduating in 1960, she began her nursing studies at Montana State College. After graduating with an associate’s degree from Montana State College in 1964, she exchanged the snowy winters of Montana for rain in Portland, Oregon, to complete her bachelor’s nursing degree at Emanuel Hospital School of Nursing, where she became a registered nurse. During this time in nursing school, she made many lifelong friends, especially Shirley Goettsch.

While on a weekend trip to Walla Walla with Shirley and others, she met Dale Harkins when he asked for help with an elderly woman who had fallen. After a couple of years of courting, they were married at the Gresham Meeting Room on August 17, 1968. They began their married life in a small home in Walla Walla, Washington. In December 1974, their first son, Timothy “Tim,” was born. Three years later, on January 1, 1978, their son, James “Jim,” was born. In 1980, the family moved to Vancouver, Washington, where they spent the next 23 years on a small, 2-acre hobby farm. During this time, they took in and raised, along with their sons, Dale’s nieces, Kristin and Kasii. In March 1997, their son, Jim, passed away. In 2003, Dale and Beth moved to another hobby farm on 8 acres in Benton City, Washington. Elizabeth went home to her Savior on July 16, 2025, in her home in Benton City, surrounded by her husband and loving family.

She had many hobbies, including sewing, quilting, reading, and gardening. She enjoyed showing her daughters how to scrapbook, cross-stitch, sew, and bake desserts. She, along with Dale, instilled in her children a love of nature, a legacy that will continue. She had a generous heart, one that was always willing to help others, a quality she passed on to her children. Besides her family and friends, her greatest joy was her faith in God and spending many enjoyable years in worship and fellowship with other believers in Bozeman, Gresham, Walla Walla, and Richland.

Besides her son, Jim, she was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and their husbands, Priscilla (John) Sester and Ruth (George) Card, and one brother-in-law, Jim Walrath. She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Dale Harkins; her son, Timothy (Robynn) Harkins; and her daughters, Kristin (Josh) Phillips and Kasii (Sam) Odgers. She had nine grandchildren: Michael (Achsah) Harkins, Cody Harkins, Katilyn “Katie” (Toby) Hall, Emma Harkins, Russell Harkins, Anna Harkins, Jessica “Jessie” Phillips, James Phillips, and Reagan Odgers. She also survived three great-grandchildren, Makayla Harkins, Chase Harkins, and Oaklyn Hall. She is survived by three sisters, Rebekah “Becky” Walrath, Rhoda (Tracy) Knoon, and Sarah Huntsman. She is survived by many cousins, nephews, nieces, and other loving family members and friends. She will be greatly missed by many.