‘I’m available for all kinds of things.’ Family matriarch with Fife history honored at 100
When the van arrived at Betty Pasinetti’s home, she thought it was an Amazon delivery. Problem was, she didn’t recall ordering anything.
Turns out, it was a surprise tour organized by her family for Pasinetti to travel down memory lane, so to speak, in honor of her birthday Aug. 20, when she turns 100.
“Out hops my son,” she recalled. “So we were off, on our way.”
If you are from or familiar with Fife, the Pasinetti name might ring a bell. She and her husband, Louis Pasinetti, were longtime Fife residents on the family farm. She was secretary at Fife High School for about 15 years, retiring in the mid-’80s; and her son served on the school board. Older residents might also recall their pumpkin patch at the farm’s then-address: 5724 Valley Ave., or their sheep flock.
Pasinetti Street in Fife honors the family after she sold the 7.5-acre family farm in 1997. While a new neighborhood emerged, the original farmhouse, which dates back to 1912, still stands.
While her family’s roots go back decades in the Fife area, she was born Aug. 20, 1923 as Betty Moser in Pendleton, Oregon.
She came to Fife with her family in 1934, and she lived on the farm with her parents and grandparents, whose last name was Fleishmann.
She is thought to now be the oldest living Fife High School graduate, according to at least one area historian who shared her research with The News Tribune.
Pasinetti told The News Tribune she graduated in 1941.
In 1943, newly wedded Betty and Louis purchased the farmhouse from her parents.
They raised three children, Jim Pasinetti; Jeanette Morrison; and Mary Jo WIllette. She is the grandmother of three and great-grandmother of eight.
Pasinetti Street, the farmhouse, and Fife History Museum, which had Betty’s wedding dress on display, were all part of the Aug. 12 “memory lane” tour as part of an early birthday celebration.
Seeing her wedding dress made her think, “Gosh, that was a long time ago,” she told The News Tribune in a recent interview.
“They had my son’s FFA jacket and his emblems on it,” she added.
“The museum did a really good job of honoring Grammy,” said Tonya McGowan, Pasinetti’s oldest granddaughter, with a collection of the family’s yearbooks also on display.
McGowan noted that while the family’s treasures aren’t always front and center, “the museum wanted to honor” Pasinetti as she neared the century mark with a display easily accessed on the tour.
According to McGowan, “Longevity is not a trend in her family history. She’s the oldest of six children; two died as infants and her brother Bob passed away in his mid-60’s, her other sister Eleanor was 76 and brother Jack was 87. Her mom lived to be 75.”
Her husband, Louis, died at age 67 in 1986 after a fatal fall.
So what was Betty’s secret to a long life?
“I’ve been quite thankful I’ve had good health all my life,” she said. “So I certainly appreciate that. Because I’ve been able to do all kinds of things.”
“I worked hard on the farm. I pruned trees. I cut the lawn. I made a big garden. We had lots of rhododendrons I did take care of.”
She recalled, “And when I pruned the trees, I had to climb a ladder. The trees were about 50 years old. So I had to climb a ladder to get those fruits.”
And there was a flock of sheep to tend to.
“We had farm animals. I had to work with them ... We all kind of helped with the animals. So it wasn’t that I was just sitting around.”
Beyond her work on the farm, “I like to sew, I like to work in the garden. I just keep myself busy,” she said.
She got to thinking more about how she spends her days now.
“I tell you what, in the summertime, I get to go over to Tonya’s and help make jam with the kids ... strawberry and raspberry.”
McGowan said it’s been an activity for them each year for more than 21 years.
“She means so much to us,” McGowan added.
“I’m available for all kinds of things,” Betty added with a laugh.
What were Betty’s plans for the actual birthday? Well, she’s not spending it alone.
“I think my daughter’s having a party for me,” she said.
This story was originally published August 19, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
