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Publication: Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home & Cremation Centre
Date: 05/10/24
Berthe Elaine Wells Keith was born October 19, 1941 to D. Alberta
Hawker Wells and James Port Wells, in her grandparents' home in Menan,
Idaho. She grew up in communities in California and then Iowa City,
IA. She graduated high school as covaledictorian in 1959 and went to
Mount Holyoke College as an Emily Dickenson Scholar. She received her
BA at the New School in New York City in 1963, and earned her MA at
the University of Utah in 1966.
Berthe married Dr. Thomas Barland Keith from Marion, Iowa on June 23,
1962. Tom was captivated at first sight with her beautiful smile and
a laugh that lights up any room. She worked at Smith Barney Investment
Banking in New York City, while Tom finished his medical degree at
Cornell University Medical College. They also lived in Sitka, Alaska
and Salt Lake City, Utah where they raised their four daughters.
Berthe loved her daughters fiercely - she was a true, "Mama Bear."
Not consequently, her name is French and pronounced: "Bear" with a "T"
at the end.
Berthe was a certified financial planner. She was also active with
the League of Women Voters and supporting women's rights and other
important causes from 1970 to 2000. She served on their Utah state
board.
Berthe was passionate about art, architecture and interior design. She
applied her passions to creating beautiful homes. In the 1970's she
remodeled a home in Salt Lake City, Utah with modern design,
incorporating passive and active solar systems, and amazing views of
the city and the Wasatch Mountains. And then later in Palm Coast,
Florida, she designed and built a beautiful retirement home on the
beach with an open design and the latest hurricane protections, where
they enjoyed views of dolphins, sea turtles, and sometimes whales.
The home successfully survived multiple hurricanes with minimal
structural damage.
Berthe loved traveling with Tom to explore the art and culture of this
beautiful world. A lifelong reader and student, Berthe devoured
literature and kept up with world events through all forms of media.
Berthe and Tom taught their daughters history and art through cross
country car trips across the United States and Europe that Berthe
meticulously planned, stopping at every historical sight and museum.
We daughters complained back then, but now understand how lucky we
were. After retirement, Berthe and Tom visited all the state capitals,
58 National Parks, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, China and
Canada.
Berthe is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Dr, Thomas Keith
of Jacksonville, Florida; daughters Gwendolyn, Jennifer and Kathryn;
and five grandchildren, Cari, Keith, Keagan, Ava and Theodore. She is
predeceased by their daughter, Kristin, and brother, Owen.
***
Berthe's husband sent the following note to the class:
I’m sorry to inform you of the death of Berthe Elaine Wells Keith, who passed away May 8, 2024, after a brief illness.
Berthe left Mt. Holyoke after her sophomore year, went to NYC where she married Thomas B. Keith (medical student), got her BA at The New School for Social Research and worked on Wall Street while Tom finished med school. They went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they lived for 38 years. She had four daughters, and earned a Masters degree in Ed Psych from the U of Utah, and also became a Certified Financial Planner. Berthe was a fierce advocate for our daughters, a strong advocate for women’s rights and was an active member of the Utah League of Women Voters.
When Tom retired in 2000 they moved to Florida, where she designed a beautiful beachfront home. They lived there until 2018, when, after two back to back hurricanes, they moved to a retirement community in Jacksonville.
Berthe is survived by her husband of 62 years, three daughters and five grandchildren. She is predeceased by one daughter.
At Mt. Holyoke Berthe was an Emily Dickinson Scholar and especially loved her time in The French House residence her sophomore year.
This is a lot of information which you may use as you wish, but I thought you and her former classmates of the class of ‘63 should know of her death. Incidentally, her sister-in-law, Caroline H. Keith, is a ‘63 graduate.
Sincerely and sadly,
Thomas B. Keith, MD, Amherst’60
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