G. Elizabeth Berry

G. Elizabeth Berry, 68, of Bainbridge Island, died of cancer Oct. 30 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.

She was born June 15, 1936, in Britton, S.D., to Virgil and Lucille Odland, of Claremont, S.D., and grew to adulthood in that state and in Southern California.

She graduated with honors from high school at Pasadena City College. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees (cum laude) in education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., and taught history at Northern State University and English and Spanish in the Rapid City, S.D., school system.

After teaching in Rapid City, she served for two years as assistant administrator of la Pepinnere School in Edina, Minn., the state’s largest Montessori school.

She and her family lived for two years in Booneville, Ark., followed by three years in Bozeman and Missoula, Mont., where she founded Berryhill, a manufacturer and distributor of doll house miniatures and published The Berryhill News, with 3,000 international subscribers.

After spending two years in Redding, Calif., she moved with her family to Portland, Ore., where she was hired as assistant training officer for the Portland District of the Corps of Engineers and also worked as a freelance training consultant to federal employees in Portland and Seattle.

After moving to Bainbridge Island in 1983, she was hired by Boeing and served as a group leader for the Boeing Service Group’s writing and editing organization.

In 1990, she opened Bainbridge House, a bed and breakfast that later specialized in extended-stay lodging. A firm believer in the value of networking, she founded the original Bainbridge Island Lodging Association in 1990; the association now has 40 members.

She is survived by her brother, Lynn Odland, of Tiburon, Calif.; her sister, Elaine Cain, of LaHabra, Calif.; her husband of 35 years, Dennis Berry, of Bainbridge Island; four children: Steve Berry of Bainbridge Island, Catherine Moncrieffe and Karen Berry of Portland, Ore., and Eric Berry of Seattle; three granddaughters: Lauren, Rachel, and Naomi Modica, of Portland; and one grandson, David Moncrieffe, also of Portland.

A spirited celebration and loving remembrance of Elizabeth’s life will be held from 2-5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Grace Episcopal Church. All are welcome.