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ELKINS -- Betty Thumlert Elkins, the daughter of Daniel and Lydia Thumlert was born March 13, 1927 on Orcas Island, East Sound, WA. She died in Albuquerque, NM on August 9, 2008 after a long illness. She was a resident of Seattle, WA from her early childhood until her marriage to Richard (Dick) Elkins of Albuquerque, NM in August of 1949. She and her husband were students at Westmont College where she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1949. In 1951, she and her husband became members of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Summer Institute of Linguistics. After field training in Mexico in 1953, they began work in the Philippines as linguists and Bible translators for the Western Bukidnon Manobo speech community. In 1978, Betty and her husband finished a translation of the New Testament in the Western Bukidnon Manobo language and in 1982 began work with a second language group called Matigsalug. In 1985, Betty and her husband were given Westmont College's first Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. In 1992, after nearly 40 years of service in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, Betty and Dick returned to the United States where they have lived in Albuquerque, NM. Since then, Betty has been involved at Grace Church and Alameda Bible Church in prayer and mission activities. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard E. Elkins; by her daughter and son-in law, Kathleen and James Coleman; by her son and daughter-in-law Tom and Teresa Elkins; by her son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Anne Elkins; and by her six grandchildren, Daniel Coleman, John Coleman, Andrew Elkins, Simon Elkins, Lucas Elkins, Kara Elkins; and several nieces and nephews. There will be a Memorial Service at Grace Church, 6901 San Antonio Drive NE in Albuquerque on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, it was Betty' desire that gifts be given to Wycliffe Bible Translators designated for Project 2025. The address for Wycliffe is: Wycliffe Bible Translators, PO Box 628200, Orlando, FL, 32862-8200. French Mortuary 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (505) 897-0300 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Wed August 13, 2008