Beth Ruth Lorber

March 6, 1956 - May 15, 2020

Posted

Beth was born in St. Petersburg, Florida to M. Philip Lorber and Joan Hecht Lorber. Her early years were spent in Königstein, Germany where her father was a civilian attorney working with the US Army’s Judge Advocate’s Office.

The Lorber family returned to the United States in 1963 and settled in Westport, Connecticut where Beth graduated from Staples High School. She received a BA in Communications from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, graduating in 1978. She also attended the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1979. While in Boulder, Beth trained as a dental assistant and subsequently assisted at a local holistic dentist office. In 1985, Beth graduated from the Olympic School of Natural Therapeutics in Port Angeles.

Beth met Eric Rehm in 1979 in Boulder, Colorado and they were both arrested as part of a mass civil disobedience act at nearby Rocky Flats Plant in 1979, protesting the production of nuclear weapons. After moving together to Spokane, Washington in 1981, they had a daughter, Jora Fogg (née Rehm-Lorber) at Spokane Family Birth Center (now Spokane Midwives). They later separated but continued to co-parent their daughter.

Beth moved to Port Townsend in 1986 and was employed over the years at Jefferson General Hospital, The Food Co-op, Aldrich’s, Waterfront Naturals, Folklore, and Mountain Spirit. She was also self-employed as a licensed massage therapist.

Beth became partners with Peter Bonyun in 1991 and they were married in 2001. Beginning in 1993 Beth and Peter were co-owners of Stoney Ridge Farm, working together for many seasons to supply organic produce to local restaurants, the Food Co-op and the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

Beth was a hospice volunteer, a board member for the Food Co-op and Key City Public Theatre, and enthusiastically supported the Women’s Boat Project, The Community Boat Project, The Northwest School of Wooden Boats, The Fund for Women and Girls, Habitat for Humanity, and many more local organizations.

Beth is predeceased by her parents and survived by her husband Peter, daughter Jora Fogg (and husband Mark) of June Lake, California and brother Bryan (and wife Leslie) of Amherst, Massachusetts as well as many other Lorber and Bonyun family members and Jora’s father Eric Rehm (and wife Mary Geary) of Corvallis , Oregon.

The family would also like to gratefully acknowledge the loving and ongoing support of many Port Townsend friends and neighbors.

Beth was laid to rest at Langley’s Woodmen Cemetery on Whidbey Island. A celebration of life is planned for a future date.