Bethards leaves WSU $2.5 million

A longtime Spokane resident who died this summer left more than $2.5 million – the bulk of her estate – to Washington State University for science scholarships, the university announced Tuesday. Barbara Gaye Bethards, who was a transcriptionist at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for 30 years, died July 21 at age 58. She grew up in Spokane, the only daughter of an ophthalmologist and a pharmacist, both WSU grads, and graduated from Shadle Park High School, WSU and Gonzaga Law School. Her gift will be used to support the Regents Scholars program, which targets outstanding students in the state and provides an incentive for them to stay in Washington for college.