UPDATE: Woman gets money back after convincing government she’s not dead

PORT ANGELES — Betty Longshore, whose bank account was stripped of $16,953 after the government declared her dead, has received all her money back.

As of Friday morning, the bulk of the funds — $13,990 in civil service retirement benefits — had been returned to her First Federal account by the federal Office of Personnel Management, she said.

“It got there overnight,” said Longshore, 92, of Port Angeles.

A crew from KOMO-TV, the Seattle news partner of the Peninsula Daily News, was on hand to record the call to the bank.

The video moment can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/pdnfunds.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The federal government already had returned $2,963 to her account Thursday, she said.

Friday’s happy ending brought Longshore, who receives about $25,000 in benefits annually, back to where she was before Feb. 29.

That’s when First Federal called her to ask her if she was deceased because the bank had noticed her account was active.

The bank, as required by law, had withdrawn $16,953 from her account after being notified by the federal government that she had died July 20.

The sum withdrawn equaled the benefits she received from Aug. 1, 2011, through February, a period when the federal government had considered her dead.

She told the PDN last week that the federal Office of Personnel Management explained “someone clicked the wrong button” on a computer to prompt her alleged demise.

An OPM representative told the PDN: “We regret the error.”

“I am relieved, but I still want to get civil service [retirement benefits from her deceased husband] straightened out,” Longshore said Friday.

“I sent a copy of [the PDN] article with a letter saying they really need to straighten out their procedures,” she said.

“I think they should have a procedure for verifying deaths.”

Longshore was flooded with emails and telephone calls from well-wishers after the newspaper article was published, she said.

Those happy to see her still alive included the owner of her favorite place to visit: McComb Gardens in Sequim.

Longshore said the owner, Neil Burkhardt, came running out to the car to greet her.

“He said, ‘I’m so glad you’re alive. I was going to mail you a gift certificate, so come in, and I’ll give you a gift certificate,’” Longshore recalled.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Child located after agencies partner on search

A 10-year-old boy who had been missing since Tuesday has… Continue reading

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading