FARMINGTON – Alice N. Bethune, 73, of Salem Township, died Aug. 22 at Franklin Memorial Hospital, following a long illness.

She was born Sept. 29, 1937, in Charlestown, Mass., the daughter of Gerald and Florence Carroll French. Alice Noreen French and Christopher Cornelius Bethune met in Charlestown at the YMCA in late 1959 and were married on May 1, 1960, at Sacred Heart Church in Gloucester, Mass.

Alice was an accomplished artist. While living in Portsmouth, R.I., she set up her own art show, open to anyone to display their talents. The idea was to get their names known in order to get into juried shows. She was a member of Up Country Art Association. She was involved in the Tiverton Players in Tiverton, R.I., the Newport Players Guild in Newport, R.I., the Portsmouth Community Theatre in Portsmouth, R.I. and Kingfield Elementary School in design and making of period costumes.

She helped set up many traveling art shows in schools in Maine to encourage young artists to excel in art. She was involved in all levels of Girl Scouts, the 4-H and Cub Scouts den mother in Phillips. In Portsmouth, R.I., she set up a day care in her home so that low-income people could afford day care.

She was a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee in Portsmouth, R.I. She was a bank teller and legal secretary. She was a member of the Second RI Afoot Regiment A Revolutionary War Reenactment Group as a camp follower, nurse and seamstress and was involved in the planning. Upon her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Navy, she received a certificate for her service to her country in keeping the home fires burning, thus allowing her husband to be a better sailor (less stress).

Alice started the annual St. Patrick’s corned beef and scones dinner at the Salem Community Hall and included the music. She was treasurer of the Pine Tree Club in Salem and the Salem Fire Department. She served eight years on the board of directors and on the property committee for the United Methodist Economic Ministry in Salem. She caned chairs after repairs were made. She was a lay speaker and lay leader.

Her church and family were the most important things to her. She loved her flower gardens and was an avid reader. She was part Micmac and loved to go to powwows. She was first generation Irish on her father’s side.

She is survived by her husband, Christopher C. Bethune I of Salem Township; children, Michelle C. Bethune of Bristol, R.I., Coy C. Bethune II of Bristol, R.I., Yvonne J. Virgadamo of Bristol, R.I., and Shane D. Bethune of Royce City, Texas; sisters, Margaret R. Perrin and husband, Ronald G. Perrin of Gloucester, Mass., Maureen C. Hodgkins of Gloucester, Mass. and Helena D. French Creamer and husband, James R. Creamer of Allston, Mass.; brother, Mark W. French and wife, Shirley A. French of Gloucester, Mass.; sister-in-law, Mary J. French of Gloucester, Mass.; brothers-in-law, William E. O’Connor Sr. of Rockport, Mass., and Joseph Ciarametaro of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and 20 nieces and 26 nephews.

She was predeceased by her son, Kevin M. French; her parents; her sisters, Carol A. O’Connor and Cathy Ciarametaro; her brother, Gerald N. French Jr.; and her brother-in-law, H. Peter Hodgkins.