Betty Jane Peterson

Published 8:08 am Friday, August 31, 2018

Jan. 2, 1922 – Aug. 22, 2018

Betty Jane Peterson got her angel wings on August 22, 2018. She was 96.

Betty Jane Elson was born to Marie and Everett Elson in Snyder, Colorado, on January 2, 1922. Her family, including her brothers, Kenneth and Alvin “Bud”, and her sister, Wilma, soon moved to Lander, Wyoming. At 17 (she says she was 18) she married her sweetheart, Harold V. Peterson, and moved with him to San Diego, California. Betty embraced being a Navy wife and soon mother to Gene and Nancy.

She raised her two children with Harold, traveling together from Southern California to Oregon, and even spent some time in the Philippines (where she and Harold were asked to dance for the president) She often commented what great dancers she and Harold were together.

Betty was the perfect homemaker, she prided herself on her beautiful garden, home cooked meals, zucchini bread, home sewn dresses and especially her martinis – glass in freezer and always two olives.

Betty spent her golden years with Harold in Redmond, Oregon. She had views of Mt. Bachelor from every window. You just couldn’t see them because the drapes needed to be shut so the couch wouldn’t fade.

Her son Gene, whom she was fiercely proud of (and father to Tracie Landsem), became a Sheriff for Deschutes County. Gene predeceased her and took a part of her heart when he left.

Her daughter Nancy (mother to Christina Huseby and Jennifer Whiteman), enjoyed living in Southern California until recently, when she decided to move closer to Betty.

At the young age of 90, Betty moved to Sunriver, Oregon.

Betty had an amazing sweet tooth and wanted to be next to Tracie (her favorite granddaughter) who is the proprietor of Cafe Sintra in Sunriver. Betty’s wishes came true and she received fresh baked goods daily.

Betty is survived by Nancy Whiteman (her daughter) and husband, Gary; Tracie Landsem (her favorite granddaughter) and husband, Larry of Sunriver, Oregon; Jennifer Whiteman (her second favorite granddaughter) of Westlake Village, California; and her granddaughter, Christina (I got her jar of buttons, so I know I’m secretly her favorite) and husband, Jorn Huseby; four great-grandchildren, Jessica and Austin Apple of Oregon, Maxwell and Carolena Huseby of California; three great-great-grandchildren, and many loved nieces and nephews.

Autumn Funerals Bend was honored to serve the family.