Harold Thomas Bettencourt

Harold was born in Kapaa on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, on July 29,1925, to Manuel and Helena Bettencourt. He was the seventh of ten siblings. His grandparents immigrated from the Madeira Islands of Portugal in 1885. He was very proud of his heritage.

Harold was a veteran of World War II in the Pacific. He joined the United States Army in 1944, and was sent to the Philippines. At the end of the war, he was one of the first to arrive in Kyoto to prepare for the occupation of Japan. Shortly after, he was assigned to Supreme Headquarters in Tokyo as the administrative assistant to Major General Courtney Whitney, General Douglas MacArthur's chief advisor. After the Occupation, he remained in Japan working as a civil servant for the Department of the Army. His career in Japan spanned 43 years where he saw Japan as a nation evolve to the country it is today.

Harold met Betty, the love of his life, in Tokyo in 1946. She had volunteered to work for the United States government in Japan. Harold and Betty were married in Tokyo on July 14,1948, and created a beautiful life together in Yokohama. Here they raised their two sons, Stephen and Gregory. Harold was a devoted husband and father who was always made time for his family.

Harold was an example to many in the way he led his life. He was generous with his time in helping the Catholic Church and schools, volunteering for endless charitable events, donating supplies to the orphanages, and being very active within his community. It was with this lifetime of good deeds that Harold and his family were blessed with a private audience with Pope John Paul II on September 11, 2002. Harold considered his visit with the Pope as one of the high points of his life.

Harold was preceded in death by his father and mother; his brothers, George, Albert, and Manny; and his sisters, Elsie, Lorraine, and Eleanor.

He is survived by his wife Betty; his sons, Stephen, and Gregory and wife Susan; his brother William; his sisters, Carrie and Marjorie; his four grandchildren; and his three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at St Catherine's Catholic Cemetery on the island of Kauai, in his beloved Hawaiian islands.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to St. Catherine's Parish, Harold's childhood church.

Contributions may be mailed to Fresh Pacific, at 7650 North Palm Avenue, Suite 103, Fresno CA 93711. Your heartfelt contributions will be hand carried to the church by one of the family.