Betty Jo Lewis

The family of Betty Jo Pierce Lewis are sad to announce the passing of our wife, mother and friend. Betty Jo Pierce was born September 26, 1947 in Sioux City, Iowa to Joseph and Anita (Paradis) Pierce. She spent her early years growing up in Fosston, Minnesota where her parent owned and operated the Fosston Hotel. After her parents’ hotel burned down, Betty Jo moved with her parents to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she attended the newly built O’Gorman Catholic High School, graduating with the class of 1965. In her youth, Betty Jo was a Girl Scout and in 1965 was presented with the Catholic Church’s Marien Award for her work as a scout. Upon graduating she thought of becoming a nun, however in September 1965 she was attending Barstow Community College, in Barstow, California. Here she would meet her future husband, Kenneth Lewis. When he was drafted into the Army, she left Barstow College and began working at Fort Irwin, California. Betty Jo and Ken were married in St Joseth Catholic Church in Barstow June 10, 1967. After Ken finished his training, he was sent to Vietnam. During this time, she continued working at Fort Irwin. Upon his return from the war, he was assigned to Fort Irwin, and they decided that he should make the Army a career. Betty Jo and Ken served 26 years in the Army serving in Europe for 15 years, and the rest spent mostly in assignments in California.

Wherever they lived Betty Jo always made friends. During the year she spent at Barstow Community College she served as the secretary to the Associated Student Government and helped start the school’s student newspaper. While assigned to Fort Irwin, their son Kenneth Jr was born. Throughout their life together, Betty Jo worked at jobs at the bases to which they were assigned. When they were assigned to Fort Sill Oklahoma she worked in the Commissary Division. Her husband’s duty assignments allowed them to travel throughout Germany and the Benelux. Their first overseas assignment was to Crailsheim, Germany where she worked as the Vehicle Registration Clerk at the base military police station. During their assignment to Bremerhaven, Germany she worked in the community support office. Upon Ken’s assignment as a recruiter in San Bernardino, California she worked first as a registration clerk for a local car dealer, and later as a secretary in a steel fabrication company.

Upon their return to the states, her husband was assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia. They felt that the schools were poor there, so it was decided she and their son would come to California so he could attend Aquinas High School in San Bernardino. Upon his assignment to NATO, Betty Jo accompanied him to his assignment in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Due to the nature of his assignment Betty Jo could not work. She took this time to meet many Dutch friends. She taught needle work classes in Dutch to her friends, learn to do bobbin lace, and as a member of a local Dutch Square Dance Club she would spend time with her friends making square dance dresses for the ladies. While overseas, she and her husband took up the hobby of Square Dancing. She was always happy when they would travel to visit the many German and Dutch Square Dances clubs, and the many jamborees held each year.

Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army in 1993, they settled in Moreno Valley, California. She first worked for local real estate company. Due to the bad economy her hours were cut, and she found employment work as a mortuary secretary at Crestlawn Memorial Park. While there she was always helping the funeral directors with the families they served. Her boss liked her work and encouraged her to become a funeral director. After some study she took the test and passed, becoming a licensed funeral director. She would work for Service Corporation International (SCI) for 24 years, working at many different mortuaries in Southern California. While working for SCI she received many awards for the work she had done with the company. Her last position was with SCI’s Western Region, where she played a vital role utilizing her knowledge of the business and her work in financial matters to have her visit all his mortuaries in the Western Region. She began retraining the staff and bringing their financial affairs up to standards. Her boss’s peers saw the work she was doing and asked to have her do the same in their markets. She was dedicated and always guided teams with patience and clarity, focusing on making the SCI teams stronger, sharper and more confident. She was known as the mother of SOX, always protecting the integrity and holding them to the highest standards. She always showed genuine care and sympathy for the families she served. During this time, she would visit mortuaries in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Arizona and other parts of California.

Upon her retirement she settled with her husband in their home in Moreno Valley. She enjoyed her hobby of needle work, going to the theater and spending time with friends. Betty Jo was an example of kindness and generosity. She loved to travel. Betty Jo was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. She will be missed by all of us.

Betty Jo Lewis was a resident of Moreno Valley, California.