Fern Pope Bettridge passed away on January 12th, 2019. She was born in Provo Utah on December 4th 1930 to Frederick Paul Pope and Etta Marie Pope. Her parent’s ranching activities took them to Wyoming and Montana before returning to Utah for Fern’s high school years. The family endured the hardship of the great depression by growing their own food, being innovative, and deploying a tireless work ethic. This upbringing taught Fern the value of perseverance and hard work which served her well throughout her life.
After high school Fern enrolled in the University of Utah nursing program. During her time in college she met a British fellow named James (Jim) Bettridge, who had recently moved to the US from Hucknull, England. The two married on June 5, 1953. They had three children James Russell, Sherry, and Joseph Andrew.
Fern was very active and dedicated to the LDS church and spent much of her time volunteering in church related activities. Both she and Jim were ferociously supportive of education and believed it was the mechanism by which socio-economic change can occur within a generation. Fern devoted her career to public health, first as a public health nurse in 1952 for the Salt Lake County Board of Health, then retiring in 2001 from the Washington Department of Health as a manager for healthcare facility licensing.
Jim and Fern spent the majority of their life together in the Olympia area. Upon retirement they spent their days on their small farm where they enjoyed gardening and a small orchard.
Fern is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Faye Wurth, and her husband Jim. She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
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