David Francis Betts

David Betts was born on August 28, 1930 in Russell, Kansas. In 1936 during the heart of the depression, and the family moved to Dorrance, Kansas. There were 6 children in the Betts family. After graduating from Dorrance Rural High School in 1948, Dave attended Kansas State College (Now Kansas State University) on a Sear’s scholarship. He attended for 5 semesters, majoring in Ag Administration.

In 1950, Dave enlisted in the U.S, Air Force during the Korean War. He had training at Lackland AFB in Texas, and North Dakota State School of Science. He was stationed at Atterbury AFB in Columbus, Indiana. Later, Dave was transferred to Air Rescue in the Marshall Islands, where he was promoted to Staff Sargent. Finally, he was assigned to the 76th Air Rescue Squadron in Hawaii. Dave was then discharged in 1955.

While in Hawaii, he met Margaret Rusconi. They fell in love and got married on July 16, 1954. Upon Dave’s discharge, he and Margaret moved to Margaret’s home town of Fresno.

Dave worked for Security Title Insurance Co. in Fresno, Santa Ana and Ventura. Dave resigned in 1964 and started his own escrow company, Conejo Escrow Company in Thousand Oaks, CA. In addition, Dave was held 2 terms as City Councilman and 3 years as Mayor of newly incorporated City of Thousand Oaks. He also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee for the Ventura County Grand Jury, served on the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission, and was President of the Channel County Division of the League of California Cities.

Dave worked as manager for Western Title Insurance, controller for Trimont Land Co. dba Northstar-at-Tahoe, V.P. and controller for Squaw Valley Ski Corp, and Director of Real Estate for Trimont Land Co. He retired in September of 1992 to Fresno, CA.

Dave was an avid golfer and joined Sons-In-Retirement golf Branch 159 in 1993. He served as area 29 golf chair for 4 years. Dave went on to Division 5 Golf Chair and became a member of the SIR State Golf Committee in 2003. From 2004 through 2007, Dave was Chair of the SIR State Golf Committee. In addition, Dave worked for Airways Golf Course.

Dave is survived by his wife Margaret, his sister-in-law Eleanor Wofford, his nephews Paul and Michael Wofford, his nieces Pamela Wofford, Julie Brown and Connie Eickhoff Houk.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 4-7 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.