Bettie J. Butts

Bettie hit her final shot and quietly left the course when she passed away peacefully with her family by her side. Bettie fought a brief, yet courageous and selfless battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bettie was born to Forrest “Buzz” and Carolyn Bauer of Lincoln, Nebraska. Growing up in Lincoln, she graduated from University High in 1962. It was in her younger years at Clinton Elementary School that Bettie met the love of her life, Tim Butts. They were partners in life until Tim’s passing in 2022. They are now reunited in God’s kingdom.

Bettie graduated from Bryan School of Nursing in 1966. Nursing became a lifelong profession until her retirement from Bryan Hospital in 2010. She continued her learning, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska. During her career, Bettie became the manager of Staff Development at Bryan leading a team of nurse educators. As a result, she helped establish and develop the careers of hundreds of nursing professionals in the Lincoln area.

Tim and Bettie were married in Lincoln on December 10, 1966, and moved to Boston, Massachusetts where Tim was stationed in the Navy. Following his discharge from the service, they returned to Lincoln to settle down and begin the rest of their lives. Tim and Bettie were blessed with their daughter, Brenda, in June of 1969.

In addition to her family, Bettie’s two great passions in life were sewing and golf. She made both her daughter and granddaughters numerous articles of clothing over the years, as well as countless quilts, wall décor, and all kinds of accessories. Whenever weather permitted, and sometimes even when it didn’t, Bettie could be found on the golf course. She won multiple women’s club championships at Ashland Golf Club where Bettie and Tim were long time members. Bettie shot two holes-in-one during her playing days. Bettie also served on the Board of the Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association (NWAGA). In addition, she won multiple NWAGA tournaments for her age group and flight. Bettie was also an avid Husker volleyball and football fan.

Bettie is survived by daughter Brenda and Bill Norton of Omaha; granddaughters Catie and Derek Niedermeyer of Cook and their daughters Ansley, Adelynn, and Avery; Megan and Jonathon Orchard of Omaha; and brother Bill and Tamara Bauer of Las Vegas, brothers-in-law Steve and Wanda Butts of Omaha and Dennis and Denise Butts of Heber City, Utah. Bettie is also survived by nieces and nephews Jack Noel, Micki Barth, Stacy Butts, Kelly Butts Elston, and Derek Butts. Bettie was preceded in death by her husband Tim, parents Forrest and Carolyn Bauer, and sister Jacqueline Noel.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at Ashland Golf Club on Sunday, November 16th at 2:30 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship to follow.

In lieu of flowers/plants, memorials may be directed to the scholarship fund with the Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association (www.nwaga.org) or given to the family for a yet-to-be determined designation.