Bettie passed to her heavenly father after a long time living with Alzheimer’s disease. She had been lovingly cared for at Gold Country Care facility for almost 6 years and was comforted by Snowline Hospice.
She met her husband Elvin (Curly) Thein in 1943, where she lived in Sunnyvale CA. He was stationed there with the U.S. Army before being deployed to Europe. They married before he was shipped out and lived and raised their family there after he returned. In 1966 her beloved Curly passed suddenly. While working at Lockheed she met and married co-worker Charlie Smith in 1973. Upon retirement in 1983 they moved to Placerville. They joined Cold Springs Golf and C.C. and enjoyed making new friends while playing golf. Most of all she loved being in Placerville because her children and grandchildren had already moved there. Family and friends were her whole world and she would tell you that she was rich in that respect. After her second husband’s death she had a very special companion, J.C. Miller, who shared a love of travel and golf together.
Bettie was a survivor of many things. However, she was determined to always see the glass half full. Being a self described introvert, she taught her children not with words, but by the example of being a simple but good person.
She was preceded in death by her husbands and companion and also her parents, James (Pa) Farris, Lessie (Ma) Huckabee-Farris and brothers Bill and Leon (Buck) Farris, and sister Lu Dodson.
Bettie is survived by her sister Nell Smith and son Tom Thein (wife Ann) and daughter Janet Thein-Peterson (husband Van). She also had 8 grandchildren whom she greatly influenced with love and support, Katie (Tom) Farrell, Mat (Nikki) Peterson, Vanessa (Michael) Inzano, Tonya Coffee, Heidi (Steve) Mabry, Thais (John) Kerrigan, Alex (Josh) Barlow, Anna Muehlenhaupt; and 20 Great Grandchildren out of which 14 had the pleasure of knowing and loving her.
Services will be held on Friday June 29, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Chapel of the Pines, 2855 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, California, 95667.
The family requests that remembrances go to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation - Supporting Research For A Cure.
We invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family by visiting chapelofthepinesfunerals.com
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