Bettye A. Thompson, 89 yrs old, passed away after a long illness. Predeceased by husband, Vincent “Tommy” Thompson; parents: Wesley A. Brown and May Belle Brown of Columbia, SC.; sister, Mrs. “Teetie” Tallon of Chattanooga, TN.; In-laws, Alvin J. and Rose Mary Thompson, great granddaughter Loretta Catherine Johnson. Fondly remembered by her children, Cathy (Jim) Johnson, Janet Rodriguez, Alvin W. (Miriam) Thompson; grandchildren, D. Vincent (Sharon) Johnson, Amy Abbott, April Kulhanek, Matt (Gina) Johnson, Alvin L. (Shelly) Thompson, Adam and Brandon Thompson;
great grandchildren, Vincent P. (Kiana) Johnson, Andrew Kulhanek, Colton Thompson, Nick Kulhanek, Micah Abbott, Ryan Kulhanek, Isabella Johnson, Trevor Thompson, Corah Abbott, Trenton, Morgan, Braydon; and great-great grandson, Christian J. Johnson. She enjoyed round and square dancing (Silhouettes Round Dance Co-instructor), member of FOE Ladies Auxiliary, bowling and being with her family. In Lieu of food and flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a charity of your choice. Services held at Adrian Comer Garden Funeral Home March 30, 2018 10 a.m., with interment at Roselawn Cemetery to follow.
Bettye Abbott Brown was born on March 8, 1929 in Columbia, South Carolina to Wesley Abbott Brown and May Belle Newman. There was seven years difference in between Mable Claire and Bettye, so they weren’t close, Mable Claire, a teenager, and Bettye, a tomboy. As a child, Bettye was a tomboy playing with the neighborhood kids – getting into all kinds of mischief – lightning bug, baseball, shooting marbles, climbing trees, etc. Her neighbors were like family, calling them uncle and aunt, they watched over each other’s children. She was her dad’s shadow, following everywhere he went.
Every Sunday, she went to church, which was right around the corner. She was allowed to read, couldn’t use a pair of scissors or sew, she did help make Sunday dinner. During the summer, Bettye was never home much, either going to Virginia to Aunt Sadie’s or Sumter to visit Aunt Daisy, or in Bible school Baptist and Lutheran Churches.
Christmas time was special. Each Christmas eve, the family would go downtown on main street and watch the shoppers hurry around. Later on Christmas Eve, the family would gather to open presents. Christmas morning was saved for Santa Claus; then later the family would gather again for dinner.
Easter- choc Easter Bunny and candy- no toy.
Bettye had a lot of boyfriends in high school, many of them soldiers. She met Vincent on New Year ’s Eve 1945, who later became her husband.
Bettye married Vincent S. Thompson on August 14, 1947. They lived with her mother in Columbia, SC for the first couple of years, then moved to Pueblo in 1950, living with his parents until they could buy their own home.
As a couple, Vince and Bettye started square dancing in 1956 then round dancing in 1957. Each summer on Wednesday night would be a dance at the slab on Elizabeth, where the whole family would go. While the kids played, the grownups would dance. And yes, the girls got to dance with their dads. They joined the Silhouettes, a round dancing group in 1964 and later were asked if they would take over teaching round dancing. Lots of practicing took place in the living room, they made up dances and went all over the country to conventions. Everyone commented on how beautiful they danced together.
When she first got married, Bettye could barely boil water (her words), but learned quickly and was it good. Some of her specialties were spaghetti and meatballs, roast and gravy, French coconut pie, lemon merengue pie, etc. Vince loved her lemon pound cake with a glaze frosting. At Christmas, she would be busy making tassies (little pecan tarts), pizzelles, press cookies and later Chocolate Delight. While she was making them, Dad would make his wonderful fudge and poppycock (caramel popcorn). After the grandchildren were born, Bettye started making special birthday cakes for each birthday, some were a train, elephant, clown, etc.
On Sundays, while the children went to Sunday school, she would be in the kindergarten as secretary for 19 years. Bettye was very active in her children’s lives, as a den mother, girl scouts, elementary room mother (holiday parties), helping with hot dog day, also President of the PTA. She worked as a volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce welcome wagon after the children were grown.
