Bette Pauline Hutmacher

Our Mom and Grandma, Bette Pauline Hutmacher, left us August 18, 2017 for a joyful journey to join God after 95 years of contributing so much to our lives. Our sadness at her passing is tempered by our faith that in Heaven, there are joyous cries of "Here she comes!" as she is reunited with so many relatives and friends. She started life in Mitchell, South Dakota as the oldest of three children (Bette, Thalia and Richard) of Henry Vande Bossche and Mamie (Miles) Vande Bossche. Bette was a star in school, including the Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, where she excelled in music (piano) and also in women's baseball. A big problem in her teenage years was how to avoid injuries in baseball that would sideline her piano concerts. She met the love of her life, Bernard Hutmacher in Sioux City, Iowa while visiting her grandparents, who were neighbors of the Hutmachers. They fell in love and got engaged, but Pearl Harbor and Bernie's re-enlistment in the Navy delayed their wedding bells. For several years during the war, Mom worked in Minneapolis, MN and also joined a women's semi-pro baseball team there while awaiting his return. While Bernie was on leave in December 1944, they reunited to marry in Washington D.C. Bette next followed Bernie to Brooklyn and worked at the USO in New York during Bernie's last WWII deployment in the Pacific. They decided to be adventurous and journeyed to California along with several of Bernie's brothers and sisters in the late 1940s, looking for opportunities in the Golden State. They first settled in the Pittsburg/Antioch area but eventually found their first and only house of their own in Pleasant Hill, CA, where they raised their family in a neighborhood of friends. Mom earned a degree from Diablo Valley College with long night and weekend studies, proved herself an outstanding worker, made many friends during a long career in personnel and as a computer Systems Analyst as a Navy civilian employee, and was a talented bowling team member. Mom and Dad enjoyed 59 years of marriage before Bernie's passing in 2003. Mom leaves behind two loving sons and daughters-in law, Bill and his wife Ruth of Newport, OR, Bob and his wife Kay of Visalia, CA, as well as five grand-daughters and their spouses (Kristen and Joe, Amy and David, Sarah and Stephen, Allison and Christopher, and Kelly and her fiance Jonathon), four great-grandchildren Levi, Rachael, Megan and Landon, her long-time friend Jean Potts and other long-time friends. Mom cared deeply for her family, including cousins, nieces, nephews, and distant relatives met through genealogy research, and delighted in her relationships with loved ones near and far. Mom and Dad shared in helping their community, lived their faith in Jesus Christ, were 60+ year members of Christ the King parish in Pleasant Hill, and enjoyed helping out with groups such as the Monument Crisis Center in Concord. Mom was especially involved in the religious education program for public school kids at their church, where she developed her great love and respect for the Sisters of the Holy Family, who do such wonderful work for the church and community. Our Mom/Grandma was a great example of how to improve the world and live a good life. In Bette's memory, please do a favor for someone in need, or consider making a donation to the Monument Crisis Center (website: monumentcrisiscenter.org/donate) or the Sisters of the Holy Family (website: holyfamilysisters.org/284/Donate-Today). A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 15, 2017 at Christ the King Church, 199 Brandon Road, Pleasant Hill, CA. Condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

Bette Pauline Hutmacher

July 7, 1922 - August 18, 2017