Bette Alice Olsen Johnson-Moore's Obituary
Bette Alice (Olsen) Johnson-Moore was born on February 4, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the oldest daughter born to Herluf and Alice (Petersen) Olsen. She passed away at 4:46 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at her residence.
Bette attended Foreman High School, graduating in 1954, and then attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. In high school and in college, Bette was an accomplished piano player, tap dancer, cheerleader, and also competed in various beauty pageants. While attending Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Chicago, she met Kenneth Alan Johnson and they maintained their friendship through high school and college before they married on December 27, 1958.
As newlyweds, Ken worked for Inland Steel Company as a salesman and Bette worked as a middle school teacher in the Chicago public schools. In 1962, Bette began the next chapter of her life as a mother when Sheryl was born, followed by Kenneth Jr. in 1965, and Gary in 1968. In 1967, Bette and Ken moved to Covington, Louisiana where Ken was assigned to grow Inland’s market share in the burgeoning off-shore oil industry.
While in Louisiana, Bette and Ken created a magical life for themselves and their children, making many fabulous, life-long friends and memories that lasted a lifetime for both. Upon moving to Louisiana, Bette temporarily put her passion for teaching on hold and became a full time “coordinator of domestic affairs” as she used to like to joke. In Covington, Bette was a devoted member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, leading children’s Sunday school activities, vacation bible school, children’s Christmas plays, and playing the piano and leading the children in singing every Sunday morning for almost fifteen years. She also was very involved in the community, serving as Cub Scout den mother, PTA member, and leader of the Mandeville High School booster club. When her children entered high school and college, Bette once again resumed her passion for teaching by filling short and long term substitute assignments at Mandeville Middle and Mandeville High Schools.
In 1987, Bette and Ken moved back to the Chicago suburbs where Ken concluded his career with Inland Steel. The return to Chicago was another of life’s blessings for Bette, as she and Ken were able to rekindle old friendships and enjoy spending more time with family residing in Illinois and the Midwest. Upon Ken’s retirement in 1995, Bette and Ken moved back to Covington to pursue their golden years. However, these plans were cut short when Ken passed in 1997 after 38 years of marriage to Bette.
Bette remained in Covington for several more years and remained active in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She also was able to travel extensively with family and friends, with trips to the Holy Land, Europe, Denmark, Martha’s Vineyard, and Florida. In 2006, to be closer to family and due to the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, Bette decided it was time to say goodbye to Louisiana and move to Dunlap, Illinois. This allowed Bette to be closer to her daughter, Sheryl and Bette’s immediate family living in Illinois and Missouri. While in Dunlap, she was introduced to David Moore, also recently widowed. They quickly developed a friendship and from the day they met, truly enjoyed each other’s company. Over time, this friendship blossomed into a marriage proposal, and Bette and Dave were married in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri on August 11, 2012. Bette and Dave enjoyed 6 years of marriage, often travelling the country and spending summers in Remer, Minnesota.
Surviving are husband, Dave; daughter, Sheryl (Mitchel) Sattler of Tallahassee, FL; two sons, Kenny (Jamie) Johnson of Roanoke, TX, and Gary (Merna) Johnson of Charlotte, NC; one step-son, David (Judy) Moore of Princeton; 10 grandchildren; brother, Dennis Olsen of Chicago; sister, Nancy Trice of Columbia, MO; several nieces and nephews; and brothers-in-law Dudley Trice and Robert “Bob” (Karin) Johnson.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, #1 N. Marigold Ave., Covington, LA 70433. Visitation on Thursday, AT THE CHURCH, from 9:00 AM to service time.
Interment in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Covington, LA.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Prospect United Methodist Church in Dunlap Illinois or the Amputee Coalition www.amputee-coalition.org. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home entrusted with the local arrangements.
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