Betty Lou White

Longtime Alaskan Betty Lou White, 85, passed away at home on Feb. 21, 2015.

Betty was born to George and Emma Bendixen in Vermillion, South Dakota on Aug. 19, 1929. She married her high school sweetheart, Ellis James White on Sept. 21, 1947. Ellis and Betty owned a gas station and diner in Beresford, South Dakota until 1951 when they packed up the car and moved to Anchorage. Ellis went to work and Betty created a home for her soon-to-be five children.

In 1960 Ellis and Betty homesteaded on 120 acres in Knik. Betty stayed at the homestead with her five children ages 1-9 while Ellis worked in Anchorage and came out on weekends. After proving up on the homestead, the family moved back to Anchorage and the homestead served as their vacation cabin.

Betty worked for the Anchorage School District in Nutrition Services from about 1961 to 1979 when she retired from her position as the Service High School Cafeteria Manager.

Ellis and Betty built a new log home at their homestead and moved there in 1980. They spent their retirement years traveling, fishing in Seward and enjoying their children and grandchildren.

Betty was very involved in the church. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, Anchorage, then a founding member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Anchorage. She and Ellis played a significant role in the purchasing of land and the founding of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wasilla. Betty served as the pianist at Good Shepherd for many years.

Betty and Ellis worked to develop what is now The Food Pantry of Wasilla. Betty served as the manager for the first several years of operation. This project was very dear to her heart and she worked tirelessly on it. The Food Pantry, which started out serving only about 10 families per month, now serves 40 to 50 families daily. She was proud to have shared in developing a place where people could come and receive food without having to prove their income or circumstances.

Betty loved to garden. She always had a large vegetable garden and greenhouse and her yard and flowers were the envy of many. She loved to sew and quilt. She continued to quilt until she could no longer see to do so.

Words used to describe Betty are always sweet and kind. She was also a very strong person who dealt with the problems of life with grace and acceptance. Her love of God and her strength and kindness were an inspiration to her children and grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her children, Kathy and Bill Broady, Richard White, James and Sherry White, and Sally and David Johnson who all reside at the family homestead; beloved sister and brother-in-law, Patty and Floyd Merrigan and their children; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis White; and son, Scott D. White.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m., Feb. 28 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wasilla.

A separate memorial service is planned at 2:30 p.m., March 1 at Primrose Retirement Community in Wasilla.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Food Pantry of Wasilla, 501 E. Bogard Rd., Wasilla, AK 99654.