Former resident returning to talk about her book

Valley Life editor

A Valley icon is coming home next week to talk about her book of living in Alaska.

Cecille Betts, who owned King Mountain Lodge in the 1960s and lived in the Valley from 1959 to 1993, is coming back to the Valley next week to sign copies of her book, "Reluctant Pioneer."

She will be in the Valley on June 16, presenting a program at the Palmer Pioneer Home at 10 a.m., at Wasilla Public Library at 2 p.m., Sutton Public Library at 4 p.m. and at King Mountain Lodge at 6 p.m.

On June 17, she will be at Willow Public Library at 4 p.m.

"I moved out of Alaska to California in 1993, but Alaska never moved out of my heart. At 86, I have a new career as a motivational speaker. Some people see 'Reluctant Pioneer' as an inspirational book," Betts said. "I wrote it as a memoir of the 43 years I lived in Alaska. Life was still pretty rugged here then, and the book develops three concurrent themes -- the changes in Alaska, the changes in me and the changes I made in Alaska."

Betts is traveling with her editor, Nancy King, who said she wanted to see and visit places Betts mentions in her book.

Betts continues to write for several publications and is a volunteer at the Braille Institute where she leads a Scrabble group.

"I have three completely blind students and three visually impaired adults in my group," Betts said.