Betty Louise Starkey

1929 - 2021

Betty Louise Starkey, 92, passed away on September 10, 2021,with her daughter,TeddiRusslerat her side. Betty was born June 28, 1929,in Fresno California to Roy and Lucille Frost. Her siblings included Lucille, Jack, Nona, Laura, and Neal. She attended Clovis High through 11thgrade but left school to work on the family ranch.

Betty married TedRusslerin 1947 and together they had 6 children. Their first home in Los Angeles was a small, one bedroom trailer with no hot water or bathroom. Even with these obstacles Betty raised her family with strength, wisdom, and love.Her positive attitudenever waveredas she endured times of loss, grief, poverty, and divorce. Still, the laughter and joy she shared with her children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, and close friends is the mostpoignantmemory of her.

She loved her family dearly and it broke her heart to outlive her daughters Sandra and Tamara, son Daniel, and daughter-in-law Jeanniene. She is survived by her daughters Carol Skiles andTeddiRussler, daughter-in-law KathyRussler, her sonMikeand his wife Becky, 6 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and sister Laura (Frank) Strickland and brother Neal Frost.She was a favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews.She treasured her close friendship with her sister-in-law, Betty Mike as well.

Betty was a caring, nurturing women who held close all her family. She was a talented artist and natural gardener and would often rescue cuttings and nurture them intolush newplants.



The end of herlife was impacted by gradually progressingAlzheimer's,butshealways loved her "babies". Toprotect her family as she would have insisted on, a virtual Celebration of Life will be done soon.