Obituary – Betty Turner Wright

Betty Turner Wright (89) passed away peacefully at home January 8, 2015. Born September 3, 1925, on the family farm on Lawrenceville Road in Garden Prairie, IL, to Mildred and Allen Turner, she frequently commented on her wonderful childhood growing up on the farm. Betty attended a one-room schoolhouse and loved riding her pony, Rainy Day, with her young cousin Jim Turner. She graduated from Belvidere High School and Hamilton Business School in Rockford.

On May 4, 1945, she married her high school sweetheart, U.S. Navy Ensign Robert S. Wright of Belvidere, son of Nan and S.H. Wright. Her husband preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie, Seattle, WA (Sheryl Westergreen); son, Tom, Alpharetta, GA, (Paula), grandson, Jeff, and granddaughter, Natalie; as well as brothers Gary Turner (Ann), Garden Prairie, and Giles Turner (Bunny), Augusta, WI. Her brother Gilbert (Mary Alice), Belvidere, preceded her in death.

Early in her career, Betty worked in the abstract department at the Farmers National Bank of Belvidere (now Alpine Bank), was secretary to the principal of Logan Elementary School, and later worked as a legal secretary for Belvidere attorneys John Strom and Laurie Larson. She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Belvidere for nearly 69 years, where she served on many church committees and taught Sunday School. When her children were young, she was president of the PTA and led a Brownie Scout Troop. She was very committed to the betterment of her community, serving on the boards of the Belvidere Woman's Club (officer), Jr. Woman's Club, Highland Hospital Auxiliary (officer), City of Belvidere Streetscape Committee, the YMCA (officer), and was a past president of the Boone County Historical Society as well as a museum docent. She also was a member of Yard and Home Garden Club, Women's Garden Club of Boone County, and served on many local fund drives.

Friends and acquaintances referred to Betty as a woman with grace, class, and style. She was exceptionally creative with a strong sense of fashion and panache. She enjoyed home design and decorating, entertaining, and preparing gourmet experiences for family and friends. At a fundraising event for the Historical Society, one of her highly sought-after homemade pies was auctioned for $350.

She made many enduring friendships through bridge, tennis, and golf and surprised herself with a hole-in-one at Bel-Mar Country Club, much to the envy of her brother-in-law Ed Wright of Atherton, CA. She enjoyed road trips with her husband and frequently visited her children in Seattle and Atlanta. Family was her pride and joy. She was a special sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Belvidere, the Belvidere YMCA Youth Program, the Boone County Historical Society, and the Belvidere Cemetery Tree Replacement Fund.

A memorial service will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, January 17, at the First United Methodist Church in Belvidere. A private burial in Belvidere Cemetery precedes the service. To light a candle or to share a memory, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com