Bette Ann Backstrom

East Wenatchee, WA Bette Ann Rice was born September 15, in Pomona, CA, to James William Rice and Mabel Graham Rice. Bette spent her early life in Southern California, including Glendale and Pasadena. At Age ten, her father’s oil business took the family to Houston, TX. It was there that Bette attended St. Agnes Girls’ Academy and accepted her Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Bette attended college at Pasadena Community College and was a member of Veda Sorority. Following graduation in 1943, she married her young love, James Russell Wilder, and shortly after, Bette and Jim moved to Coulee Dam, where Jim worked for the government on the Coulee Dam Project. In 1954, work moved the family to Quincy and again in 1960, to Wenatchee. At Coulee Dam, Quincy and Wenatchee, Bette taught Sunday school and was a leader in the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and 4-H clubs. In Wenatchee, Bette worked for the Eye & Ear Clinic and retired from the Deaconess Hospital as an Administrative Secretary after 20 years. At Christmas time in 1970, Bette met and married her husband, Russell Bert Backstrom, after the death of her first husband, James R. Wilder, in 1969. Bette was a member of the Wenatchee First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and was an usher. Bette belonged to many organizations, including Phi Sigma Alpha, Washington Phi, Wenatchee Valley Lions, Lady Lions, and Lady of the Elks, Wenatchee Valley Antique Car Club and the Wenatchee Valley Doll Club. She was an exceptional Doll Artist and made many beautiful creations. Bette loved her family, her friends, her home and cars. Roses were her favorite flowers and she made garlands of them and preserved them to be given as gifts. Bette’s favorite quotes were “Bless you,” and “I love you.” Bette would like to be remembered for her love of the Lord and her family and her host of friends. Finally, Bette would like to say, “Thank you all for blessing my life with your love and may God protect and keep you close until we meet again.” Bette is survived by her children: daughter, Jennifer Jann Calkin of Gig Harbor, WA, son, Chris Wilder of Wenatchee, step-daughters, Carol Backstrom of Wenatchee and Karen Profit of Lynden and step-sons, Ken Backstrom of Fairfield, ID and Scott Backstrom of East Wenatchee; including five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and ten step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, James “Jim” Wilder and Russell Bert Backstrom; brother, James “Bill” Rice, a casualty of WWII; her sister, Jane Rice Bishop; and her parents. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at First Untied Methodist Church in Wenatchee on Saturday, February 19, 2011, with Pastor Julia Price officiating. Private Family Interment will be held at the Cashmere City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association or Central Washington Hospice. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home, Wenatchee.

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Bette Ann Backstrom

September 15, 1923 - February 10, 2011