Bette Hardy

Bette Hardy age 81 of Anselmo, died Thursday May 26, 2016 at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Broken Bow. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday May 31, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Pastors Bill Williams and Von Taylor officiating. Memorials are suggested to the Anselmo Methodist Church or the Tehama Shrine. A register book may be signed at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow are in charge of the arrangements. Elizabeth *Bette* Luella (Lewis) Hardy was born to Clarence and Erma (Mayfield) Lewis on October 22, 1934 in her parent’s house on the family farm 1 mile east of Anselmo. Bette joined brothers Harold and Clarence Jr. and sisters Dorothy and Helen. Helen was 9 years old when Bette was born, so you can imagine what a surprise it was when she came along! Her father was fond of saying that “Bette was the only thing they raised on the farm that year!” She spent her childhood on the farm learning a love of animals and country life that carried on into adulthood. When it was time to go to school she walked the mile to and from school. Her favorite stories of the walk included how her big sister Helen would shield her from the cold winter wind by walking backwards with her long coat held out instructing Bette to keep close. Bette loved sports. In high school she was a force to be reckoned with on the volleyball court and was known, along with her friend Mary Lou, to suit up for football practice so there would be enough players for the team to practice both offense and defense at the same time. One wonders if her experience on the football field helped her to become such an avid Husker football fan. Bette met the love of her life, Wayne, when out with her schoolmates one evening and one said “my cousin is 21, he will get some beer for us!” And the rest, as they say, is history! Bette and Wayne ran off to the big city of North Platte to get married, before Wayne went off to join the Army, on September 29th 1951. When first married they lived on her parent’s farm while Wayne worked for the Lewis Brothers. They moved to Broken Bow in 1957 for Wayne to own a gas station located where the now State Farm Insurance is located next to the Grocery Kart. After doing that for 2 years Wayne then worked at Wenquist in Broken Bow for a short time before they returned to Anselmo and Wayne continued to work on the farm. When Bette belonged to the PTA, she and her friend Agnes Hempstead started the Anselmo Grade School track meet. The same basic format they developed is still used today at the Anselmo-Merna grade school track meet. Bette was very active in the Anselmo Alumni and when it was decided to hold an Anselmo celebration in 1967 she was instrumental in getting the Big Sky Jubilee started. For years Bette and Agnes took entries and lined up the parade. Along with Owen and Lois Dainton, Wayne and Bette also helped put on a horse show during Big Sky for several years. When Bette’s 5 kids were in school her dedication and the following of them to sporting events and 4-H shows would rival any modern day “soccer mom”. Her special yell could be heard over all others! She never missed a ball game, track meet, 4-H show or rodeo that the kids were in. Bette was a 63 year member of Eastern Star holding every office at least once. She was a lifetime member of the Anselmo United Methodist church serving on the Church board and was active with the UMW. She served as town Liberian and worked at Scott’s Market when they needed extra help. She loved to bowl and play pinochle. Bowling for years on a Tuesday morning ladies league and a mixed double league with Wayne. They belonged to a card club that got together monthly for laughter and prizes. Bette proved her love of the 4-H program by being a leader for the years her kids were members. Bette and Wayne were among the early ones to start “camping” on the fairgrounds during the fair. She made sure that all the proper attire for showing was there and ready, not an easy task with 5 sets of white shirts, blue and black jeans, boots and hats to keep track of. Not to mention all the show equipment and tack required for showing animals! We recently found her notebook with the lists and lists she kept in clear protectors she wrote on with a grease pen to check off the items as they were loaded. After the fair she would wipe off the marks so the list could be used the next year. She was the original dry erase queen! Bette was known for her wonderful sense of humor. Her door was always open and a pot of coffee freshly brewed. The local kids always seemed to end up in her yard after school or any given day in the summer. Bette loved doing crafts and sewing. She made countless afghans, mittens and Crocheted dolls. We have no idea how many items she made to sell to raise money for the church or the Shrine club as she seemed to be always working on some project. Bette was never one to expect accolades or awards but served the way she knew best with a giving heart, hard work and dedication. She was secretary and treasurer for as many as 5 organizations at one time along with keeping the books for their ranch. As her arch nemesis Dementia started to make it hard to keep up she had to give them up one by one. She lost her ability to follow patterns to crochet, do crossword puzzles and even lost interest in her beloved romance books. She clung to her word search books as long as she could but even that was lost way too soon. The things she did retain until late in the stages of dementia was her sense of humor, quick wit and her love for Wayne. Her eyes would light up whenever he came into her sight and he could make her smile with his gentle flirting. Bette lost her battle on Thursday afternoon the 26th of May surrounded by her 5 children and loving husband. She leaves to morn, her Husband of 64 years, Wayne. Son Dan(Linda) Hardy of Wahoo. Daughters Barb (Rob) Pellor of Anselmo, Crystal Esch, Natalie (Kyle) Russell and Evelyn (David) Christen all of Broken Bow. An “adopted” son and daughter Doug (Jessica) Williams and Mary Lou (Mike) Watkins. 21 grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren. 3 brothers-in-law, 4 sisters-in-law and a host of nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by a granddaughter LaCosta Esch and a son-in-law Ted Esch. Her parents, Wayne’s parents, 2 sisters, 3 sisters-in-law, 2 brothers and 4 brothers-in-law.