Betty L. Ehrheart, 91, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2022 at her Ferndale home surrounded by family. Born November 6, 1930 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania to Theodore and Elizabeth McFarland, Betty married Daniel O. Ehrheart in 1950. They had two sons, Rick and Ted. The family moved to Southern California in 1959 and after Rick and Ted were grown, moved to Ferndale in 1991 and built their dream home in the new McKinley Avenue neighborhood.

Betty worked for many years at Rockwell International in Southern California as a supervisor on both the Apollo and Space Shuttle projects. During her long career, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration presented the Group Achievement Award to Betty for her work on the Stabilized Payload Deployment System Team for use on the Space Shuttle Orbiter.

Shortly after Dan and Betty’s retirement to Ferndale, Dan was diagnosed with cancer and passed in 1997 at the age of 70. At the same time, Betty was diagnosed with macular degeneration and was eventually diagnosed as legally blind. An avid bridge player, reader, and needlepoint enthusiast, Betty turned to playing poker with her dear Ferndale friends, gardening and listening to books on tape. As he neared his death, Dan asked Betty’s younger friends to step in and make sure that she did not live a life of isolation. Dan would have been pleased. In the 25 years since Dan’s passing, Betty’s infectious sense of adventure, good-natured personality, humor and intellect translated to her large group of friends taking her on multiple trips across the globe, countless dinners, rousing musical events and full production birthday parties to mark her many milestones. If one wanted a “Betty date,” they’d better call early in the week since her calendar was usually full.

Shortly after Dan’s passing, friends started a weekly Wednesday pizza night at Betty’s house. Dozens of friends, neighbors, children and dogs have enjoyed epic Wednesday nights, where copious amounts of cheap red wine were enjoyed along with pizza, laughter, tears and memories. Two generations have now attended the weekly get together with many Ferndale children remembering Wednesday night dinner always being “pizza at Betty’s.”

As Betty moved on in years she also became legally deaf. Despite her two disabilities, she still persevered with her good nature and humor and never turned down a dinner invitation or a chance to travel.

Betty is survived by her two sons and Rick’s wife, Bonnie; grandchildren, Matt, Adam (Kelly), Shannon (Brandon Champieux); great-grandchildren Luke, Jude, Emme, Noah and Sierra. She was preceded in death by her husband Dan.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers that took such great care of Betty as her time came to an end. Her niece Sharan Wehn and husband Mike, Britt and Kevin Frey and Jacque Ruszala. A special thanks to Dr. Han and Dr. Douglass for their loving care.

A last pizza party will be held to celebrate Betty’s life on Saturday, October 1 at 2 p.m. at the Ferndale Atrium, 207 Francis Street, Ferndale. Friends are invited to come share stories, laughter and music. A mass at Assumption Catholic Church will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 2. Betty will be buried in a private ceremony at Ocean View Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka.