Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Bettie Anne Rutan died quietly in her home in Eureka on October 4, 2024. She maintained her love of family, profound sense of gratitude, and poise through her final days. Her deep faith filled her with hope and an abiding peace.

Bettie was born on December 3,1934 in Roanoke, Alabama to Naomi and Lamon Bailey. She spent her early years in rural Alabama. Her earliest memories included adventures following her adored older brother, Pete, and attempts to contain her mischievous baby brother, Tom. When she was 11 years old, her family decided to leave their small town in Alabama and move to Petrolia, where her maternal aunt and uncle lived. Bettie often recalled the train trip west, her young head full of dreams about living in sunny California. She laughed about her disappointment upon arriving at the family’s ranch in Petrolia, where it rained every day for six weeks straight.

When her father went to work for the Hammond Lumber Company, she moved with her family to Crannell. After a partial year at Little River Elementary School, Bettie was enrolled in Arcata High School, even though she was only 12 years old. She graduated at age16 and spent a year in Tujunga, California with a paternal aunt and uncle. She enrolled in community college and enjoyed great times with her cousin Maddox and friends. Bettie fondly recalled the sweet smell of orange groves which stretched for miles at that time around Los Angeles. Bettie returned to Humboldt County where she met Kenneth Cringle. They married in 1954. The large, loving Cringle clan became her family and she cherished those relationships to her last days. The addition of their daughters Brenda, Pamela and Daphne brought great joy to Bettie; children, especially babies, were one of her passions. Her greatest sorrow came with the loss of their 5 week old infant son, Kenneth Randall.

She married her second husband, JR O’Connell in 1964. They enjoyed many camping adventures with the girls, she expertly prepared the bounty of fish and game he brought home, and cheered for him as he raced stock cars at Redwood Acres. She even entered and won races herself!

Bettie began her work career in Arcata at a log scaling station in the early 1950s and recalled with pride working on one of the first computers in Humboldt County — it filled an entire room. She entered data using a card punch system. In the 1960s Bettie re-entered the workforce as an employee of the State of California, first for the Employment Development Department and later as a bookkeeper for CalTrans.

In 1979, Bettie married Don Rutan. She often said that she “finally got it right” as they enjoyed 29 years of adventure. Most of those years they lived in the Sacramento area where Don worked. They bought a property that had a pool, a large vegetable garden, and a horse pasture and barn. Their grandkids learned to swim in the pool, rode bareback on their horses, and developed a love for the taste of fresh tomatoes and corn from the garden. Nana and Papa’s home is central in every grandkids childhood memories. Those years of simple pleasures with family were some of Bettie’s happiest.Bettie’s green thumb was well known. Don took pride in her ability to grow anything, inside or out. He treasured her quick wit and remarkable memory. An animal lover to the end, she enjoyed many pets throughout her life and there was almost always a special dog by her side. She was an amazing cook. Her southern roots were often recognizable in flaky biscuits, homemade creamed corn and large bowls of gravy common at her table. None of these culinary delights included a recipe so daughters had to watch carefully to learn the secrets. Music was a constant in her life and she loved to dance, especially with Don. They attended numerous jazz festivals over the years but their favorite was the Redwood Coast Dixieland Jazz Festival in Eureka.

Bettie was a lifelong sports fan, knowing team players, stats, and standings. She and Don created and shared memories taking the grandkids to sporting events, as well as watching all of them compete in various sports. While each season or different grandchild brought interest in different games or competitions, none compared with baseball. Bettie’s love of the game began as a young girl at her Dad’s side, listening to the Brooklyn Dodgers. In her adult years the Giants were her team through good and bad. Her baseball card collection was enormous and well-cataloged. Naming her final doggie companion Buster Posey was not a surprise to those who knew her devotion.

Bettie and Don enjoyed many travels - driving across the country, Sacramento to Florida, cruising through the Panama Canal, sunsets in Tahiti, Barbados, and several Hawaiian islands, parasailing in the Bahamas, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and always the many drives to visit their children’s homes for holidays, celebrations and grandkid time.

Her enthusiasm for travel did not diminish after she lost Don. She took a cruise to Alaska with Pam, enjoyed a road trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with her daughters, and visited Kaitlin and the memorials in D.C. In 2013 Jim’s Mom, 80 year old Maureen, bought a week long stay for two at a safari lodge in South Africa. She immediately invited 79 year old Bettie to be her traveling companion. Brenda and Jim felt compelled to be guides. The trip evolved into a three week adventure that included four countries, numerous game drives, and Victoria Falls.

In 2006 Bettie and Don decided to retire to Eureka, where they both lived the rest of their lives. They loved their house in Eureka and the community and family to which they returned. Bettie loved her greenhouse, her flowers, and the times that she could gather children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her home. She always had bowls of candy, toys for kids, and hot coffee ready for visitors.

Bettie was preceded in death by her son Randy, her husband Don, and brothers Pete and Tom. She is survived by her three daughters: Brenda Yarnall (James, who she called “my boy”), Pamela McNaughton (Peter), and Daphne Aguilar, her grandchildren: Brent Gaylord (Bekah), Kaitlin Yarnall (Shikhin), Ryan Gaylord, Morgan Aguilar, and Megan Yarnall (Will), and her great-grandchildren: Romeo, Alina, Douglas, Sophie, Cylus, Carter, Neila, Isla, James, Madeline, and Samira. Also her sisters-in-law, Barbara Bailey and Sharon Bailey.The family would like to express special appreciation and thanks to Amanda James, Bettie’s primary care provider, but most of all her friend, advocate, and long-time supporter, and to John Mastroni for his compassionate and dedicated care. We are also grateful to the caregivers who allowed Bettie to remain in her home. Thank you Elibe for dancing with Mom, loving her so well, sharing your faith, and for your valued professional care and advice. Thank you Alisa for loving Posey, caring for Mom’s beloved flowers, feeding the birds where she could watch them and for all the deviled eggs. Thank you Kathy for always honoring Mom’s dignity and for being with her to the end. Thank you Michael and Gina for your vigilance and thoughtful deeds.

Hospice of Humboldt and Mom’s care team provided comfort for her and for family in her final months. Special thanks to Debbie, Bridgit, Itzel, and Julie Mastroni, for love and advice. A memorial service will be held on December 6 at Eureka Wharfinger Bay Room at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Sequoia Park Zoo, Humboldt Botanical Garden or Hospice of Humboldt.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bettie Ruttan’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.