Betty Jane Eberhardt passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025, at Frye’s Care Home in Eureka, one week after her 96th birthday. She had loving phone conversations and visits with family on her birthday. She was very happy to meet her two new great granddaughters, in the months and weeks prior to her passing.

Betty was born February 9, 1929, in Loveland, Colorado, the youngest of 10 children born to Elizabeth Beideck and David Dreith, Volga Germans from Russia.

Her parents were farmers and life was not easy. Betty’s older siblings provided much of her care while the family worked in the fields. As she grew, Betty had to take on many farm duties including herding cows and bulls around a four mile pasture area when she was just eight years old. This was a big responsibility for a young girl. Years later, she and her sister Helen milked cows in the early morning before they headed off to school.

Betty’s mother passed away in 1937, when she was 9 years old. Her father married Anna Pauley, in 1938, adding an older step-sister to the household. Betty liked both of them. Unfortunately, her step-mother passed away when Betty was 17 years old.

Betty’s family lived in Colorado, until her father bought an 80 acre farm near Minatare, Nebraska. They moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1940, living there until the farmhouse was cleaned up and upgraded with electricity.

Betty attended Minatare High School and she loved school. She had the most beautiful smile and made many friends, several of whom she stayed in touch with throughout her lifetime. Betty relied on friends to drive her to school. On occasion, she would have to walk the four miles to home, do her chores, and prepare the evening meal for her father and brothers. In her senior year of high school, Betty missed school every Monday, as it was her job to do the family laundry. Despite all the setbacks with chores at home and on the farm, Betty graduated from Minatare High School in 1947, the only child of her family to do so.

Betty met Elmer Eberhardt on a blind date. She said when Elmer gave her an unexpected kiss, she saw stars. She was smitten with Elmer, and she had found her soulmate. Betty and Elmer were married in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in November, 1948. They lived in Omaha for a short time so Elmer could attend a trade school. In 1949, Betty gave birth to a son, David, in Scottsbluff, where they lived until 1953. Elmer’s older brother suggested they come to Northern California, where there were many jobs in the timber industry since neither Betty, nor Elmer, had any intentions of farming. After many months of contemplation, they headed west to Humboldt County.

Betty and her family soon found a tiny duplex in Eureka. After their daughter, Diane, was born in 1955, Bettyand Elmer purchased a small fixer-upper home on Hodgson Street in 1956. Their daughter, Debra was born in 1957, and the family was complete. They would live in this home until 1977, when they purchased a home in Cutten.

Betty was a good mother and wife. She took joy in caring for her family. She always kept a spotless home and wanted the yard to look nice. Betty enjoyed baking, and made countless pies, cakes, cupcakes, and cookies over the years for her family and friends. Throughout her life, Betty made many phone calls and sent cards and letters in her efforts to stay in touch with people. In addition to showing attention and kindness to others, Betty also took great pride in her own appearance and was always very well put-together. She loved to bargain- shop, and always made the greatest buys on beautiful outfits and shoes. Her hair was always curled, her makeup done just so, and her lovely smile and bright eyes were more accentuated by the ways she cared for herself.

Betty supported her children in their school functions and in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, and Job’s Daughters. Betty was an active member of Washington School PTA and was presented with an Honorary Service Award in the 1960s. In 1966, she began working for the Eureka City Schools in the cafeterias at Zane Junior High School, and later at Eureka Senior High School. She then worked as a teacher’s aide at Jefferson, Marshall, and Alice Birney Elementary Schools. Her final position was as a resource aide at Lafayette Elementary School, retiring in 1991. For a short while she tutored students at her home.

Betty and Elmer enjoyed exploring the beauty of Humboldt County. They made family outings to beaches, rivers, and forests. The Sequoia Park and Zoo were also favorite places. Sometimes, relatives from Nebraska and Colorado would visit. Betty and Elmer also loved traveling back to the Midwest to visit their family members. They would take their children to different National Parks, National Monuments, and tourist spots along their chosen routes. Betty and Elmer enjoyed exploring our beautiful country. They also traveled to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, in 1969.

When Betty and Elmer moved to their Cutten home in 1977, they began a daily two mile walking routine. In later years, walking shorter routes, they could be seen holding hands as they walked. Betty and Elmer met their neighbors and became friends with other walkers over the years. After retirement, they did more walking and traveling. Betty and Elmer hiked to the top of Mount Lassen. They often traveled to Arizona to visit their daughter, Debra, and her family. On another occasion, after several months of preparation, they walked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. They attended family reunions in the Midwest as well as their Minatare High School Class Reunions. Betty and Elmer joined OCTA (Oregon California Trail Association) and, for many years, hiked pioneer trails across the western states. They met and made lifelong friendships with several of the OCTA members. Betty and Elmer joined some of their family members on an Alaskan Cruise. Their children and grandchildren joined them on trips where they followed pioneer trails they had previously explored. Betty and Elmer especially enjoyed their annual family trips to Oregon beach houses near Gold Beach, for 17 years.Betty adored her grandchildren. She and Elmer attended their school functions, birthday, family, and holiday events. Betty loved having the grandchildren visit and always had homemade cookies for them.

Three of her granddaughters lived in Cutten and attended the neighborhood schools. Betty and Elmer provided the best ‘Grandparent Daycare’ during school holidays, summer vacation, and afterschool. Betty would help her granddaughters learn to read and do mathematics. They would watch her bake in the kitchen and sometimes sneak a bite of dough when she wasn’t looking. Betty and Elmer took the girls on walks and to Sequoia Park. The girls cherished this time with their grandparents. Betty and Elmer celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in November of 2020. When Elmer passed away in 2021, at age 96, Betty lost her partner and the love of her life. Betty loved the wonderful life that she and Elmer had built together. Six months after Elmer’s passing, she moved to Frye’s Care Home in her Cutten neighborhood. Betty immediately initiated a daily walking routine which she kept up for several years. Some of the staff at Frye’s were like her extended family and cared for her until she peacefully passed away.

Betty is survived by her sister, Helen Honstein from Hay Springs, Nebraska; her children, David Eberhardt (Marie), Diane Larkin (Dan), Debra Harper (Pat); her grandchildren, Matt Eberhardt, Marc Eberhardt (Sara), Jacob Eberhardt, Sara Farley, Brooke Logan (Garrett), Amy Borden (Huna), Katie Larkin, Hannah Gossi (Jared), Emily Larkin Jewell (Brandon), Steven Harper (Rachel); her great-grandchildren; her great, great-grandchildren; and her nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. Betty is predeceased by her husband, Elmer, by her parents, David and Elizabeth, her step mother, Anna, her siblings, Mary, Lydia, Alexander, William, Leroy, Lenora, Charles, and Harold, and a grandson, Bryan Hubbard. Betty is missed by family and friends, and those whose lives she touched with her kindness. The lasting memories of her legacy will live in our hearts forever, and her beautiful smile will never be forgotten. Knowing that Betty is again with her beloved Elmer brings us joy and gives us comfort and peace.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Frye’s Care Home and Hospice of Humboldt for the compassionate care Betty received.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Humboldt. A small family Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.

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