Obituary: Topp, Bette Jeanette
She was born November 20th 1932 in Honolulu, HI to Hobart S. and Gladys Moree Butcher.
Bette graduated from San Dieguito H.S.
in Encinitas, CA where she was a song- leader and head majorette.
She attended Nurse’s Training at San Diego County Hospital as well as San Diego State University where she majored in microbiology.
On the 23rd of July 1952, Bette was 19 when she met the love of her life, John Andrew Topp, 18 and they married on 23 August 1952.
A whirlwind courtship produced 60 years of marriage.
Bette and John moved to Chattaroy, WA from north San Diego County in July 1981 where they settled on 29 acres.
Bette’s love of family history won out and they moved to Spokane to be closer to the library and genealogical society.
John purchased Topp’s Tobacco Square at Northtown in 1981 after being in the Insurance business for 23 years in California, owning his own agency.
She was very active in the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society where she served as the President on two different occasions, as well as presenting programs and teaching classes, editing the Washington State Genealogical Society Newsletter and the EWGS Newsletter editor.
One the hobbies she enjoyed most of her most was giving teas with her best friend for many of their friends.
She always said they enjoyed it probably more than the guests did.
She is survived by John her husband of 60 years; her sons Doug (Kathy), David and Dan (Debbie) Topp.
Also survivng her are grandchildren Lanaia (Dominic) Severino, Dylan, Kaleb, Tony, and Morgan Topp and her great-grandchild Luca Severino.
She was preceded in death by her grandson Colin Aste Topp.
In Bette’s memory, please consider donations to her favorite charity Spokanimal.