Obituary: Hedrick, Laurine Mae (Betts)
Age 91
HEDRICK, Laurine Mae (Betts)
Passed away peacefully in her own home on Thursday, May 12th, 2016, in Spokane, Washington.
Laurine was born on December 27th, 1924, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, the daughter of Mae (Beltz) and Willard Murray.
Laurine was only two years old when her mother, Mae, died from complications after the birth of another child (her son Leslie); so she was raised by her paternal grandparents.
She loved music and played the violin and the drum for her school’s marching band.
She graduated from Belle Fourche HS in 1944.
After school, she traveled to Virginia and worked as a telephone operator.
She then traveled to Washington State to be near her Aunt Florence and Uncle Ed.
In 1947, she married the love of her life, James W. Betts, in Spokane, WA.
They had nine children together.
She was devoted to her children and loved each of us dearly.
One of our fondest memories was the smell of fresh homemade bread baking in the oven.
She received her LPN from Spokane Falls Community College in 1970 and worked at Deaconess Hospital in Labor and Delivery.
Laurine married Delbert Hedrick in 1971.
Laurine loved flowers and birds.
People stopped by her yard to admire her roses.
Her hobbies were bowling, bingo and watching Lawrence Welk.
She loved to travel and has been as far as Florida and Hawaii but her favorite state was Alaska where she visited her oldest son, Bruce, several times.
In her later years, she colored her hair a bright pink and many people, young and old, would stop to tell her how much they loved her hair.
Laurine is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, Jim Betts and Del Hedrick, her son James and her great-grandson Tony.
She is survived by her children Bruce (Giannina), Sharon, Pat (Richard), Sylvia (Mike), Ken, Mike (Vicki) Marci and Robert; grandchildren, Robby, Falannia, David, Nova, Ryan, Kyle, Shelly, Melissa, Heath, Kenny, Krissy, Krystel, Kendra, Lacreasha and Summer, 24 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews in Washington and South Dakota.
Laurine willed her body to science at WSU in Pullman, WA.
We woluld like to thank STA Paratransit for taking Mom to Bingo.
A special part of Mom’s week was going to Denny’s on Sundays.
We will treasure the memory when you all sang “Happy Birthday” to our Mom on her 91st birthday in December.
We wish to thank Gentiva Hospice for walking along side our family for the past year and a half.
You gave us the ability to grant her wish of never having to go to a nursing home.
That is a gift we will always cherish.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 28th, 2016, at 10:00am at Orchard Christian Fellowship.
Their address is 312 E. 3rd Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.