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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Vail, Bette Louise (Peterson-Carr)

VAIL, Bette Louise (Peterson-Carr) Our Bette went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease Bette was born on October 18, 1937 in Spokane, WA, to Vernon Arthur and Louise Marie (Hoogstad) Peterson.

She met James Patrick Vail (Pat) in 1949 while attending Stevens Elementary School in Spokane.

They were married on March 15, 1957 after Pat’s tour in the U.S. Navy.

They would have celebrated their 58th anniversary in 2015.

She had an eight year Nursing Assistant position at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and then became a volunteer Ombudsman for the State of Washington SNAP program.

At the same time she was a Eucharistic Minister for St. Aloysius Catholic church.

Bette’s mother, Louise Marie Hoogstad Peterson, remarried after Bette’s father passed away.

Louise married Francis B. Carr and eventually presented Bette with two brothers, Michael and Timothy Carr.

Bette and her husband Pat had five children: Debbie Jean Helfrecht, Debra Susan Barkley, Patti Lou Cato, Daniel Patrick Vail (deceased) and Deanna Marie Vail (deceased).

Bette leaves behind her husband Pat, three daughters, two brothers and her step-father.

She and Pat have 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

We would like to thank all of her doctors and nurses who cared for her during her illness, especially Hospice of Spokane and Gentiva of Liberty Lake.

A private celebration of her life will be held this summer at the home.