Bette Busse Merritt Ford

Bette Lois Busse Merritt Ford Bette ... peacefully moved into the arms of a loving God on Friday August 26th, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida. A mother, grandmother, great grandmother, confidant, friend, encourager and an amazing example of humility, endurance and courage will be greatly missed. Bette was born in Watertown, Wisconsin on September 18th, 1932, to her parents Ralph and Lois Busse. She spent a large part of her youth in and out of the Mayo clinic in Rochester enduring many hip surgeries because of complications at birth. Spending many of her younger years in a cast or hospital bed, Bette was active through her high school years in theater and student government and was voted Watertown High School Homecoming Queen her senior year in 1950. She worked at the soda fountain at her Dad’s Walgreens drug store in Watertown and despite her physical challenges she was accomplished in archery and horsemanship. After high school, Bette attended University of Miami (Florida) and then went on to graduate from the University of Arizona (Tucson) with a degree in theater Arts. Post-graduation she married and moved to Southern California to begin raising her family. In La Canada, Bette and her husband Ray opened a camera store and then a portrait studio where she used her artistic talents to colorize portraits. Later as a single mother, she went to work for Bronson Pharmaceuticals in La Canada, California as an integral hub of their office administration. Bette was a woman of faith and was a member of the La Canada Presbyterian Church and later the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Bette loved her family and delighted in her grandchildren. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and would break out in song on the spur of the moment, she loved musicals and the “Sound of Music”, Sinatra and the Crooners and big band music. She loved drive-in-movies, and big grocery bags full of buttered popcorn. She loved board games and puzzles and could deliver a serious licking in Rummy Cube and Gin Rummy. Throughout her life she was an animal lover, from horses & Chihuahuas in her early years, to a long line of family dogs, and a menagerie of birds, rabbits, chickens, tortoises, and a spider monkey named Charlie. She loved to paint and was an avid crafter. She loved the cottage at Duck Lake and its ties to her family and childhood... She loved the Desert Southwest and turquoise, and she loved California & her home state of Wisconsin. She loved to travel in her motorhome. She loved “Murder She Wrote” and “CSI”. …Not exactly a gourmet cook, she did however make a mean seven-layer taco salad. She loved sun tea, summer sausage, crackers and cheese and her famous chili dip. She loved Roses and the Rose Parade. She was unassuming and lived a simple life rooted in loyalty, honesty, compassion, humility, and most of all love. She believed in possibility. Her living example is a reminder to each of us that regardless of life’s ups and downs and many challenges, work through the pain, give grace, keep moving forward and love each other… Bette was predeceased by her parents Ralph and Lois Busse, Her daughter Melinda, Daughter in law Ursula Merritt and her ex-husbands Ray Merritt and James Ford. She is survived by her sons Kevin Merritt, and James Merritt (Katrina), her grandchildren; Lyndsey Shae Merritt Torgrimson (Pete), Ryan Scott Merritt (Jesse), Liza Mary Merritt, Sequoya Iolani Merritt, Kristen Shae Merritt, Matthew Scott Merritt and her four great grandchildren; Mason Scott Merritt, William Lars Torgrimson, Miles Scott Merritt and Baby Torgrimson (coming soon). The twinkle in her eyes and warmth of her heart will be with us until we meet again.

Bette Busse Merritt Ford

September 18, 1932 - August 26, 2022