Bettie Romaine Lange gently succumbed to Gods will when she took her last breath the evening of December 17, 2009.
Bettie was born a farm girl in California in 1931. While Bettie was raised with the ever-present love of her grandparents nearby, her life was not easy. She made her escape to a young marriage where she was blessed with her first two children whom she leaves behind, William Lamont Nieves (Boise, ID) and Barbara Litton (Modesto, CA). Still, life was a challenge for Bettie as her marriage ended and she went on to re-marry and was blessed with her third child, John (Jack) Chaplin of Vero Beach, also left to mourn the loss of his mom.
Bettie settled into making a living in a civilian position with the U.S. Navy in Newport, Rhode Island where her children grew up and she met and married Captain Robert Lange, USN. In 1988, Bettie and her Captain retired and moved to Vero Beach where Bettie became very active as a civic philanthropist. Bettie joined the Vero Beach Pilots Club, worked with Lifeline, helped inaugurate the Snowflake Ball for handicapped adults, served as Chaplain of the Republican Womans Club, was a voluntary grandmother to a young class at Dodgertown Elementary, and was always on call to pass your concerns on to the Lord through the prayer chain at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Perhaps Betties greatest joy came in 1998 when she became the third grandmother of the newborn Willie. Not having any grandchildren nearby to spoil and love, Bettie became Willies Grandma. From Willies days in an infant carrier, his terrible twos, a typically mischievous six year old boy and continuing through his now ripe age of 11, Bettie stayed the course as a devoted Grandma. Bettie was often seen around town, teaching Willie to hold doors for the elderly and disabled, share gifts on special holidays, and appreciate the local fireman while getting an education in the various firehouse vehicles. Bettie showed up for school functions and never missed a Friday night on the town with Willie. Willie and Bettie decided that they werent just friends, nor were they family - but that they were Framily. And their Framily grew to include Bert at Low Velocity Fitness where Bettie and Willie did their personal training sessions every Friday night just before joining their other Framily members, Bruce and Terry for dinner at Too-Jays.
Although petite, the glamorous Bettie could not be missed. Dressed to the nines, Bettie was always seen in one of her personally designed hats. Bettie was a local Celeb. She will be greatly missed by all those at Wal-Mart, Sams and especially Too-Jays where she delighted in sharing her stories and every earnest compliment that came to mind.
Betties life is a story of good humored perseverance, personal evolution, and grace. Bettie died a lady, with a class and dignity borne of the pain of picking yourself up, starting over and keeping your eye on the prize. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Services to be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vero Beach on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 9:00 am.