Bette Rowlett

Bette (Speers) Rowlett, born and raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away peacefully with family in Puyallup, Washington on January 21, 2023. She was 91 years old. Bette attended St. Benedicts Catholic School and graduated Class of 1949.  Stories of her days growing up on the Junk Family farm and riding a horse to school are favorites among her 30 grand, great, and great-great-grandchildren. While in school, Bette worked at the local drugstore as a “Soda Jerk”.  Later, she became a switchboard operator at the historic Aldridge Hotel in Shawnee where she met her husband John T. Rowlett.

In 1958 Bette, John, and their daughter, Sally, packed up their car and drove the ALCAN Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska to work in the oil industry. Bette assisted John with land leases for oil companies, and then worked for Alyeska Pipeline in the 70’s. Raising her three children, Bette became the ultimate neighborhood mom that everyone loved. She was a member of the Fairbanks Top of the World Garden Club, a Rotary Ann, and volunteered at the Senior Center and Pioneer Home.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, puzzles, and card playing. Bette was passionate about taking long road trips across the country with her beloved dog, Georgie. She was a prized jewel, loved and adored by her entire family.

Bette is survived by her son, Anthony of Fairfax, Virginia and daughter, Julia of Puyallup, Washington; grandchildren, Jennifer, Jill, Christina and John of Fairbanks, Alaska, Jacob of Centralia, Washington, and Harrison, Hannah, Hamilton, and Hunter of Puyallup, Washington. She has numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren throughout Alaska, Arkansas, and Idaho. Bette is survived by her sisters, Mary Card of Colman, Michigan and Patsy Taylor of Shawnee, Oklahoma. 

Bette was preceded in death by her husband, John and daughter, Sally, and brothers, Ted, John, and Richard Speers of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

A graveside ceremony for Bette will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Calvary Cemetery in Shawnee.

Information on services in Puyallup, Washington and notes of remembrance can be found on the website of Hill Funeral Home: https://hillfhpuyallup.com/

Though flowers are greatly appreciated, the family invites you to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org