Obituary: Bette Jean Gadient

August 27, 1922 ~ December 14, 2021

Bette Jean Gadient, 99, of Sister Bay, died Tuesday December 14, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village in Sister Bay.  Bette Jean Horst was born in Rock Island Illinois on August 27, 1922.

After graduating from Rock Island High School, she met her future husband, Richard Gadient, at a dance at Credit Island Park before attending Grinnell College for one year, where Richard also attended. She did not return to Grinnell for the second year but worked as a typist at Modern Woodman of America, an insurance firm prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

She married Richard in May 1944 and subsequently lived with her mother and maternal grandparents in Rock Island while Richard served on a Destroyer in the South Pacific. After the war, they settled in Davenport, Iowa and raised six children. Bette volunteered for many organizations including elementary and high school parent teacher associations, the visiting nurse association, Cub Scouts and Dad’s Club baseball. She also attended evening and Saturday classes at Marycrest College for eight years and graduated in 1968 with a BA in Art.

After Richard’s retirement in 1984, they split their time between their cabin on Lake Michigan outside Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and their home on Sanibel Island, Florida, where she continued her commitment to volunteer activities, working at Big Arts, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Society and the library. She also enjoyed tennis and golf, recording several holes in one and serving as the President of the Dunes Golf Course nifty niners.

In 2003, Bette and Richard moved to Scandia Village and split their time between Sister Bay and their cabin on Lake Michigan. She continued her volunteer activities at Scandia, working with the Mavens and at Bargains.

Preceded in death by parents Louis Horst and Edna Dierolf and her husband of 73 years, Richard. Survived by 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

She took particular pleasure in making Christmas ornaments for her grandchildren, creating many unique designs each year.

A celebration of her life will be planned for summer of 2022. She will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa.

The family would like to thank the staff of Scandia Village, the Meadows, Woodview and Birchwood along with Dr. Rebhan for their professional, kind and compassionate care extended to our mother during her time spent with them.

Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Sister Bay is assisting the Gadient family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Bette may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.