Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Bette A. Traill will be celebrated at All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. with Father Thomas Lux as celebrant. A rosary will be prayed at the church at 7:00 p.m. the night before. Inurnment will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery

Bette Ann Traill, 63 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2015 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska surrounded by her closest family and friends. Bette was born October 15, 1951 in Holdrege, the fifth of six children and second born in a set of twins, to Irven F. and Vera R. (Theis) Blauvelt. She received her primary education and graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1970. She then pursued higher education from University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

In 1971, she was united in marriage to Greg Traill at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege. To this union two children were born: Stacie and Jeffrey. The family made their home in Holdrege where Bette focused her efforts on raising the family. Bette and Greg later divorced. From 1974-1977, she worked part-time at her father’s business, Irv’s Avenue Package. In 1978, she began working for the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce and was later promoted to Executive Secretary. She also served as the Executive Secretary for the Holdrege Industrial Development Corporation. In 1982, she and the kids made their home in Bethlehem, South Dakota, where Bette worked as a Travel Agent and Advisor for Bethlehem Travel. The family later moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where Bette worked for the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City as Advertising Manager for the West River Catholic Newspaper. She was promoted to Director of Communications and served the diocese until 1991, when she pursued higher education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. While attending college, Bette worked as a secretary, drug and alcohol counselor trainee, provided counseling services for the Pennington County Diversion Program, and was additionally self-employed. Bette started working for advocacy on the Board of Directors on the Mental Health Outreach Network, which led Bette to pursue higher education, studying Psychology and Sociology at the Black Hills State University. In June of 1997, she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Bette moved back to Nebraska to care for her parents until their deaths.

Bette enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. She had a love of animals, especially cats. In 1998, Bette became disabled but remained active in numerous volunteer efforts. She enjoyed volunteering as a tutor for the Holdrege Literacy Council, helping tutor students studying for their GED. Her love of young people provided additional tutoring at Rags 2 Riches in Holdrege. She also volunteered at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Bette facilitated the Holdrege Area Fibromyalgia Group and served on the Phelps County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.

She was a member of the All Saint Catholic Church, where she taught CCD and was a lector. She also taught religious education at various parishes for over 20 years. Bette enjoyed her Bible Study and prayer groups both at her church and interdenominational.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Jean Headrick in 2003; and brother, Terry Blauvelt in 2014.

She leaves to mourn her passing; her children: Stacie Traill and partner Kyle Lerfeld of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jeff Traill and his wife, Emilie of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; two grandchildren: Carter and Cate Traill of Dell Rapids; three brothers: Tim Blauvelt and his wife, Carol of Manassas, Virginia, Brad Blauvelt and his wife, Mary of Rapid City, South Dakota and Randy Blauvelt and his wife, Heather of Thornton, Colorado; sister-in-law, Jan Blauvelt of Hastings, Nebraska; special friends and adopted sisters: Connie Bergeson and Mary Ann Crawford; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and numerous friends. Memorial Book Signing will be held at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Bette’s honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.