Bettye Troeller

Sep 11, 1932 -

Dec 3, 2024

Anchorage resident Bettye Louise "BT" Troeller (nee Yates) passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the age of 92, at home in Anchorage, Alaska. Bettye was born on Sept. 11, 1932, in Orange, Calif. She graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1950. After high school she worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company and attended Fullerton Junior College.

One afternoon in 1950, Bettye found herself marching down to Golden Hill Elementary School in defense of her younger cousin to give the teacher a piece of her mind. When she walked in and spotted said teacher across the room, she remembered thinking to herself, "I'm going to marry that man." And she did. Bettye married Robert Burl "RB" Troeller before God, family and friends on Aug. 4, 1951, in Orange County, Calif. Together they raised three children, built a beautiful home in the Santa Ana Canyon, survived the loss of their personal property to a fire and lived on a turkey farm before buying 4 acres and settling in Exeter, Calif., in the 1970s. They poured blood, sweat and tears into their land and built a thriving "mini farm," first with a "You Pick Cherries" business and eventually selling bearded iris as well. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2001, before RB passed away in 2002.

Bettye was a woman of many talents and abilities. When her children were young, she was a devoted Cub Scout den mother, always planning and executing the most memorable activities that included her two daughters, as well as their Cub Scout brother. Nobody missed out on the fun.

Over the years Bettye was a telephone operator, a substitute mail carrier and a professional cake decorator. In 1975, she graduated from Porterville Junior College as a licensed vocational nurse and spent the remainder of her working life caring for patients in Tulare County, Calif. She retired in 2002.

Betty took immense joy in beautiful things. She loved plants, especially flowers and trees. She enjoyed cooking, baking and making blankets to bless everyone she cared about. If you were a lucky recipient of one you know how much care and attention went into them.

Bettye was an exceptional woman who's love of the Lord and devotion to her family has influenced three generations and growing. She moved to Anchorage in 2015, to live with her daughter and be closer to her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Everette Yates Sr. and Mono Cleo Yates (nee Pearson); brother, Everette Yates Jr.; half-brother, James Yates; husband, Robert Troeller; and son-in-law, Brian Hill. She is survived by her children, Robin Hill of Anchorage, Mark (Julie) Troeller of Visalia, Calif., and Christie Martin of Anchorage; grandchildren, Adina (Nick) Kamilos of Anchorage, Jordan (Immanuel Hick) Troeller of Berlin, Germany, Travis (Joy) Hill of Anchorage, Karlan (Dean) Frantz of Anchorage, Thomas Martin of Anchorage, and Mariel (Oscar) Torres of Albuquerque, N.M.; and great-grandchildren, Sophia Kamilos, Isabella Kamilos, Josephine Kamilos, Bruno Hick, Cleo Hick, Jack Hick, Mabelle Hill, Khloe Hill, Adley Hill, Nolan Hill, Harvey Frantz, Sterling Frantz, Emmitt Frantz, Miguel Torres, Gabriel Torres and Delilah Torres.

Services were held on Dec. 16, 2024, at Hillside Baptist Church in Anchorage. Pallbearers were Travis Hill, Nick Kamilos, Dean Frantz, Henry Sanchez, Scott Ellis, Sean Dixon and Freddie Teague. Bettye will be laid to rest at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.