Bette Irene Brown

BETTE IRENE BROWN Bette Irene Brown was born on April 13, 1926 in Duluth, Minn. the daughter of Ralph Russel and Zelma Olive (Underwood) Baker. She passed away on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at the Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 81. On March 1, 1970, Bette married Rex Fuller Brown in Las Vegas, Nev. One to challenge traditional roles, Bette was the first woman carpenter in the state of Arizona and was also a Coast Guard Boat Pilot on Lake Powell. In her free time she enjoyed sewing. While living in Arizona, Bette adopted three Navajo girls. She took into her home many young Navajo children over the years to help her with her business. Bette and Rex were foster parents in Camp Verde, Ariz. and when they moved to Cortez. At age 78, Bette decided to write a book about her life. She bought a computer and would send a page to her niece over a year and a half time period. “My Five Favorite Husbands” was published last year. Surviving Bette are her husband, Rex Brown of Cortez; her son, Danny VanKeuren and wife, Judy of Cortez; her adopted daughters, Valerie Rogers and husband, Larry of Page, Ariz. and Vannette Taveira of Dolores; her siblings, Harold Baker of Duluth, Minn., Wanda Anderson of Minnesota, Bill Baker of Prescott, Ariz., and Patsy Stein of Carthage, Mo.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; an adopted daughter, Deborah Mackelprang; and two siblings. Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date.