Betty Lou Davis Carter, age 92, of Delta, Utah passed quietly at her home on July 1, 2023 from complications of advanced aging. Betty was born on June 2, 1931 to Lee and Clara Christensen Davis of Deseret. Tragically, she lost her mother at age 8. Her mother received severe third degree burns as a result of an explosion after trying to light their woodburning stove. Fortunately, her grandmother, Carrie Christensen, adopted the roll of mothering.
Betty loved telling the story of her baptism. She shared that the town kids were rounded up one day while they were swimming in the nearby cannel/irrigation ditch. She was one that “didn’t get away” and was baptized in her yellow bathing suit.
Betty married Stewart Kennard Carter on November 27, 1947 and celebrated their wedding by dancing at the famous Van’s Dance Hall. She bought the only dress available in Delta – which was green. They quickly set about making their family and working hard. While Kennard worked as a mechanic, Betty had 5 kids, cleaned house, waitressed, and worked sales at JC Penney in Logan, Utah. She remembered that they were required to wear high heeled shoes, and stand on their feet all day while sporting a smile. She also worked for Art Jeffery at Ace Hardware. When she left that employment, she claimed it took 3 men to replace her! She also loved saying that she was a “call girl” at the telephone company where she worked as a switchboard operator. When they closed the phone office, she became a lineman and installed phones for the telephone company. That ended when she was required to fly on a plane for training. Although her body never left the ground, her feet never stopped moving.
She and Kennard enjoyed talking over coffee, riding their four-wheelers in the west desert, coffee, hunting for arrow heads (and leaving them where they found them), and coffee. After he passed, she enjoyed keeping busy with gardening, bowling with her friends, coffee, quilting, crocheting, coffee, knitting, visiting with friends over coffee.
She was ever the servant and entertainer. She enjoyed serving in the American Legion, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, the Senior Citizen Center, the Care Center and LDS Relief Society as a compassionate service sister. After shoveling her own walks and driveway, she would shovel her neighbors’ walks. (She was 80!)
Betty was a lot of woman for the whole 5’2” of her. She loved to keep her yard up and entertain visitors and family. She was even pulling weeds and hanging clothes two or three days before she passed. She will be remembered as friendly, outgoing, funny, and fun loving. She was a stubborn, sarcastic and onery at times. She was also fiercely independent and insisted on life her way. She leaves a void that will not be easily filled.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Stewart Kennard Carter; daughter: Cindy Greathouse and grandchildren: Josie Fox and Ryan Greathouse. She is survived by her children: Peter Carter of Hinckley; Carrie Reall (Michael) of Mapleton UT; Matt Carter of Sparks NV; and Shelley Carter of Delta UT.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 12:00 noon, at the Nickle Mortuary Chapel. A viewing will be held 11:00-11:40 am, prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Deseret Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.nicklemortuary.com