Betty Mae Virdier's Obituary
Betty Virdier died Tuesday, June 27, 2017 in the arms of her loving daughter and faithful companion Susan Virdier, she was 90 years old. She was proceeded in death by her parents, a sister who died in infancy, her most beloved husband John Virdier and esteemed brother Vernon S. Cox. Betty was born February 15, 1927 in Witchita Falls, Kansas. Through a series of financial and social changes the family relocated to St. Paul, MN where she graduated from John A Johnson High School.
She married the man of her dreams in 1957 and began her active career as an Air Force wife. Betty was always involved in her community.. In Japan she wrote a weekly news column, she developed and ran Kiddie Kollege which rivaled the base Kindergarten program. She also helped develop and taught an orientation class for young Japanese brides who were coming to the states to become American wives. In England she took on a Girl Scout Troup and was the Wardrobe Mistress for the Fakenham Light Opera Society.
Betty started nursing out of high schools which meant scrubbing floors and working in the laundry. She worked her way to being a Nurses’s Aide, completed her education to become an LVN and overcame prejudice and racial bigotry and enter the Nursing program at American River College, got her nursing degree and license in 1972 along with lifelong friend Kitti Hughes. She worked at Kaiser Morse where she met lifelong friend and traveling companion Hellen Hamrin. She retired from Kaiser Eureka as an advice nurse in OB/GYN which netted her a handful of “Grandchildren” in the Sacramento Valley. She is survived by her son Daniel Virdier, daughter Susan Virdier, daughter-in-law Lynette Virdier, daughter Trudy Riggins and son-in-law, Larry Riggins. Grandchildren, John Virdier II, his wife Jennifer Virdier, Dani Kathleen Virdier, Jeremey Brown, Damion Hribik, Norma, James & Larry Riggins Jr., Great grandchildren, Annabelle Elizabeth & Genevieve Esmerald Virdier, Lola Brown, Scarlette & Serentiy Hribik, Alexi, Maya, Nisaa, Nicolas, Leah, Haley, Larry III, Amaya, Zenobia, Olivia, and Great, Great Granddaughter Alana
She was a loyal member of Calvary Christian Center working as a Greeter and in the nursery. She will be greatly missed.
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