Ellen Betler
Ellen Heald Betler, age 93, of Berlin, died peacefully on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Juliette Manor in Berlin.
She was born May 11, 1921 in Oak Park, IL, the daughter of John Howard and Effie Henrietta Evans Heald. The family moved to Cherry Valley, NY before she was one year old. She grew up on the family farm with her four older brothers and three sisters. Ellen was a 1938 graduate and Valedictorian of Cherry Valley High School in Cherry Valley, NY. On May 27, 1939, she was united in marriage to Howard Betler in Mayfield, NY. They moved to Berlin in October 1948.
She was a member of Union Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), now the Federated Church of Berlin. She served her church in many capacities over the years. She was an accomplished seamstress and clothing designer, knitter and homemaker. In later years, many individuals at Juliette Manor were privileged to have a lap robe knit by Ellen, and many children in the county have been the recipients of hand-knit mittens done by her. Ellen was an avid bowler from 1973 to 2009. She started bowling with Tuesday morning Women’s League with the Morning Glories team, added Tuesday night bowling with the Willow Inn team and later bowled on Thursday night with the Clem’s Bar team. She and Howard bowled on the Friday night and Sunday night Couples’ League and she was a regular substitute on many of the Wednesday and Thursday Women’s League teams. At 70 years of age, she was the Grand Duchess. In 1998, her bowling team was the winner of the tournament. She has many 500 series to her credit. She is featured in the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, MO. Ellen always loved to read and her family will always remember her Parker House rolls and caramel corn.
She is survived by her four children, Wesley Betler, Judith Williams, Lincoln (Karen) Betler and Karen (Ralph II) Thorp; five grandchildren, Donald (Dawn) Betler, Kathleen (Peter) Blaas, Paul (Katie) Williams, Danielle Thorp and Allison Thorp; and five great-grandchildren, Makena and Kailee Betler, Kristian Blaas, and Jaden and Gabriel Williams. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, on January 24, 2014; her parents; three sisters, Catherine Heald, Julia VanDerwerker and Jean Lamouret; and five brothers, Robert Heald, George Heald, John Heald, Ralph Heald and Leslie Heald.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin, the Rev. Scott T. Piper officiating. Inurnment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral chapel. Online condolences may be sent to the family at barbolafc@yahoo.com.