Fred W. Bettencourt, 93, passed away recently in Santa Cruz.
Born Sept. 25, 1917 in Modesto, he grew up on a dairy farm in Ripon. He attended Ripon High School where he was a star football player, nicknamed Cyclone. In his junior year he won the state championship for cattle judging. In his senior year, he and his brother Joe were part of a four-man team that won the National Milk Judging Championship in Kansas.
In 1942, he married Bertha Leonard. They moved to Santa Cruz in 1946, where he worked at numerous jobs including restaurant owner. The couple returned to Modesto in 1970 where he co-owned Major Hosking's Restaurant Supply.
After retiring in 1985, he traveled the world with highlights being China, Australia, and the Azores (his parents' birthplace).
His sense of humor and zest for life will always be remembered.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in law Dayna and Stuart Hafen; daughter and son-in law Darla and Gary Kinney; his grandchildren Tamera, Brett, Ryan Kinney; his brother, Joseph Bettencourt; and numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Bertha Leonard Bettencourt; his father Jacinto Bettencourt; his mother Isabel Bettencourt; and his youngest brother Edward Bettencourt.
A celebration of life will be held at Burwood Cemetery in Escalon on Friday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations can made to: JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), P.O. Box 97151, Washington, DC 20090-7151.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
May 18, 2011
Born Sept. 25, 1917 in Modesto, he grew up on a dairy farm in Ripon. He attended Ripon High School where he was a star football player, nicknamed Cyclone. In his junior year he won the state championship for cattle judging. In his senior year, he and his brother Joe were part of a four-man team that won the National Milk Judging Championship in Kansas.
In 1942, he married Bertha Leonard. They moved to Santa Cruz in 1946, where he worked at numerous jobs including restaurant owner. The couple returned to Modesto in 1970 where he co-owned Major Hosking's Restaurant Supply.
After retiring in 1985, he traveled the world with highlights being China, Australia, and the Azores (his parents' birthplace).
His sense of humor and zest for life will always be remembered.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in law Dayna and Stuart Hafen; daughter and son-in law Darla and Gary Kinney; his grandchildren Tamera, Brett, Ryan Kinney; his brother, Joseph Bettencourt; and numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Bertha Leonard Bettencourt; his father Jacinto Bettencourt; his mother Isabel Bettencourt; and his youngest brother Edward Bettencourt.
A celebration of life will be held at Burwood Cemetery in Escalon on Friday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations can made to: JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), P.O. Box 97151, Washington, DC 20090-7151.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
May 18, 2011
