Elizabeth Jean Lane

Betty Lane, a long-time Porterville resident, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024.

Born Elizabeth Jean Crow on July 23, 1924, Betty was one of six children raised by her proud parents, Chris and Mildred Crow, on their (Avenue 95) ranch in Terra Bella.

Betty's maternal grandfather, James M. Wood, was among Terra Bella's first/pioneer wheat farmers to be granted land through the Homestead Act. Grandfather Jim, after "making good" on the land for five years, was awarded 165 acres (off Road 208) by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892.

Betty attended Terra Bella and Porterville schools and was a devoted member of the Terra Bella Presbyterian Church during her upbringing. When she was a senior at Porterville High School, World War Two broke out. Betty was assigned a two-hour shift each day at the "listening post" for enemy aircraft, or for any aircraft that could not be identified. As Betty recalled in 2002, "This really seems laughable now - as if a Japanese plane could sneak over Terra Bella without having been spotted sooner!"

In 1942, Betty left her Terra Bella home to attend Armstrong Business College in Berkeley. After graduating from secretarial school, Betty went to work for the Shell Oil Company (Legal Department) located in downtown San Francisco. Betty recalled, "My shorthand and typing skills were really put to the test at Shell, but I was fortunate to be have been able to use one of the very first I.B.M. electric typewriters available."

While on vacation in Yosemite Valley (July 1945), Betty met Roger Lane at the dance hall in Camp Curry. Roger was a Naval aviator (on short-term leave from his aircraft carrier stationed off the island of Okinawa) when the two first met.

"VJ Day" came in August 1945 and Betty later said, "We knew the end of WWII was imminent and when the hour arrived, every church bell in the City began to ring, every ship blew it's whistle and sirens sounded everywhere. I was at work and a friend and I didn't want to miss the excitement, so we walked up Market Street. It was unlike anything you could imagine! It was complete bedlam, with people shoulder-to-shoulder, and not going anywhere. The air was full of confetti from the windows above, also ticker-tape, calendars and serpentine - and the street was filled with a million sailors, or so it seemed!"

Betty and Roger were later married at the Terra Bella Presbyterian Church in May 1947. The newlyweds took up residence in a San Francisco apartment for only $42.50 a month, due to (war-time) rent controls still in place. In 1951, a son - David Lane was born, followed by a daughter, Christie, two years later.

In 1957, Betty's brother-in-law, Bud Faggart, had just acquired the Buick/GMC dealership in Porterville. Betty and Roger were then asked if they would consider moving to Porterville, where Roger, could learn the business. Betty said that it was the best decision they ever made. "Life was so much easier in Porterville without the daily commute into the City (by train from San Carlos) and, all of my family was here."

In 1967, Monache High School opened, and Betty went to work in the Counseling Office. "I was there for 16 years and looked forward to every day." Following Roger's retirement in 1983, Betty and Roger traveled the World on trips to Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as to popular destinations across the USA.

Betty was a wonderful mother, homemaker, gardener and cook, who took great pride and satisfaction in making sure her family or guests were all very happy at the dinner table! Betty and Roger were among River Island's first members in the mid-1960's and to Betty's credit, she was able to ski with Roger into her early sixties! She also loved to play Bridge with her Porterville gal pals during her later years.

In 2012, Betty's beloved husband of 65 years passed away. After several or more years of independent living on Kanai Avenue, Betty moved to her senior living residence (Quail Park) in Visalia, where she made many new friends. Betty was also a long-time member of the First Congregational Church and a member of the Porterville P.E.O. Chapter. For her P.E.O. biography, Betty was asked, "A word you wish everyone would think of daily." Answer: "Kindness." Q: "What makes you laugh?" A: "Commercials with pets or children." Q: "What makes you smile?" A: "Babies!"

Known as "Miss Betty" for nine years at Quail Park, Betty continued to extend her kindness and patience to it's devoted staff, who lovingly cared for her until her final day came on October 30th.

Betty is survived by two sisters, Lorraine Stephen and Eleanor Rutherfurd, along with her brother Lyle (and Marilyn) Crow, her son David (and Michele) Lane, daughter Christie Dunn, and grandson Ian Lane... as well as numerous family members from her sisters (4) and brother's families.

No services are planned at this time.