BETTY JANE ELLESTAD March 26, 1927 – June 8, 2022

Betty Jane Ellestad was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She and Charles Harper were married there March 27, 1947, and started a life neither had ever anticipated. 

Betty had two uncles who worked in Los Alamos and they encouraged Betty and Charlie to move to Los Alamos, New Mexico. Their possessions fit into a car and they drove to Los Alamos, Betty crying all the way as she loved family and was leaving her family in Madison.

What fun stories she always told about living in the married couples dorm in Los Alamos when they moved there!!! The couples they met and lived with were lifelong friends.  Betty and Charlie worked for the Zia Company when they moved to Los Alamos. 

Betty took time off when their daughter was born in 1952. Betty went back to work in 1962 “to just help out for a short time” and stayed at the Zia Credit Union for 22 years!

She retired in 1982 and per Charlies’ idea, moved to Albuquerque. Betty made new friends and joined many needlework groups in Albuquerque, but ALWAYS wished they had never left Los Alamos. She could have been a Los Alamos Good Will Ambassador!

Betty lived a long, healthy life. She prepared and mailed her estimated taxes the day before she died!!! 

Betty is survived by her daughter, Terry Harper Luker and her husband, Eric who live in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Her loving spirit and constant smile have been a comforting memory.