Betty Louise Hester

Betty Louise Hester, age 91, of New Castle, passed away on February 20, 2025, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. She was born on October 19, 1933, to Charles and Stella (Hartman) Hickerson in Fleming County, Kentucky. As a child, Betty moved with her family to Indiana. She graduated from Anderson High School in 1952 and worked for the United States Recruitment Office in Anderson before meeting and marrying the love of her life, Dallas E. Hester on December 5, 1954. The couple settled and raised their family in Anderson, later ventured to Oklahoma and Arizona, then returned to Elwood, Indiana and finally retired closer to grandchildren in New Castle, Indiana. One of Betty’s favorite seasons of life was working as a receptionist for Moser & Moser Optometrists. Betty loved books and was never far from an open one. She read thousands of novels and biographies and kept them in pristine condition-there was zero tolerance for dog-eared pages or torn covers. She kept a beautiful collection of St. Clair Glass, as well as antique Milk Glass. She enjoyed working puzzles, and she never turned down a bowl of ice cream! Betty will be remembered as always being surrounded by photos of her loved ones. She always had her camera handy and loved receiving pictures of her family as gifts-she’d spend hours reminiscing with her photo albums. She loved baking sweets for family gatherings and her Mexican Wedding Cakes were legendary and unimaginably good. If you asked her how she made them so delicious she would say, “tender loving care.” Betty had the best sense of humor, always quick with a comeback, and she loved playing practical jokes on her great grandchildren and making them laugh. Above all else, she will be remembered as a loving, patient and caring wife, mother, and proud grandma to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild. Betty is survived by her devoted husband, Dallas; loving children, Kathy Terrell (Tom) and Mark Hester; grandchildren, TJ Terrell (Stephanie), Josh Terrell (Kari), Stephen Hester, Kristie Dilly (Roger), Danielle Crowthers (Eric), Christopher Hester; great-grandchildren, Courtney, Kayla, Kelsey, Conner, Brody, Maddie, Addie, Jake, Jacob, Ryder, Kyler, Kamden; great-great grandson, Branch; sister, Shirley Retherford (Alan); In-laws, Donna Walsh, James Hester (Marcie), Rita Beaty (Bob Pearson), as well as several beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Morris Hickerson (Virginia); three sisters, Mildred Myers (Vance), Violet Whitesel (Ivan), Ruth Stevens (Bob); and daughter-in law Patti Hester. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled with family at a later date. Services are entrusted to Loose Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be given to the family in care of at www.loosecares.com.

Betty Louise Hester

October 19, 1933 - February 20, 2025