Betty Lou Marquardt

Betty Lou Marquardt April 3, 1921 - November 7, 2013 Betty Lou was born to Ross E. Hodgson and Hildred Mayhugh Hodgson in Kansas City, MO. Her father's job took them to Omaha, NE, and then Lincoln, NE, where she attended high school. Upon graduation she and her mother headed to California. The first stop was Clear Lake where Betty Lou met Edward Marquardt. They were married in 1940 and lived in Oakland many years. Betty Lou spent the early years of her life as a housewife and mother. PTA and school events were her pastime. Music was always in her life, as her mother was a piano teacher. Betty Lou was a member of the Oakland Women's Choral for many years. She ushered in theaters in San Francisco for over 25 years, enjoying many musicals. Vacation time was always spent at Clear Lake in the Highlands or Park. She and Ed bought a cabin in 1963 and moved to a home in 1975. Betty Lou and daughter, Kathy, opened Fabric 'n Things in 1977 where they sold fabric, sewing machines and taught classes. She was very active in the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce. Betty Lou was proud to be a member of the Clearlake Incorporation Committee which led to the City of Clearlake. She served on the second city council. Learning was always important and she attended classes at the Yuba College Lake County campus. Betty Lou then served on the Yuba College Board. She also served on the Lake County Fair Board for many years. She moved to Reno in 2002 and immediately embraced the Reno Pops Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, Silver Dollar Chorus, Nevada Opera, Broadway Comes to Reno, and Lifescapes Senior Writing Program through UNR Elder College. She served on the committee to help secure the first O.L.L.I. (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) grant and helped to set up courses. She attended many classes at O.L.L.I. until a couple of years ago. Heart problems left her with a lack of energy to participate in many of the activities she enjoyed. Betty Lou is predeceased by two sisters and Edward. She is survived by a sister, Madeline Dailey; son, Michael Marquardt (Sparks); daughters, Kathleen (Richard) Walton (Sparks) and Marlene (Samuel) Sheppard (Reno); five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held January 18, 2014, at 2 p.m., at the Premier 5 Star Residence in Reno. It was Betty Lou's wish to donate her body to the University of Nevada Reno Anatomical Program. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Nevada Reno Foundation for benefit of O.L.L.I. - Lifescapes Classes, C/O UNR Foundation Mail Stop 162, Reno, NV 89557 Please share your memories by signing the guest book at www.legacy.com.