BETTY J. LAHATT

Prosser Funeral Home & Crematory

Betty J. LaHatt, 83, of Prosser, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, January 14, 2011.

She was born on May 5, 1927, in Chard, Washington, to Lloyd and Maude (Malone) Trosper. She was raised and educated in Pomeroy where she graduated from high school. She then attended Washington State University for two years. Betty met her future husband, Robert 'Bob' Url LaHatt in Pomeroy where he worked for his father in the jewelry business. Bob and Betty were married on June 29, 1947, in Pomeroy. They opened their first jewelry business in Richland until moving to Prosser in 1961. Bob and Betty owned and operated LaHatt's Jewelry in Prosser for 35 years until their retirement in 1990.

Betty was past president of the Prosser Jr. Women's Club, Meridian Club, Yakima Valley Chamber of Commerce, Prosser Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Northwest Jewelers Association of Washington and Alaska and charter member and first president of the Richland Chapter of Children's Home Society of Washington. She was also 9th District co-chairwoman of the state tourism committee, a member of PEO, and served on the Benton County SAVE committee; a 50-year member of the Eastern Star and a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church and volunteered several years for funeral dinners. Betty enjoyed needlework, knitting and crocheting and in four years made 200 sweaters for HIV-positive children in Africa. Betty had many friends and will be deeply missed.

Betty is survived by her son, Michael LaHatt and his wife, Vickie of Cottage Grove, Oregon; daughter, Candi Mason of Prosser; five grandchildren, Michael and Julianne LaHatt, Sara and Jahari Neil, Melissa and Anthony Dreisen, Kelsey and Justin Cippriano, Jeston Burnett and his fiancŽ, Kelly Strawn; fifteen great-grandchildren, Keagan, Caleb, Addison, Ashonti, Anthony, Jaylen, Jahlia, Colton, Tyson, Toni, Cayleigh, Ryan, Makiyah, Mikynzi and Andrew; and her sister-in-law, Bea Cooper of Bremerton. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of f57 years, Bob, on November 6, 2004, and two brothers.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 21, at 12:00 noon at Prosser First Presbyterian Church. Private inurnment will be in the Prosser Cemetery.

Prosser Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.