Betty Mae Hatcher

1929 - 2020

Betty Mae Hufstetler Hatcher, 90 of Gustine passed away Friday, January 24th at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock. 

Betty Hatcher was born in the Newman Hospital on February 7, 1929, the daughter of Helm and Ellen Nielsen Hufstetler. Her grandparents, the Nielsen family, were pioneer Danish immigrants who came to the Gustine area in 1890 and were dry land farmers. 

She attended Cottonwood (Clay) School and graduated from Gustine Union High School in 1946. She then worked for Attorney C.R. Perrier as his secretary. Later she worked at Avoset. While at Avoset she met and married Elmer Hatcher, also from a pioneer family in Dos Palos. She has six children: Jim, Jack, Jerry, Jeff, Janice and Joanne. While raising her own six children, she began babysitting for “dozens” more. She and her husband loved to travel in their RV and made many trips to Baja, Mexico and throughout California. They were married for 50 years with Elmer passing away in 1999. 

She was a lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church in Newman and the St. James Ladies Aid. She served as a member of the church counsel, church secretary and also president of the Ladies Aid. Betty is an early member of the Gustine Historical Society and served as recording secretary and as a member of the board of directors for over 30 years. Betty was a past member of the Soroptimist of Gustine-Newman and continued to be an active church member and as an important member of the Gustine Historical Society where she was involved in all its activities and events until her passing. 

Mrs. Hatcher is survived by her sons, Jim (Mary Jane) Hatcher of Porterville, Jack Hatcher of Gustine, Jerry (Amy) Hatcher of Los Banos and Jeff (Jane) Hatcher of Turlock; daughters, Janice (Jerry) Condren of Bakersfield and Joanne (John) Davis of Newman; sister, Mary Ellen Tabler of Fresno; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Hatcher. 

A Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 30th at Hillview Funeral Chapel in Newman. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, January 31st at St. James Lutheran Church in Newman. Interment to follow at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman. 

Donations may be made to: St. James Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1102 P Street, Newman, CA 95360. 

Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapel, Gustine.