Bette J De Rocher

Bedford-Bette J. De Rocher, 78, passed away on Feb. 17, 2018. She was born June 18, 1939 to Frederick and Bernice Tirrell in Plymouth, NH. After attending schools in Enfield and Nashua, Bette graduated from Plymouth Teaching College in 1961. She taught 3rd grade in Merrimack (where she also coached high school girls basketball and softball) before transferring to Maple Ave. Elementary School in Goffstown where she taught 3rd grade for 18 years, and most significantly, she met her husband and best friend, Raymond "Lippy" De Rocher to whom she was married for 51 years prior to his death in 2015. In 1983, she and Lippy devoted their time to their auction business, Lippy De Rocher Co. While Lippy was the "front man" by virtue of his being the auctioneer, Bette quietly handled all of the details and accounting. When on that rare occasion Bette needed something to be repeated she simultaneously handled bidder check in, winning bid recording and bidder check-out), Lippy would utter "I guess I'll replace her and hire three others!". She and Lippy donated hundreds of hours of their time to the Webster House benefit auctions as well as handling important estates. At the time of her death, she worked for Northeast Auctions of Portsmouth, NH handling auction bookkeeping. Bette had her own auctioneering license as well as being a licensed real estate broker. If Lippy was her first love, golf was a close second. Bette won her first tournament at the age of 9, and was the only person who ever won the New Hampshire "Triple Crown" in women's golf. She was the NHWGA Junior Tournament Champion, the Women's State Champion (1959) and the Senior Women's State Champion (1989). She was a member of the NHWGA for 65 years having served as its President and was still involved at the time of her death. Bette was predeceased by her parents and her beloved husband. She is survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and several close friends. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 8 at the Abbey at St. Anselm's College, 100 St. Anselm's Drive, Manchester. Burial will be private at a later date in St. Patrick's Cemetery, 102 Derry St., Hudson, NH. The Durning, Bykowski & Young Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.