Betty Hale Jackson passed away suddenly the morning of January 25th at her home at Alterra Wynwood in Richland WA. Betty was born April 11, 1925 in Delano, CA to Ray M. and Merle VanNess Hale and was the second of five daughters. The family later moved to Porterville, CA where Betty attended school and graduated from Porterville High School. After high school, Betty drove school buses while attending Porterville Junior College. Then during WWII she drove ambulances for the Army in Southern California until the war was over. After the war, she enrolled at Fresno State College, where she eventually met her future husband, David S. Jackson, Jr. They were married in 1947 and graduated later that year, where Betty received a Bachelor’s degree in Music.

The newlyweds moved to Corvallis, Oregon after graduation where Dave was enrolled at Oregon State College. After Dave graduated from OSU they moved to Richland, WA, arriving early in 1950, and that’s where they raised their family and remained. Betty had lived in Richland for 58 years at the time of her passing.

Betty had been an active member of Richland’s Westside Church for many years and loved singing in the choir. She also had a love for young people and to satisfy that passion spent many years teaching piano lessons and, during the 50’s, leading the church’s youth group. She later spent many years working with a variety of youth groups as a Campfire leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, 4-H leader, Westside Summer Bible School, where she was fondly known as “The Animal Lady”, then finally as a horseback riding teacher.

In spite of her many roles working with youth groups and young people, Betty is probably best known for the many kids she taught to ride horses throughout the 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s. Her students and others who shared her love of horses have many fond memories of “Betty Jackson’s Horse Place”, which was her labor of love for more than three decades. It was during her early years of teaching horsemanship that she was approached by some of her student’s mothers who wanted to know more about the passion of their children and why they loved horses so much. That simple act created the eclectic group of mostly mom’s adoringly named, by their children, “The Saddlebags”. The Saddlebags rode into history by turning normal mom’s into their own kind of horse nuts. Many of these mom’s are still riding today, or are teaching their grandchildren the love of horses instilled in them during their Saddlebag years. When Betty’s health no longer permitted her to ride or work with her horses, she adopted them out to various homes to live out their lives.

Above all, her favorite role of all time was that of Grandma and she played it to the hilt. With 12 grandchildren, both genetic and adopted, and 9 great grandchildren, she had plenty of opportunity to play that role.

After Betty lost David in 1998, her health again called for changes and she moved to Alterra Wynwood Columbia Edgewater, where she lived for just under ten years. While there she enjoyed the attention of nurses and daily care givers who saw mom as much more than just a job; they cared about her and laughed with her up to her passing day. With the aid of the caring staff and many friends made in her last years and in spite of hardships of failing health and aging body, she maintained her quick and wry sense of humor.

In her last few years of life, Betty was blessed with an especially close relationship with Carlos Benjamin Ben, who spent countless hours with her and brought many an hour of brightness to her day. She often spoke of Ben and the humor shared between them and as they had each lost their spouses only years before, they managed to share a special bond that lessened the burden of that loss.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Ray M. and Merle V. Hale, Sister Jeanne Dottery-Mason, and her husband of 51-years, David S. Jackson, Jr. She is survived by sisters Margaret Joy Dunstan Scotty of Lincoln City OR, Eleanor Don Mathews of Visalia CA, Ellen Wayne Warnock of Atwater CA; her children, Margaret Midge Jackson of Kennewick, Michael Jackson of Spokane, Joanne Joe Menashe of Portland OR, and David Janis Jackson of Richland. She is also survived by grandchildren Christopher VanNess, Dawn Cawley Clark, Amy Jackson Vaughn, John Madden, Nicholas Jackson, Alicia Jackson, Andrea Menashe, and Aaron Menashe. In addition to her own children and genetic grandchildren, Betty is also survived by her cherished “other” daughter, Kathy Eneas of Mabton and subsequent grandchildren Nicole Brinn, Liam Brinn, Tamara Eneas, and John David Eneas. She is also survived by a total of nine great grandchildren.

Betty also survived by her very close companion, Carlos Benjamin of Pasco along with her many dear friends from her horsey days, the old neighborhood, Westside Church, and those that she leaves behind at Alterra Wynwood in Richland.

For those wishing to say their goodbyes, visitation has been arranged at Einan’s Funeral Home on Monday, January 28th from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Memorial services will be held at Westside Church North Annex; 615 Wright Ave. at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29th.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Betty’s name to either Benton-Franklin Humane Society, Pet Overpopulation POPs, or any local youth organization.