Betty LaRue Mitchell passed away December 25, 2023, at the Chaplaincy Hospice House, she passed peacefully under the watchful eyes of the caring and passionate staff. She spent her last night under the unconditionally loving presence of her husband, Mike Mitchell.

Betty was born February 24, 1961, in San Franscisco, California to Andrew and Jillette Goldsberry, spending her early life traveling the country while her father served in the United States Army. Her family eventually settled in Idaho Falls, Idaho where Betty graduated from Skyline High School in 1979 and worked at Smitty’s Pancake House with her mother. Betty was blessed with a son, Charles, in March of 1981 and a daughter, Amanda, in July 1982. She began her career at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory as a Security Police Officer and obtained the rank of Sergeant. She met the love her life in 1985 and married Michael Mitchell in July of 1988, they celebrated 35 years of marriage together. Betty was very driven, motivated, and goal oriented who worked full time, raised a family, and attended night school to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho, Idaho Falls campus. She graduated from college in May of 1999, the same year her son graduated from high school. She spent several years working in the nuclear security field then became an Environmental Safety and Health Specialist at the INEL. Mike and Betty moved to Pasco, Washington in 2002, where she transferred to the Hanford site, Betty immersed herself into her new job. She was well known among her colleagues for being able to rattle off CFR’s from memory and would even remind Mike that he was breaking CFR codes at home. In 2002, she completed the Master’s program from the University of Idaho and continued working with verve and dedication to protect Hanford employees, greeting everyone with a smile that was entirely genuine and refreshing.

Betty was a very busy person with hobbies that included crocheting beautiful afghans for her family, camping and fishing every weekend Mike was off work, and traveling to Utah to see her daughter or Monroe, Washington to see her son. She attended numerous sporting events, car races, and concerts with Mike. Betty made an immediate connection with everyone she met, her smile was contagious, and her love was unconditional; she greeted life with grace, poise, and confidence. She could cook gourmet meals from simple ingredients and her faith in God helped her cope with any struggles that life threw at her.

Betty is preceded in death by her father, Andrew (Andy) Goldsberry, a set of twin siblings, sister, and brother. She is survived by her husband Mike, mother Jillette Goldsberry, son Charles, daughter Amanda, three beautiful grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.