Bettie was born on January 6, 1938, to Forest and Mary (Rogers) Stewart in Montrose, Colorado. She was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Bettie loved growing up on her family’s farm in Montrose. She often told stories to us of the great adventures she had with her brothers and sisters as a child. Her sister Janet shared that when Bettie was 10, she began attending church and was instrumental in encouraging her entire family to attend church services and give their hearts to the Lord. Bettie graduated from Montrose High School in 1955. After graduation, she attended Intermountain Bible College (IBC) in Grand Junction, Colorado, from 1955 to 1959, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Religious Education.

While attending IBC she met Kenneth Lawton. They began courting and were married on June 26, 1960, in Montrose, Colorado. Their married life began in Grand Junction, Colorado. God blessed them with five children. Kenneth and Bettie enjoyed 63 1/2 years of marriage before Kenneth went to be with Jesus on December 18, 2023.

Family was important to Bettie. Visits from family, whether from near or far, were a highlight for her. She enjoyed fixing meals, spending time with them, and caring for them. Bettie loved each one and prayed for them regularly. One of her greatest desires was that each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would come to know Jesus personally. She never stopped telling them about Jesus. When asked how she was doing, she would always say, “God gave me another day.” She wanted us to know that every day is a gift from God, and that the choices we make each day are our gifts back to Him as we share the love of Jesus with others by the way we live and love.

Bettie was a devoted helpmate to Kenneth. Together with Kenneth and his parents, she helped operate a dairy farm until it was sold in 1972. After selling the dairy farm, they continued raising beef and milking several cows by hand. The family enjoyed fresh milk, separated and sold cream, and raised a variety of crops including hay, corn, oats, wheat, among others. Bettie often helped with irrigation and harvesting on top of caring for her family. They also raised chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, and sheep. Bettie gathered eggs and butchered chickens and rabbits to feed her family. She sold some of the wool from the sheep to help provide income for the family. She also used some of the wool to make blankets to keep her family warm. She tended a garden, fed her family with fresh produce, and purchased fruit from local growers. Each year she canned and froze an abundance of fruits and vegetables to provide food through the winter for her family. Life as a farmer’s wife kept her busy. When Kenneth opened Lawton’s Bookkeeping and Tax Service in 1976, Bettie worked alongside him as his secretary.

Bettie worked for a short time at Woolworth's and Sears and as a personal caregiver for an elderly lady. The church was also blessed to have her as the church secretary for several years. In 1986 she began working for Target and worked there until January 2021. She started at Target in the back as a ticketer, attaching price tags to the merchandise before it was stocked on the floor. Later, she switched to working as a cashier and worked in that position for the majority of her time with Target. She was valued as a trainer for new cashiers at Target. Bettie was loved by her coworkers as well as many of the guests. Several Target guests would wait in line to go through her lane even if another checkout lane was available. Many times, people would say to her children “Oh, your mom is a cashier at Target—I know her!” After having COVID, a stroke, and respiratory failure in 2021, Bettie was no longer able to continue working for Target.

Bettie loved to serve her family and others in various ways. She taught Bible stories to her children and the children at church. She also helped with Vacation Bible School regularly and would often provide a ride for some of the neighbor kids so they could attend. Later, she started a Bible Club for the children at church, in which she would meet with them one day a week after school. In the mid-1980s, she served as the music and worship leader at Fruita Christian Church. She also played the piano and sang as she and Kenneth led monthly worship services for residents at various elder care facilities in Fruita. Bettie’s servant-heart was an inspiration and testimony to all as she lovingly cared for her mother-in-law as she aged. Shortly before her mother-in-law passed, a friend told her mother-in-law she needed a caregiver, to which she replied, “Bettie takes good care of me.”

Bettie is survived by her five children, seventeen grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren:

Daughter Mary Ellen and Steve Lotze of Burlington, Washington; grandson Joseph and Shelby Lotze, with great-grandchildren Adelyn, Samuel, Natalie, and Jordan Lotze; grandsons Caleb, Isaac, and Micah Lotze; granddaughter Heidi and Kevin Christensen, with great-grandchildren Emma, Cole, Atlas, and baby Christensen due in June.

Daughter Becky and Brent Hall of Silver City, New Mexico; grandson Travis and Kirah Hall; grandson Shawn and Kara Hall, great-grandchildren Conor and Ava Hall.

Daughter Margaret Lawton of Fruita, Colorado.

Son John Lawton of Loma, Colorado.

Son Gilford “Gil” and Taneil Lawton of Fruita, Colorado; granddaughter Tirzah and Josiah Burr, with great-grandsons Timothy, Jonathan, and Jason Burr; grandchildren Azariah, Zebadiah, Talitha, Tabitha, Zurishaddai, Uriah, Tikvah, Taaviah, and Taaniah Lawton.

She is also survived by her brothers, Sam (Jo Marie) Stewart of Montrose, Colorado, and Bill (June) Stewart of Montrose, Colorado; her sister, Janet Moreland of Webb City, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bettie was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Lawton; her parents, Forest and Mary Stewart; infant twin sisters, Margaruite and Marjorie Stewart; her brother, Robert Lee Stewart; her sister, Wilna Stewart, her brother-in-law, William Moreland; and her sister-in-law, Marlene Stewart.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Monument View Bible Church, 1173 17½ Road, Fruita, Colorado, followed by a lunch for family and friends. The service will be live streamed at http://www.youtube.com/@MVBCfruita.

We will gather for her internment on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

All who loved and knew Bettie are invited to attend as we celebrate this beautiful woman, who loved all so deeply and is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.