Betty Jean Petersen Russell, of Alamo, California, died peacefully at home on November 23, 2025, on the occasion of her 95th birthday, surrounded by her loving family. She was the indomitable matriarch and inspiring leader of four generations, including her four children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and other family members. Beloved and admired as a caring, strong and independent woman, she lived a rich and fulfilling life that brought hope, excitement, generosity of spirit, strength and love to all who knew her. Betty was one of a kind.

Born on November 23, 1930, in Hyrum, Utah, she was the oldest child of Norman and Myme Petersen. Betty grew up in Ogden, Utah, with her brother Dean and younger sister Louise, and spent summers at the family cattle ranch and wheat farm outside Pocatello, Idaho. She graduated from Ogden High School, finishing her studies early and working as an assistant to a local doctor in general practice. Betty married Val “R” Russell, a Weber College student four years her elder, on December 22, 1949. They met at a local hangout, Richie’s Drive-In, where Betty worked at night as a cashier.

As newlyweds, Val and Betty spent a year living in Mexico City, where Val studied foreign trade at Mexico City College. Their first child, Cristine (“China”), was born there. They returned to Ogden, where son Ric and daughters Shelly and Diane were born. Val worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and Betty for the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. In 1958, Val was promoted to management in the Southern Pacific’s operating division. From then on, Betty and Val and their four children moved frequently around the West. Over the years, they lived in Imlay, Nevada; El Paso, Texas; West Covina, California (Los Angeles); Beaverton, Oregon (outside Portland); Dunsmuir, California; and then, in 1967, moved to Fremont in the San Francisco Bay Area. The family’s favorite stop, in the mid-60s, was Dunsmuir, a small railroad community of 3,000 nestled in the rugged mountains of Northern California. All four children, led by Betty’s enthusiastic participation, thrived in the small-town life of Dunsmuir’s schools and sports.

In 1989, Betty and Val moved to Alamo, California, where she bought land, designed and built her “dream house,” a gathering place for the family for more than 35 years. She lived there until her death. Her daughter Diane Turner and husband Kevin Turner also built a house across the street, creating a wonderful and unique family compound.

Betty worked in various businesses throughout her life, from managing the Ogden Chamber of Commerce to overseeing the business side of a boutique architectural firm in Fremont. Over the years, she started numerous small family businesses, including LA Elle clothing; The Blueprint Shop; Schema Things video production; and Haalo Inc, a construction and design firm. She worked closely with daughters Shelly and Diane in these endeavors.

She was a leader in community activities, including being the only woman on a committee building the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium, a new community football stadium in Fremont, and earlier chairing a large benefit for the Children’s Home Society in Los Angeles. Betty loved playing the slot machines in Las Vegas (and no doubt usually came out ahead); reading a wide variety of news publications and books (especially by authors T. C. Boyle and John Irving); and watching the long-running television shows “Judge Judy” and “Jeopardy.” She was beautiful and always stylish, loved jewelry (think sapphires and diamonds!) and favored anything red. Her favorite piece of jewelry was a chain she wore constantly bearing a simple Tiffany silver heart saying “love you” in red letters, a gift from her grandchildren, as well as a smaller solid red heart from her great-grandchildren. She had a strong love of design and decor.

Her family was always the central focus of her life, and her extended family benefited greatly from her forceful and dynamic leadership. In Alamo, she attended the many sports and school activities of Diane and Kevin Turner’s four children. Her son Ric and family lived in nearby Lafayette, CA, where she supported the sports and projects of the two Russell children. She was close to her sister Louise, who moved nearby to Walnut Creek, CA, after a long stint in San Francisco. Betty was a frequent visitor to Los Angeles to see daughter Shelly and to the East Coast to visit daughter Cristine, her husband Ben Heineman and their two sons in New Canaan, CT and Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The Russell-Turner family shares a beach house in Malibu, CA that has been a mecca for many family vacations and which Betty adored.

Betty is survived by her sister Louise Harbinson, Walnut Creek, CA; her four children and their families, including Cristine Russell (Ben Heineman), New Canaan, CT; Ric Russell, Lafayette, CA; Michele Russell, Malibu, CA; and Diane Turner (Kevin Turner), Alamo, CA. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Bree Turner and children Stella and Dean Saliman, Los Angeles, CA; Kale Turner (Lauren Turner) and children Pierce, Spence and Lake Turner, Eagle, ID; Dane Turner (Kiele Argente) and daughter Valentine Turner, San Francisco, CA; Anders Turner (Emily Turner), San Francisco, CA; Zach Heineman (Rachel Shiozaki) and son Osa Heineman-Shiozaki, Oakland, CA; Matt Heineman, New York, NY; Carly Russell, Lafayette, CA; and Bronwen Fraser Russell and daughter Merritt Russell, Lafayette, CA. She was predeceased by her grandson Nick Russell, her husband Val R Russell, her brother Dean Petersen, and her brother-in-law Bill Harbinson.

She will be laid to rest at the Alamo Cemetery. Her beloved family and friends will miss her deeply.