Bette's Obituary

  

Bette's Obituary 

Bette Wolf Duncan passed away in Booneville, Iowa on Jan. 21, 2016. Bette was born on May 21, 1930 to Alvin and Lavena Wolf at the family farm west of Park City. She moved, along with her family, to Billings in 1934. Bette attended schools in Billings, graduating from Fratt Memorial Grade School and Billings Central High School

She received her associate degree from Eastern Montana College and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rocky Mountain College. In 1954, Bette completed her internship in Medical Technology from St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs. In February, 1954 she married Lloyd William “Bill” Duncan. They lived in Dallas, Texas; Van Nuys and Sylmar California; and for the past 44 years in the Greater Des Moines, Iowa area.

Bette was active in the field of Medical Technology for 18 years, working in chemistry and toxicology in institutions as diverse as Southwestern Medical School in Dallas to Los Angeles County General Hospital. In 1974, Bette received her Juris Doctor degree from Drake University School of Law in Des Moines. She was an Assistant Polk County Attorney, Major Crimes prosecution staff, for three years. For the next nine years, Bette served as Director of the Regulatory Division (animal health and welfare, weights and measures, food products and dairy products control), Iowa Department of Agriculture. During this time, she also served as legal counsel for the Department and the Iowa Veterinary Examining Board. From 1986 until her retirement in 1996, Bette was an Administrative Law Judge, presiding over tax and revenue cases on behalf of the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance.

Bill and Bette were married for 46 years. They had one daughter, Robin D’Ann. Bette is survived by her daughter Robin Barber and son-in-law Donald Barber (of Booneville, Iowa). Bette had six grandchildren: Natasha Nicole, Duncan Blake, Caleb Grant, Ashley Kaye, Shayla LaDonne, and Sharisse Aungelique; and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bill; her mother Lavena Duerrwachter; her father Alvin Wolf; her sisters Geri DeSylvia of Portland, Ore., Joyce Hofferber of Sacramento, California, and Dolores McMullin of Billings.

Bette enjoyed traveling, reading and gardening. She was a member of the Iowa Bar Association, Polk County Women Attorneys Association, and the American Association of Administrative Law Judges.

Services will be held Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waukee, Iowa.