Norma Felicia Wade Bettinger

Norma Wade Bettinger May 13, 1936 - August 25, 2015 Resided in Denver, Colorado Norma Felicia Wade Bettinger, teacher, photographic artist, sailor, golfer, passed away unexpectedly on August 25 at age 79. She was the daughter of Grace Patricia Hill and Troy Ernest Wade of Cripple Creek, Colorado. Norma grew up in Cripple Creek and played flute in the High School band. She graduated Valedictorian of her class of 13. She attended University of Colorado in Boulder on a Merit Scholarship and pledged Kappa Delta. She graduated with a degree in education. It was at the Kappa Delta house that she met her future husband. Norma and Dick married on June 8, 1959 in Cripple Creek. They made stops in Sterling, Colorado and Billings, Montana, before finally settling in Denver to raise their four boys. Norma was Cub Scout Den Mother for Pack 140, and supported her son's efforts in band, baseball, theatre and wrestling. Norma alternated between teaching and helping her husband run Bettinger Photography, and she was also an accomplished photographic artist. She was president of the Professional Photographers of Colorado and with Dick received the National Award from Professional Photographers of America in recognition of their outstanding service to professional photography. Norma taught 3rd grade at St. Vincent de Paul School and was affectionately known as ""Mrs. B."" to all around her. To her sons many friends she was also a second mom, encouraging or disciplining as the situation required. In recent years she was a substitute teacher for the Archdiocese of Denver school system. As a long time member of St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, she was very involved in many aspects of the church, including parish council, senior ministry, wedding coordinator, Eucharistic minister vocal, and instrumental musician. Norma loved her role as Grammy, delighting in her 13 grandchildren. She cherished each one and enjoyed going to all their activities and traveling with them. Later in life Norma and Dick became avid sailors. They sailed dinghies in Cherry Creek Reservoir and catamarans in the Caribbean and in South America. As avid travelers they shared their adventurous spirit with all of their family. Norma was a passionate golfer, bowler, and was the most devoted and colorfully enthusiastic fan of the Denver Broncos and CU Buffs. She was also active in PEO, Zonta, Wellshire Golf Club, and Kennedy Ladies' Golf Leagues and the Alumni associations of Kappa Delta Sorority and the University of Colorado. As a staunch conservative she enjoyed politics and worked with the City and County of Denver Election Division. She is survived by her husband Richard; sons and their wives Troy and Judy Bettinger, Dan Bettinger and Amy Estes, James and Megan Bettinger, of Denver; Rick and Angela Bettinger of Fort Worth, Texas; her brothers and sisters-in-law Troy and Mary Wade of Las Vegas, Bill and Karen Wade of Grand Junction; and her grandchildren: Emily, Derek, Allie, Daniel, Helen, Luke, Isabella, Ben, Marian, Pete, Henry, Joe, and Abby. Recitation of the Rosary will be on Thursday, August 27, 2015 7:00 PM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2375 E. Arizona Ave (at University Blvd.) 80210. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, August 28, 2015 1:00 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PEO Star Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312