Betty Jean Phelps, 93, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at The Springs in Batesville, Arkansas. She was born May 16, 1930, in Levy, Arkansas, to Harry H. ”Buster” and Naoma Smith Foster. Betty attended high school at St. Anne’s Academy, a Catholic boarding school, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. She often spoke of how much she enjoyed being there. She moved to Wyoming with her mother where she married and raised two children. The next stop in her life was Lodi, California. Betty worked as a grocery store cashier for many years there. She met Ray Phelps, a police officer, and married him in Reno, Nevada, on August 2, 1964. They were married for 56 years when Ray passed away in 2020.
Ray and Betty retired and moved to Mountain View about 1980. They lived in the Kahoka/Chalybeate Springs area for over 25 years. They moved to town in 2008.
Betty owned and ran Betty’s Café, a breakfast and lunch restaurant in JT’s service station north of town. She was known for her delicious pies. At the 1st Bean Fest, Betty’s Café won the most original outhouse entry with the signage ”Eat at Betty’s, Get Gas!”
She loved going to yard sales and auctions. She would have one herself almost every year.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Phelps; her son, Lynn Root; her great-grandson, Alex Harbut, and her aunt and uncle, Kathryn and Wilburn Greer.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Hartle of Groveland, California; her step-son Ricky Ray Phelps of Mountian View; grandchildren, Jeff Schock and Stefane Brenkwitz; great-grandchildren, Anthony Harbut and Carignane Ferreria; and great, great-granddaughter Addalynn Harbut and her mother Ashley Stagg.
Betty will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
No services are planned at this time.
