A funeral Mass was held Monday at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Turlock for Frank Joseph Bettencourt, Sr., 79, of Ceres. He died Feb. 8, 2011 at home surrounded by his family.
Turlock Funeral Home was in charge of burial at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.
Born March 31, 1932 in Modesto, Frank was raised in Patterson. He was a 1950 graduate of Patterson High School. A veteran of the Army, Frank invested a lifetime of work in the dairy business as a partner with his father, brothers, and sons. A local pioneer in the application of animal nutrition science, his herd earned notoriety and production awards.
Mr. Bettencourt served as trustee for five terms on the Mountain View-Chatom Unified School District Board and received the School Bell Award from California Teachers' Association in 1992. He was a member of the Stanislaus County School Boards Association. Frank was a member of the Mountain View 4-H Club throughout all the years of his sons' participation, serving in the position of Community Leader. He served as a volunteer firefighter with the Mountain View Fire District.
He was active in Patterson and Crows Landing festas, served as president of St. Anthony's Celebration in 1956 and was a devout participant in the St. Anthony's processions for 50 years, a commitment for which he was recognized by the Association in 2003. He was a 27-year member of Teams of Our Lady.
He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Laura Bettencourt of Ceres; three sons, Mike Bettencourt of Ceres, Chris Bettencourt of Ceres; and Patrick Bettencourt of Turlock; his brother, Chuck Bettencourt of Caldwell, Idaho; his nine grandchildren, Michelle, Robert, Alissa, Anna, Katie, Michael, Erin, Amelia, and Xavier; and two great-grandchildren Kenna and Kasen. He was preceded in death by oldest son Frank Bettencourt Jr., in 2010.
-Ceres Courier/ February 15, 2012
Turlock Funeral Home was in charge of burial at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman.
Born March 31, 1932 in Modesto, Frank was raised in Patterson. He was a 1950 graduate of Patterson High School. A veteran of the Army, Frank invested a lifetime of work in the dairy business as a partner with his father, brothers, and sons. A local pioneer in the application of animal nutrition science, his herd earned notoriety and production awards.
Mr. Bettencourt served as trustee for five terms on the Mountain View-Chatom Unified School District Board and received the School Bell Award from California Teachers' Association in 1992. He was a member of the Stanislaus County School Boards Association. Frank was a member of the Mountain View 4-H Club throughout all the years of his sons' participation, serving in the position of Community Leader. He served as a volunteer firefighter with the Mountain View Fire District.
He was active in Patterson and Crows Landing festas, served as president of St. Anthony's Celebration in 1956 and was a devout participant in the St. Anthony's processions for 50 years, a commitment for which he was recognized by the Association in 2003. He was a 27-year member of Teams of Our Lady.
He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Laura Bettencourt of Ceres; three sons, Mike Bettencourt of Ceres, Chris Bettencourt of Ceres; and Patrick Bettencourt of Turlock; his brother, Chuck Bettencourt of Caldwell, Idaho; his nine grandchildren, Michelle, Robert, Alissa, Anna, Katie, Michael, Erin, Amelia, and Xavier; and two great-grandchildren Kenna and Kasen. He was preceded in death by oldest son Frank Bettencourt Jr., in 2010.
-Ceres Courier/ February 15, 2012
