Raymond Martin Bettencourt

Raymond Martin Bettencourt, Jr. was born on November 12, 1936 in Santa Clara, California. He was the first-born child to Maria and Raymundo Bettencourt who immigrated from the Azores to Northern California where they ran a dairy farm. Since English was not their first language, Ray became their translator and was immersed in their business from a very young age.

In 1956, Ray married the love of his life and best friend, Nina Louise Louwaert (1939 to 2019), and they raised three children together whom they loved very much (Rickey, Cindy, and Brian). Ray and Nina were passionate about square dancing, camping, traveling, friendships, and most of all, their family. Ray always put his family first and never missed an opportunity to go to every family event, grandchildren’s sporting events and field trips with his wife Nina.

Ray was a shrewd businessman and built Bettencourt Industries, a Novato California based construction/real estate management business, from the ground up. He was a man of few words but when he spoke, you listened. His laugh was absolutely infectious, and he had the best sense of humor.

Ray was a confident, strong-willed, proud, intelligent, successful, hard-working, loving, kind and generous man. He lived a very full life and was truly loved by his friends and family. He will be missed greatly and will forever leave a special and undeniable imprint on all our hearts.

Ray is survived by his brothers (Lou and Arnold), children (Rickey, Cindy, and Brian), daughter-in-law (Stacy), son-in-law (Jon), many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law.