Elizabeth "Betty" Anne Rebeske

In memory of Elizabeth Anne Harner Rebeske March 9, 1925 – November 30, 2018. Elizabeth “Betty” Rebeske, 93, passed away peacefully in her residence at Sunrise Assisted Living in Chandler, Arizona on November 30, 2018. She leaves behind son John Joseph “Chip” Rebeske III (Sharon), daughters Barbara Richards, Ruth Holt (Darrell) and Helen “Lee” Nichols (Alan), nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years John Joseph “Jack” Rebeske, Jr., her father Robert Warren Harner, mother Mattie Ruth Sandy and brothers Robert “Bobby” Harner and George Harner. Born in Covington, Kentucky, Betty spent part of her childhood traveling around the South with the family as her father looked for work during the Depression. Ultimately they settled in Atlanta, Georgia where, at the age of 16, she met a handsome 20 year old Georgia Tech student named Jack Rebeske. They fell in love and were married in June 1943. For the first 14 years of their marriage she and Jack lived in various areas of the country as the Army dictated and in Cleveland, Ohio where he worked at NACA. During this time she gave birth to her son and three daughters. Never a fan of the snow, she was thrilled when in 1957 Jack took a job at Garrett Air Research and the family settled comfortably in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. A devoted wife, busy mother and an accomplished homemaker, Betty was active in every aspect of her family’s life. Her days were filled with scouting, camping, boating, fishing, water skiing, square dancing, home “construction” projects, neighborhood arts and crafts and her favorite pastime, gardening. As her children matured, married and established their own families, she was there whenever needed and made certain to be present for all of life’s important events. She was especially delighted by the addition of grandchildren and great grandchildren to the family circle and spent time with them at every opportunity. When Jack retired in 1987, she joined him in traveling around the US to visit family and friends as well as to San Carlos, Mexico for frequent fishing trips. Sadly, in time, Alzheimer’s began to take its toll. Travel was no longer possible and personal interactions and daily activities became increasingly difficult. So Betty’s days were then spent in the devoted company of her beloved Jack in the home they built together in 1957 until his passing in September of 2013. In July 2015 she moved to Sunrise Assisted Living in Chandler where she won the affection of the entire staff with her trademark smile and Southern charm. Despite the “long goodbye” of Alzheimer’s, her strength and love never dimmed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to either the Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org) or to Hospice of the Valley (www.hov.org). Services will be at 9:45 AM Monday, December 10th at Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. A reception will follow at 10:45 AM in the Green Acres Events Room.