Bettie Lou Ferrier

Bettie L. (Hill) Ferrier, 81, of Denton, TX, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28, 2023. Although she experienced several health issues over the last few years, she was always determined to do those things that brought her happiness in life. Her funeral service and Celebration of Life, for family and friends, will be held on Saturday, May 13th at 1:00 pm at Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Rd., Frisco, TX. The Rite of Committal, for family and friends, will be held on Saturday, June 17th at 10:00 am at the St. Joseph Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery, 519 Losey Blvd S., La Crosse, WI.

Bettie was born on August 7, 1941, in San Marcos, TX to Arthur C. and Bertha (Wittenberg) Hill. She graduated from Giddings High School in 1959 where she was active in the band and choir. After attending Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, TX, in pursuit of a music degree, Bettie chose to follow her true passion; health care and helping others. She attended Blinn College in Brenham, TX, and then the Scott and White School of Nursing in Temple, TX, earning her Nursing Degree in 1964. On December 11, 1964, Bettie was married in Temple, TX, to James Ferrier, of La Crosse, WI, who was stationed in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, TX. They enjoyed 42 happy years together, prior to his passing in 2007.

Bettie’s career as a registered nurse spanned over four decades. She worked primarily as a nurse and nursing supervisor in OB/GYN and surgery at several medical institutions in Texas, Wisconsin, and Florida. She was adored by staff and patients as she touched the lives of so many through her unending compassion and the tireless care she provided for each of her patients.

Bettie was blessed with many artistic talents, often painting and drawing beautiful portraits and landscape pictures. She also taught ceramic classes at the business owned by her and James in Cape Coral, FL, and later, taught cake decorating classes at Hobby Lobby in Little Elm, TX. However, she received the most joy spending time with her grandchildren, helping them to discover and realize their artistic abilities.

She was active in the Catholic church, and a centerpiece in the church choirs, and later, in the Little Elm Senior Center choir. Bettie also enjoyed her many planting and gardening activities, playing games of any kind with family and friends, baking, sewing, and going for long walks. But most of all, she cherished quality time with her family. In her later years, following retirement from nursing, she continued to demonstrate her caring and compassion for everyone she encountered. Bettie could never say “no” to anyone in need. At her senior apartment complex, she provided rides regularly to other seniors for their appointments, errands, and whenever needed. She could often be seen pulling her wagon full of crockpots, providing enthusiastic front door delivery of full meals to those who were either struggling financially or having difficulty preparing their own meals.

Bettie was preceded in death by both of her parents, her beloved husband James, her older sister, Evelyn Hill Knox, and older brother, A.C. Hill.

Bettie is survived by her younger sister, Bertha ("Bert") Bohannon of Little Elm, TX; her sister-in-law’s Pam Holy of Litchfield Park, AZ and Linda Hill of Navasota, TX; her brother-in-law Robert Ferrier of La Crosse, WI; her children Tim Ferrier and wife Tammy of La Crescent, MN and Christa Murray and husband Chad of Argyle, TX; her ten grandchildren, Katie (Tom) Bagniefski, Nathan (Helenne) Ferrier, Matthew Ferrier, Joshua Ferrier, Alexander Ferrier, Kylie (Clay) Patterson, Madelyn (Donievin) Oliver, Gracie Murray, Olivia Murray and Amelia Murray; her three great-grandchildren, Emma Bagniefski, Jack Bagniefski and Silver Patterson; and by many friends who loved her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org) or the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org).