Bettie (Little) Irwin

Bettie (Little) Irwin passed into the loving arms of the Lord on July 29, 2024. She lived in Katy, Texas with her daughter and had just celebrated her 103rd birthday.  

Bettie was born in Greencastle, Indiana, 3rd of 4 sisters on 7/4/1921. Her father was a saw filer for lumber mills, so the family was always on the move. Even though they didn’t have much, theirs’ was a loving family. After graduating high school at 16 outside of St. Louis, the family moved to Albuquerque in 1938. Here she met her future husband William Irwin on a blind date. Sharing a love of dancing they soon married and had two daughters thirteen years apart. She was always active in her daughters’ lives and was a wonderful Mother. Bill and Bettie were married for 69 years.

Bettie was a wonderful homemaker, artist and seamstress. She sewed beautiful clothes, made her own drapes and bedspreads, upholstered furniture and made wonderful wall hangings for her family to treasure. She had many friends and played in the same pinochle club for 50+ years.

Bill and Bettie traveled extensively, including Europe. When Bill retired he planned trips to meet Bettie’s long lost cousins and relatives around the country which gave her much joy. After Bill passed in 2009 she stayed in Albuquerque until being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her mid 90’s when she then moved to Katy, TX. During her last years in Texas she was happy to spend more time with her grandsons and their wives and her great grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, Janice Bregnard of Katy, TX and Valerie (Alex) Reid of Prescott, AZ. Her grandsons, Adrian (Julie) Bregnard, William (Jessica) Bregnard and five great grandchildren, Rachel, Ryan, Sam, Kimberly and Olivia, all from Texas. Also her two nieces here in Albuquerque, Donna Aguilar and Ginger (Steve) Whitley.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.