Gerald “Jerry” Orville Walters, a long-time resident of Hood River passed away January 20, 2008 at home with family by his side. Jerry and his wife Bette owned and operated Bette’s Place for 19 years before retiring, selling to their daughter Gay and her husband, Gary Jones.

A service to celebrate Jerry’s life and mourn his passing will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 24th, 2008 at Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue. Military Honors will be performed at the service and a private interment will follow at Idlewilde Cemetery.

Jerry was born April 3, 1930 in Garrison, North Dakota to William and Hulda (Sayler) Walters. He grew up and attended school in Garrison before moving to Oregon.

Jerry served his country proudly as a member of the United States Navy from 1947 to 1950. His service was between World War II and the Korean War; he served on the USS Stickell in the Pacific, visiting many locations in Asia.

While in the service he married Elizabeth “Bette” Smith on July 1, 1949 at Stevenson, Washington and to this union they were blessed with four children.

Jerry and Bette have always lived in Hood River where he worked for McCoy’s Tire Service, Carnation Milk and Hood River Sand & Gravel before they opened Bette’s Place in 1975, a local favorite eatery for many. Jerry loved greeting customers and making sure their coffee cups were never empty.

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, huckleberry picking, camping and traveling with his wife and friends. When his sons were younger he was active in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, as the PA announcer and coach. He was a volunteer fire fighter for the Hood River Fire Department. He had many hobbies, activities and things he enjoyed in life but above all he loved his family; his children, grandchildren and great grandchild, Conor.

Jerry is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife of 58 years, Bette Walters of Hood River, Oregon, four children, Sherryl Walters, Vancouver, WA; Mike Walters (Barbara), Madras, OR; Gay Jones (Gary), Hood River, OR and Mitch Walters, Vancouver, WA, eight grandchildren; Stephanie Ross (Bob) of Garden Valley, ID; Spencer Walters of Garden Valley, ID; Jubal Jones of Honolulu, Hawaii; Chelsea Jones of Eugene, OR; Jillian Jones of Corvallis, OR; Caitlin Walters of Hood River, OR; Abby Walters of Vancouver, WA, great grandchild Conor Ross of Garden Valley, ID, brothers; Wil Walters (Leslie) of W. Virginia; Arlen Walters (Linda) of Camas, WA, sisters; Darlene Dorman (Les) of North Plains, OR; Betty Wade (Willis) of Lewiston, ID, many nieces, nephews and his special sister-in-law, Frances Chambers.

He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter Chloe Walters.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to Heart of Hospice care of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031 ~ 541-386-1000 ~ www.andersonstributecenter.com.