Betty Studer of Hermiston passed away in Hermiston surrounded by her family on June 23, 2025 at the age of 77.
She was born on Sept. 24, 1947 in Ontario to Beal and Goldie Ilene White Hood.
Betty moved with her family to California as a child. She grew up and attended schools in Los Banos and Arvin, Calif. She married her high school sweetheart, Henry “Hank” Studer in Arvin, Calif. on June 3, 1966.
Betty and Hank lived in Lovington, N.M. and Vale before moving to Hermiston in 1980. She had resided in the Hermiston area for the past 45 years. Betty began working for J.R. Simplot in Hermiston in the early 1980s. While working at Simplot, Betty returned to school where she received her certification in water/wastewater treatment and later received her associates degree from Blue Mountain Community College in 1992. She worked as the operator of wastewater treatment for Simplot for many years, where she received recognition as the Oregon State Operator of the Year in 1994. She was the first woman and worked for the first private entity to receive this award. She retired from Simplot in the late 1990s. Betty continued working as a bookkeeper for her husband’s trucking company, as well as for several other trucking companies for many more years.
Betty loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and family was an important part of her life. She enjoyed taking trips to the Oregon coast, sewing, quilting and embroidery and was a talented painter.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Hank; sons, Dale and Kenny Studer; daughter, Debbie and husband John Smith; eight grandchildren, Dylan, Zachary, Danielle, Sierra, Chance, Grace, Kole and Teagan; seven great-grandchildren, Maysen, Hayden, Hollis, Maverick, Maddox, Kashlynn and Kasey; brother, Gary Ray Hood; brother-in-law, Charles Studer; and many extended family members.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, John Ryan Smith; brother, Roy Beal Hood II; sisters, Bea Atwood and Diana Bisbee; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Studer and Linda Studer.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
Burial will follow in the Hermiston Cemetery.
Please join the family after the service for a gathering at 81255 Craig Road, Hermiston.
