Lifetime Connersville resident, Bette Lou Southerland, 73, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Bette was born to Lewis and Krystyna Czachowska Bergen on December 17, 1948. She attended Connersville High School, graduating with the class of 1968. Bette married Larry Southerland in 1980; they shared fourteen years together, prior to his death in August of 1994. She later furthered her education receiving her cosmetology license in 1988. Bette was an incredibly hard worker. For 34 years, Bette took pride in making her customers happy and made many sweet memories in her salon, The Hair Loft. When Bette was not doing hair, you could find her enjoying her flower gardens and landscaping her yard. She was a strong willed woman who empowered her children to accomplish every obstacle before them. Bette didn’t know a stranger; she would talk to anyone passing by in hopes to put a smile on their face. She was the life of the party, and her ability to light up a room with laughter will be deeply missed. Above all, Bette loved nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren; they were her whole world.
Bette is survived by her children and their spouses: Brooke Owens, Erin Myers and Brian, Blake Southerland and Kylee, and Scott Southerland and Ann; brother: Mike Bergen, sister and brother-in-law: Cindy Wells and Roger; grandchildren: Sydney Owens, Sophia Southerland, Jimmy Myers, Luke Myers, Jude Southerland, Laney Holmes, Sadie Southerland, Nicole Himes, Victoria Crowder.
In addition to her loving husband Larry, Bette is preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, and sister, Genovefa Lafollette.
A celebration of Bette’s life will be conducted after the holidays, details will be shared by the family. Showalter Blackwell Long, Myers Chapel, Connersville has been entrusted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Cancer Society in Bette’s honor. For more information or to send memories and condolences to the family, please visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.