Betty Lou Kadrie

Betty Kadrie, nee Swatsenbarg and Proctor, was a multifaceted individual. She was a business owner, wife, mother, daughter, sister, auntie, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Born in Madera, California, in 1938 to a family of 10 children, Betty travelled between Oklahoma and California as her parents went where the jobs were and took their children with them.

Betty’s first job was as a fruit picker in the lush valleys of California. She met her first husband Russell Proctor while attending school in California. They married and started their family in Northern California. This is how Betty ended up in California while some siblings settled in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Betty and Russell split up when their fourth child was born.

Betty married Ken Kadrie in 1963. Ken continued his work in the Air Force and Betty helped to keep their brood healthy and well-fed by waitressing and taking in ironing. Betty felt that no type of work was beneath her and she did any job she could to help her family. She was also an avid bowler.

The military family settled in Carmichael when Ken retired. Betty became a beautician and eventually owned her own shop. After 40 years of hairdressing, Betty retired, turning to gardening and caring for the home she and Ken bought in Rocklin, California.

After Ken passed in 2015, Betty decided to return to work. She was a sample lady at local markets until the pandemic of 2019. Sampling was put on hold and Betty transferred her work to cleaning shelves in stores.

Betty and her daughter, Sharlene, shared a home, and around that time, her children began to notice that Betty was developing unusual mannerisms. She was diagnosed with early stage dementia, and she survived a stroke that caused her to lose her ability to speak.

Her family maintained contact as well as possible and observed that Betty still sought ways to enjoy her life. She loved beading and visiting beading stores, often made her own holiday decorations, and shared outings with her family. During her final years, dancing to rock and roll remained her favorite activity.

Betty was a fighter and she wasn’t easily defeated. She passed quietly at home the evening of March 29, 2025. Her daughter Sharlene and ex-son-in-law Gary were at her side.

Betty’s internment will take place at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery followed by a gathering of family and friends for her Celebration of Life.