Betty Jean Willson Tarp, loving mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend, began eternity with her Lord on Friday, October 19, 2007. Born to Ed and Nellie Willson on Monday, April 5, 1926, Betty’s first home was the Tilton Ranch in Morgan Hill where her father worked as foreman. Moving to San Martin when she was 6 years old, Betty lived on the 3,200-acre Ramelli cattle ranch. She attended San Martin Elementary School and would sometimes take her lamb “Pudgy” to school!
Growing up, Betty spent endless hours riding the hills on her horse Pondo, checking on springs, fence lines and cattle. Though her mom Nellie was an excellent cook and baker, and spent many hours in the kitchen preparing meals for her family and the hired hands, Betty always preferred to be outside with her dad.
In high school she was always involved in sports, loved competing and earned a varsity letter sweater in her senior year! Betty loved to read and spent many hours enjoying books about animals and people living on ranches. She used to dream about living in Wyoming and marrying a cowboy who had lots of horses!
After graduating from Live Oak High School in 1943, Betty moved to Burlingame where she met and fell in love with Walter Tarp. Walt was stationed at Moffett Field and was able to get a 3-day pass, so he picked Betty up and they drove to Carmel where they were married on Friday, March 10, 1944, in the home of a pastor whose name they found in the phone book! After a few months, and World War II going on, Walt was sent overseas. Betty moved back with her parents on the ranch she loved and worked and spent her free time taking her girlfriends to Santa Cruz in her snazzy yellow Oldsmobile convertible!
Betty filled her life with her husband and children and loved going camping, fishing and deer hunting with them. She started a lunch program with 2 other friends at San Martin Elementary (where she had attended school) and when the school was unified, she was manager for over 18 years. After that, she became Superintendent of Food Services for the Morgan Hill Unified School District for 12 years until her retirement at the age of 62.
At the age of 41, she became a Christian while attending a crusade in San Jose on April 20, 1967. From that time on she began reading the Bible. In 1996 she wrote, “My Bible is a part of my life. It influences me on a daily basis, through instruction, wisdom and guidance. I am never alone, Jesus is always with me. He is not only my Savior, but He is also my friend.”
In her years after retirement, she volunteered part-time at St. Louise Hospital in Morgan Hill and served as a counselor at the South Valley Pregnancy Care Center. She loved to garden and spend time with her family and friends.
Even through the disease of Alzheimer’s, Betty’s heart of love and compassion, her sweet, selfless spirit and smile remained! She was a gracious, genuine woman, who lived her life for Jesus and her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends were truly blessed by her.
Betty is survived by her children, Terri Toste and husband Pete, Jim Tarp and his wife Karen, grandchildren Mike Toste and his wife Gail, Stefine Toste, Erik Tarp and his wife Wende, Prandy Montarbo and Danielle Tarp, and her great-grandchildren, Devon, Drew, River, Larry, Madison, Derrick, Devyn, Ryann, Morgan and Kylee.
A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2007, at Beth-El Baptist Church, Hwy 101 and Tennant Avenue in Morgan Hill at 11:00 A.M. After the service, a reception will be held at Villa Mira Monte, 17860 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Vision, City Team of San Jose or the Alzheimer’s Association.
