In Memoriam: George Betts
George D. Betts died 28 February 1990 as the result of a tractor accident. Born in 1922, George was raised near Rochester, Washington, where, after serving in the US Army Air Corps, he and his wife Marie raised three sons and rhododendrons. George was well-known locally, having been a rural mail carrier and active in the Rochester Lions Club, the Fort Borst Arboretum Society, and the Boy Scouting program.
George and Marie were members of Olympia Chapter, ARS, and of the Pacific Rhododendron Society prior to his organizing and serving as first president of Lewis County Chapter, ARS. As the chapter grew, George continued to serve it and many of the chapters that were later to become District 3. He gave many programs on rhododendron hybrids.
George and Marie operated the Hillside Nursery in Rochester for over twenty years. Beginning with his first rhododendron, George was generous with cuttings from their yard - and with homespun instruction on their care and propagation. Lewis County Chapter recalls a most pleasant association with George Betts.