1927 – 2017

Longtime foothills resident Betty E. Arnds passed away on April 30 at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by Harold Arnds Sr., her husband of 62 happy years, who passed away in 2008. Her oldest son, Harold Walton Arnds Jr. (Hal) died in 1965, followed by Thomas Christopher Arnds (Tom) in 1983 and grandson Justin Turner in 2008. She is survived by the four remaining of her six children and their spouses: Susan “Sunny” Hoover (Park); David Arnds (Jana); Debbie Yaeger (Bill); Donna Arnds. Betty is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Jimmie Turner, Casie Meade, David and Kristi Arnds, Michael, Mandy and Joey Yaeger, and James and Daniel Morrow, along with eight great-grandchildren (with one on the way!). She will be missed tremendously.

Born in Ohiowa, Nebraska in 1927, she was adopted at the age of 3 by Harry and Grace Kershner, a childless couple. They brought her to Los Angeles in the early 1930s where she was given dance lessons, including tap and ballet. But her real passion was for art, and she created hundreds of drawings including formal portraits of people, Norman Rockwell-type scenes that captured the spirit and fun of those being depicted. Late in her life, she discovered watercolor, and then excelled at painting flowers and scenes. There are many families in the foothills area with pieces created by Betty, which she often gave without charging because she loved drawing so much, and she was a giving soul.

Betty would probably be best described by her strong faith in Christ, which sustained her family through many difficulties over the years. Betty served at La Crescenta First Baptist Church for many years, using her talents in art to teach children (including her grandchildren!) about the Good News of the Gospel.

Services will take place this Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. at Community Life Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of La Crescenta), located at 4441 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn, Glendale.

The family requests anyone with artwork created by Betty to kindly consider sending a photo of it, along with your contact information, to bettye.arndsarttribute@gmail.com for a possible future showing of her work.