Obituary

Bette Lee Thomson, 84, most recently of Apache Junction, AZ, left this earth to rejoice in Heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 18, 2023.
Bette was born in Ottumwa, IA on December 12, 1938, to Howard and Frances (Lawrence) Eslinger. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1958.
While living in Houston, TX, Bette married Alexander Thomson Jr. on December 24, 1982. They enjoyed nearly 34 years together until Alex’s passing in 2016.

In 2017, Bette packed up and moved West to enjoy the Arizona sunshine and mountains, her granddaughter and family, and her grand-dogs as she liked to call them.

The youngest of three, Bette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alex, a sister, Cornelia “Corkie” Eslinger, and a son, David Neil Starks.

Bette will be sorely missed by many people she left behind on this earth. She is survived by her daughter Karen Mason in Arizona, sister Barbara Smallwood in Illinois, granddaughter Misty (Jeff) Jones in Arizona, and many grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews in Iowa, Illinois, and Texas.
A celebration of Bette’s life will be held in the coming weeks. We will keep everyone informed of the place, date and time.