Betty Lou Hotchkiss, 78, of Wright, died Monday, July 23, 2012 in Superior View Assisted Living, Hermantown. She was born March 15, 1934 in Terre Haute, Indiana, the second youngest of eleven children born to Charles and Lillian Deater. Though the family moved frequently, Betty spent of her life in the western part of Michigan.

While visiting her brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Naomi Deater, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Betty met the love of her life, Richard P. Hotchkiss, Sr. and they were married June 6, 1953 in Muskegon Township, Michigan.

Betty had several jobs throughout her lifetime. She worked at a canning factory, picked fruit for local farmers, had her own upholstery shop, operated a foster care home and did “live-in” care for two years when she and Richard took care of an elderly woman in the elderly woman’s home. Betty’s most important job and her crowning achievement was raising her seven children.

Betty loved singing, crocheting, cooking, baking, sewing for family and friends and doing ceramics.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 ½ years, Richard P. Hotchkiss, Sr; a brother, Charles Deater; an infant brother; and three sisters, Geneva LaValley, Alice McMillan, and Helen Howell.

Betty is survived by her seven children, Kimberly (Phil) Bush of Maryville, TN, Sharon (Les) Houck of Wright, David Hotchkiss of Maryville, TN, Richard Hotchkiss, Jr. (Cynthia Johnson), of Duluth, Jamie (Dale) Palmer of Twin Lake, MI, Carla (Mark) Hyrns of White Cloud, MI, Robin Hotchkiss (Chuck Hill) of Muskegon, MI; sisters, Jean (Harry) Sherburn of Wellston, Ruth (Ron) Feldman of Floral City, FL, Audrey (George) Fulljames of Montague, MI; brothers, Kenneth (Judy) Deater of Fremont, MI and Franklyn (Naomi) Deater of MI; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Memorial Services were held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, followed by a luncheon in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Damiano Center in Duluth.