Betty Mae (Sidebottom) Raney
Obituaries
Daily Sentinal page 5A - May 6, 2022
Betty Mae Raney
February 16, 1929 - April 27, 2022
Betty Mae Raney was born in Delta, CO, February
16, 1929, to Ralph and Grace Sidebottom. She rejoined
her departed family and friends April 27, 2022. Mom
passed away in the home she and Rex purchased 70
years ago. Betty received exceptional 24/7 care from
her daughter, Chery, and son-in-law, Willie Gordon, for
the last 18 months.
Betty grew up in Delta, spending most of her life in the
community, with brief stints in Chico, CA, and Grand
Junction, CO. She graduated from Delta High School
in 1947 and began college at Western State College
that same summer. At the urgent request of her former
principal, she reluctantly put her college endeavor on
hold and came back to DHS that fall to assume duty
as school secretary. Unbeknown to her, a new business
teacher joined the faculty that same year. Apparently,
they hit it off well as Betty and Rex were married July
3, 1949. They enjoyed almost 69 loving years together
until Rex passed in 2018.
Mom was proud of both her kids. Chery arrived on
the scene in 1950 and Larry showed up as a bit of a
surprise in 1963. She doted on them constantly and
bragged about them often.
Betty served in several volunteer jobs as a Sunday
School Teacher, teacher assistant for the developmentally
disabled at the Sunshine School, tireless Democratic
party worker, First Baptist Church secretary and various
committee roles, Delta County Historical Museum, and
bookkeeper for Sidebottom Texaco Service.
After her father passed in 1983, Betty and Rex
provided in-home care for her mother for seven years.
Retirement for Betty and Rex centered around family,
many travels and cruises, and especially their cabin on
Grand Mesa. They lived at the cabin several summer
and fall seasons.
She is survived by daughter, Chery (Willie) Gordon;
son, Larry (Vernann) Raney; sisters-in-law, Edith
Ellis and Louise Raney; cousins, Virginia Shea, Cade
Miller, and Don Sidebottom; niece, Elaine (Mike)
Woods; nephew, Wayne Leighton; grandchildren,
Michelle (Gary) Jensen, William Sheffield, Becky
(Dr. Tim) Winegard, and Mariah (Chad) McCune;
great-grandchildren, Gary II, Alex, Jaxson, and Stone,
and great-great-grandchildren, Gary III, Amaro, and
Zayden
She is preceded in death by spouse, W. Rex Raney;
parents, Ralph and Grace Sidebottom; sister and brotherin-law, Helen and Oliver Leighton, and grandson, Larry
Sheffield.
A family remembrance of Betty’s life and internment
will be Thursday, June 9, 3:00 p.m., at Veterans
Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2830
Riverside Parkway.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations
to HopeWest Hospice, a team that provided outstanding
care and support during her time of need
