ANDERSON
Betty Lou Alder, age 95, died Friday, May 17, 2024 at Bethany Pointe Health Campus after a brief illness. She was born on February 6, 1929 in Porterville, CA to Clarence Leo and Beulah Lewis and raised by her father and stepmother Evelyn Lewis Mitchell. She had five brothers, one of whom was her twin. Betty attended elementary and secondary school in Porterville and Oakland, CA. After high school she attended Northwestern Bible School in Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Salvation Army Training College in Chicago, IL. Betty married her late husband Ernest Hugh “Ernie” Alder on June 17, 1954, in Detroit, MI.
Betty worked alongside her husband supporting his Indiana State Police youth programs for nearly 24 years; she was also active in church, school and community affairs. After almost 40 years in southeastern Henry County, Betty and Ernie moved to Greenfield in 1997 to be closer to their son Butch and his family. After that move, they began attending New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville. Their next move was to Anderson in 2019 to be closer to their daughter, Barbara, and to enter assisted living at Crown Pointe. While at Crown Pointe they received excellent care and made many friends, residents and staff alike.
Prior to leaving Henry County, one of Betty’s favorite activities was maintaining the landscaping and flowers around their home. Getting floral deliveries was a big day for her as well, especially pink and purple flowers of any kind with lots of babies’ breath. She also enjoyed driving around and seeing freshly plowed fields and beautiful lawns. Nature renewed her spirit and brought her closer to her Lord.
Surviving Betty are her daughter, Barbara J. Alder of Anderson; grandson Michael E. (Amye) Alder of McCordsville; granddaughter Lauren N. Alder of Greenfield; ten great-grandchildren (Landon, Jackson, Carson and Olivia Alder of McCordsville and Levi, Ryder, Brigham, Silas, Arabella, and Adalena Miller of Greenfield); brother Bob (Marilyn) Alder of Lake Wylie, SC; daughter-in-law Carla (Terry) Haston of Greenfield; nephews Robert (Michelle) Alder, Jr. of Independence, MO; and William (Ginny) Alder of Manitou Springs, CO.
Betty was predeceased by her husband Ernie; son Ernest “Butch” Alan Alder; sister-in-law Patricia Alder; her parents; brothers Jack Davis, Darl Lewis, Bob Lewis, Bill Lewis, and Jim Lewis; numerous aunts and uncles.
A private family service was held graveside. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to New Life Christian Fellowship, Fortville; Indiana Troopers Youth Services, Inc., 8660 E. 21st St., Indianapolis, IN 46208; The Salvation Army, 3100 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.
