- Date Of Birth: April 19, 1934
- Date Of Death: April 30, 2014
- State: Indiana
Elizabeth A. “Bette” Berkley, 80, of Elkhart, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, surrounded by her family.
Bette was born on April 19, 1934 in Indianapolis and was adopted by the late Harold A. and Anne G. (Huntington) Pribble. She later reconnected with her birth parents Robert Zimmerman and Mary Ergo (both now deceased) and enjoyed finding a loving and extended family.
Surviving are her daughter Elizabeth G. (Cruxen) Puig of Rockford, Ill. and her sons Deacon J. Clayton A. (Sherry) Berkley of South Bend and A. Trice Berkley III and his life partner John Davis of Elkhart; Bette is also survived by Rose Tinder-O’Brien whom she considered to be an adopted daughter and her children, Olivia Tinder of Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Daphne O’Brien of South Bend.
Bette was a graduate of Elkhart High School and then went on to receive her B.A. in General Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies from Indiana University. She was formerly a speech therapist, but worked as a social worker for Child Protective Services of Elkhart in her later years. She also volunteered her time at the Montessori Schools in Elkhart and South Bend. An avid nature enthusiast, Bette was a member of the South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society, enjoying a lifelong love of birds and bird watching. She liked dogs as well, and spent several years raising Whippets in her home. She also was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church, was a certified lifeguard and enjoyed knitting, reading and watching tennis and “Animal Planet.”
