Betty Marie Mitchel Burdick
Dec. 21, 1941 ~ June 24, 2023
Betty Marie (nee Mitchel) Burdick was an amazing woman that was adored and loved by many. She was loving and charming, spunky, caring, generous and a constant ball of energy and fun. Her big heart was her greatest asset and she used it to enrich the lives of others for many years.
Born and raised in the very small town of Meeker, Colorado, didn’t stop her from making a huge mark on the world. Betty cherished her Meeker upbringing and visited Meeker and her beloved sister Shirley and many lifelong friends often throughout her life.
She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Edwin Burdick, as soon as she graduated high school and they shortly after moved to Ventura, California, to make a life for themselves and start their family. They raised their children, Randy and Tracy, in Ojai, California, where Betty was able to thrive in her role as a mother, to many more than just her two children. She had a neighborhood of kids who could rely on her for any and everything, something that she continued to offer throughout her life to countless others. Betty was undoubtedly devoted to providing a loving and secure home for her children, husband and all who were lucky enough to know her, which she achieved in spades, and so much more.
Betty was always on the lookout for ways to help and advocate for children and families in need. She worked tirelessly as a volunteer for C.A.A.N for many years. During her time with the organization, she went into homes to educate parents who needed assistance during tough times, helped organize the annual holiday toy drive and gave countless speeches at schools and organizations about abuse prevention. She volunteered at School on Wheels, mentoring and tutoring children, and in Ventura classrooms through The Boys and Girls Club where her contributions were immeasurable. She couldn’t get enough when it came to helping/advocating for children; it was her passion.
In 1995, Betty co-founded a social club called Friendship Connection to help women who had become empty nesters or retired to find connection and friendship with other women who found themselves in similar situations. She and many others found not only companionship, but lifelong friendships as a result. For many, many years Friendship Connection and the women she spent so much time with brought her immeasurable joy and light.
She was also an active member of Toastmasters for many years where she received accolades for her stories and speaking as well as made many friends.
Betty is survived by her son Randy, daughter Tracy Larie, daughter-in-law Lynne, and grandchildren Hayley, Hannah and Kaden and predeceased by her husband Richard Burdick. Her family is incredibly honored and proud that they got to call such a remarkable woman their mother and grandma, and will miss her stories, laughter and big heart beyond words.
For those who wish to join us, we will have a gathering in Betty’s honor in Ventura and in Meeker, Colorado, on dates to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity focused on the care, education or wellbeing of children.
OBITUARY POLICY
To submit an obituary or death notice, please stop by the office, call 970-878-4017 or email [email protected]. It is our opinion that publishing obituaries is part of our responsibility to maintain local history records. We do not charge a publication fee for obituaries or death notices with a local connection to our county.
