Brian Betts

Brian Lane Betts of Casper, Wyoming died on November 26, 2014, at the age of 68.He was born on October 14, 1946 in Rock Island, Illinois to Donald and Katherine Betts. Brian graduated Rock Island High School in 1975. He earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Mary Crest College. He also played basketball at Mary Crest College. While in college, he earned the nickname, "Base Line Brian." He received a master's degree in counseling for Western Illinois University. Brian was a sharp dresser. When funds were tight he worked part-time at Gar-bage, a designer blue jeans store, to support his shopping habit. He was often compared to Kevin Costner, and although he "didn't see it," he loved to hear it. It was no secret to anyone that knew Brian that while his wife, Dina, was the love of his life; his kids, clothes, and shoes were a close second. He also loved Harley Davidson motorcycles, the Rolling Stones, Alcova Lake, sun tanning and his dogs. Brian worked his way through college by traveling with a carnival. His job was to run the horse track booth. His favorite saying was, "It's a dime! Its ten cents! Come in!" Brian and his best friend, Donnie Smeltzer, "helped people lose their money." Brian's life work was helping people through the bad times. He was a juvenile social worker in Rock Island, Illinois. In the 1980s, he was a counselor at Alleman High School. He went on to become the Director of Community Alternatives of Casper for 25 years. And then he became program manager for the Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Brians purpose was to keep his clients from going back to prison, and those that he worked with knew that. He saved lives that were potentially lost to the system had he not cared. His last position before retirement was a counselor with Transitions. His clients remember him as one" who treated them like a person, with respect and didn't look down on me, he cared" There was not a day that someone didn't stop him to let him know how he made a difference in their life, or how his words would change them, even if they didn't know it at the time. He moved to Meadow Winds as his memory began to fail. And although he had enough problems of his own, he kept busy trying to find ways to help new residents acclimate to their surroundings. Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Dina Kambrois-Betts. His children Kathryn (Elias) Saucedo, Claire-Marie (Matt) Molina, Dalton Betts and a pseudo daughter, Erin Schillnger. He was the proud grandfather of Mara-Lane, Cristiano, Nico and Madelyn-Marie. His parents and his brother, Bruce, preceded him in death. He will be remembered for his unwavering love, his sense of humor and his face that could not hide one single emotion. His love and life will always be an example for all who knew him. "You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them...In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night...You - only you - will have stars that can laugh." In lieu of flowers please make donations to Central Wyoming Rescue Mission. ? Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, El Principito http://www.cwrm.org/index.php/donation

Service

Thursday, December 4, 2014 3:00pm

Highland Park Community Church

East 2nd

Casper, Wyoming 82609