Beatrice L. “Bette” Stoeckle, nee Teshara, passed away Feb. 28, 2008, in Coupeville, from the effects of congestive heart failure. She was 86.

Bette was born and raised in Santa Cruz, Calif. A proud 1939 alumna of Santa Cruz High School, she met and married Edward Stoeckle in 1942 when he was assigned with the Army and she worked as a medical transcriptionist at Fort Ord Army Hospital. Over the years, they traveled with the Army and the Air Force all around the United States and to stations in Bermuda and Germany. They finally settled in Antioch, Calif., following Ed’s retirement from the Air Force in 1967. Bette’s love of travel and golf often took them back to Europe, the Far East and Australia.

Bette and Ed relocated to Pensacola, Fla., in 1997, to be close to their daughter Susann and her family, where Ed died shortly after their move. She and her daughter’s family moved to Oak Harbor about a year ago.

Bette is survived by her daughter Susann Krouse and grandson Brian Krouse, and her aunt, Clementine Pura of Greenfield, Calif. Her passing is grieved by her many friends around the country and the world.

She will be laid to rest with her husband of 55 years at Sunset View Cemetery near El Cerrito, Calif. Arrangements are by Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., Oak Harbor.