Betty Hixson

Our loving mother passed away peacefully with both her daughters at her side. Betty Jo is the daughter of Waldo Cullimore Cluff Sr. and Magdalen Mackintosh Cluff. She was born Friday, August 13, 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and her daddy said that made Friday the 13th’s, “LUCKY” days from then on. In fact, he and most of the Cluff’s called her Betty Joy.
Last August she celebrated her 90th birthday and spent a wonderful afternoon visiting with friends and family. In recent months her health has been declining, preventing her from doing all the things she loved to do, like painting, wood carving, sculpting, and serving others.
She grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from South High School with a group of four friends that stayed very close all their lives. She served a mission to the Northern Central States Mission. When she came back, she was a Stewardess with United Airlines and met Albert “Gene” Hixson while shopping at a Safeway store when she was wearing her Stewardess uniform. They started dating, and were married April 3, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple. She and Gene had a home built in Bountiful in about 1955 where they made a wonderful impact in that neighborhood from then on.
She worked most of her life, doing many different jobs, from helping with Safety Equipment and first aid at Hill Air Force Base during the war, accounting for Utah Poultry, and then the IRS. Next for many years she was a secretary and office manager with the Davis School District, first at Adelaide Elementary, and then 18 years at Viewmont High School until she retired. After retiring, she started volunteering at the Golden Years Center helping teach some classes, taking neighbors older than her to doctor appointments, and generally helping where ever she could see a need.
She was always very artistic, and loved to paint, wood carve, sculpt, learn to play the guitar, moving on to something new when she would get interested in expanding her talents even farther. She taught her grandchildren those things she loved as well. She gifted many with her art work, her beautiful poetry, and her concern and love for everyone. She taught many, many people how to water ski. She has always been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, serving in many positions including chorister, Relief Society President, Mutual President, and Primary Teacher.
Betty Jo is survived by her daughters, Cheryl (Michael) Wood and Becky (John) Jones, six grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Colleen Caputo, brother Don (Dorene) Cluff, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Gene, infant son Kelly, and older brother Waldo.
A viewing will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary 295 N. Main, Bountiful, Utah on Sunday, January 11 from 6:00-8:00 P.M.. The funeral will be held at the Val Verda 5th Ward, 2633 S. 50 W., Bountiful Utah, at 11:00, with a viewing prior from 9:45 – 10:45 A.M.. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.