She is a graduate of Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City, Matanuska-Susitna College, and the University of the State of New York. Bette is retired from the Mat-Su Borough School District where she was employed as a school nurse.
Prior employment includes hospitals in Anchorage as well as New York, Connecticut, and Maine.
She is an active member of NEA-Alaska Retired. She also volunteers at Mat-Su schools and Alaska Health Fairs. Her husband, Gene, also a PERS member, is retired from the Municipality of Anchorage.