Bette Elaine Talbot, 85, of Gresham, formerly of Sweet Home, passed away Monday. She was born in Saguache, Colorado to Clarence and Hattie (Carson) Means. Bette was the youngest and only surviving of five children.

She graduated from high school in Durango, Colorado in 1944. Bette sang in Glee Club and played the cello in the orchestra. She attended Fort Lewis A&M, and also worked for a time in Wyoming as a line a-type operator for the railroad. In May 1946, she married Leonard Earl Zink. The had two children, Barbara and Patrick.

In July 1961, Bette married Dale J. Talbot in Escondido, California. They had one daughter, Shari.

1973 and 1974 found Bette working hard on the San Diego Grand Jury. In 1976, Bette moved to Sweet Home with Dale and Shari. During her stay in Sweet Home, Bette attended classes at LBCC and worked as an advertising sales representative for The New Era Publishing Co. She was also secretary for the Sweet Home Transportation Safety Committee and was active in the Sweet Home Garden Club, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, DAR, the John Birch Society, and the Republican Party.

Bette is survived by: daughters, Barbara and Shari; grandchildren, Amy Bailey, Andrew, Katherine, Daniel, and Molly Rowland, and Christopher, Amber, Heather and Alisha Zink; and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, in 1979 and her son, Patrick, in 2009.

Viewing will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, August 28, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel and at noon Monday, August 29, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home. Funeral Service will follow the viewing at 1:00 pm..

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.