Bettina Hotelling

Bettina Hotelling, formerly of Pebble Beach, Calif., packed a lot of life into her 92 years and made many friends, several of whom she outlived. She died quietly at her home in Sebring, Fla. in the early morning hours of August 22, 2026 with her husband Neal at her side. She will be remembered as a fun and loving wife, mother, grandmother, (Bettina, at 80, went parasailing with a granddaughter) and friend, as well as an active worker and faithful Christian.A native-Californian, Bettina Elaine Elder was born on Dec. 10, 1933 at Redding, Calif. where she schooled, met and married her first husband Ruben Brost, father of her five children. They remained at Redding for a little over a year, and then moved several times, spending 1952-1957 in Monterey with their first two daughters. She worked at the old Montgomery Wards and they were part-owners of the Colony Club on Alvarado. He was preparing to open the NAFI plant in the old San Carlos Cannery when it went up in flames.They then moved to the East Bay area where Ruben became active in the shoe business and Bettina became active in Parent Teachers Association at the local, regional, and state level. They had three more children in three different cities. She soon also assisted in leadership in both Boy/Girl Scouts and Blue Birds/Campfire Girls. Her volunteer participation in local events and her interest in creative arts and painting were of great personal pleasure.The family moved to Rockford, Mich. in 1967, where Ruben was a vice president with Wolverine Worldwide, and Bettina continued working with P.T.A. and scouting.Her faith renewal in 1969 brought her into many life-changing experiences. She became active in adult discipleship and youth activities, serving as an advisor for a combined youth group from the Congregational and Methodist churches in Rockford, Mich. She later was ordained an elder in the Presbyterian Church.Bettina also took up a lifetime interest in painting and studied at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids Mich. After several semesters she branched out and opened her own Studio-Gallery which she operated at two locations over a twelve-year period.In 1982 she returned to single life. After studying and passing the Real Estate exam she became an enthusiastic Realtor Associate. In 1984 she and Neal Hotelling married and within nine months they moved to the Monterey Peninsula in California.Her thirty years, spent on the Peninsula were active in volunteer, event planning and civic activities for preservation and public service projects. For several years she moderated the Women’s Association at First Presbyterian Church, Monterey and served with I-Help among other activities. She continued to study scripture and prayer with her congregation and also served as a facilitator with Women in the Word at Carmel Presbyterian.She and Neal moved to Sebring, Fla. in 2015 to assist family, but continued to travel to the Peninsula for Neal’s consulting work.Her greatest joy was serving her Lord and being surrounded by her own dear family. She was preceded in death by her parents Drury and Frances Elder, her son Douglas, and a great-grandchild, dear little Charlotte Elaine Milzarski. In addition to her husband, she leaves behind her sister Anne Paull of Peoria, Ariz., three daughters Regina (Steve) Wells of Avon Lake, Ohio, Valorie (Ron) Warnes of Holland, Mich., Deidre (Steven) Gardner of Punta Gorda, Fla., a son Andrew Brost of Cool, Calif; two stepchildren Joshua (Terri) Hotelling of Petoskey, Mich. and Katie (Edward) Eitzen of Grand Rapids, Mich., the former wife of Douglas, Lisa Grooters, seventeen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and two nieces.A memorial service is being planned at First Presbyterian Church Monterey for later this fall. Those wishing to honor her memory with a contribution may donate in her name to the Presbyterian Women's Association Mission Fund c/o First Presbyterian Church Monterey, 550 Eldorado, Monterey, CA 49540 or Women in the Word, c/o Carmel Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 846, Carmel, CA 93941.