Betty was born on June 24, 1925 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Margaret Ann Sorenson and G. Dewey Estes. She was raised in Marshalltown and Grinnell respectively, and she graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1942. She enlisted in the United States Navy Waves during World War II on September 4, 1944 and she served as a platoon leader and a shopkeeper. Betty was married to Paul S. Decatur on June 8, 1948. Their son Steven was born on June 12, 1953. The couple lived in Grinnell and she was a bookkeeper for her father at Harry's Sports Shop and Ritter Maytag and Appliance. She was a member of Friends of the Stewart Library in Grinnell and an active volunteer at Grinnell Regional Medical Center for over thirty-eight years. She enjoyed gardening, reading, ceramics and later, stamp and coin collecting. Survivors include her son, Steven (Mary) Decatur of Duluth, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Krista, Anna, and Jacob Decatur; and her brother, Jack (Fran) Ritter of Youngsville, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul Decatur on August 10, 2001.