Surrounded by her children, Bette passed away peacefully the evening of Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in Silver Spring, MD. The beloved daughter of Ralph and Mary Krause, she is survived by her sister, Mary Jane Rota and her husband Jim of Richmond, VA, and her brother, Ralph Krause, Jr. and his wife Marlene of The Villages, FL. As for her children, she is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jones and her companion Mark Martinak, her sons Ken Whittemore Jr. and his wife Gerolyn, Bobby Whittemore, and Larry Whittemore and his wife Rene. She is also survived by her grandchildren Stefanie and Shawn McGrath, Leanne Whittemore and her fiancé Brian Ferguson, Victoria Whittemore, Jeremy Whittemore and his wife Anh, and Candace Hernandez and her husband Rafael. Great-grandchildren include Natalee, Braden, Jacob and Hunter Sprecher and Alex Whittemore. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Bette worked early in her adulthood for the Army Map Service and later in life for Arbitron Inc. Family and home were the focuses of her life, however. She lived in Beltsville, MD the last fifty years, where she enjoyed gardening, game shows on television, and visiting with family and friends. She also was a lifelong, avid reader of the Washington Post.

Family will receive those wishing to pay their respects the evening of Friday, February 15, at Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD from 7 to 9 p.m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. the following morning at Collins Funeral Home, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. A reception will be held after the service at a local restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Bette’s name to the American Heart Association.