Betty A . Isbister
Betty Isbister of Albuquerque passed away at age 97 at Kaseman Hospital on October 23. Born in East Orange, NJ, she grew up in Ontario, Canada. She graduated from New York University and went on to receive Master of Education and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked for several church organizations before moving to New Mexico in 1964 where she worked as a social worker and became the director of the Social Work Department at New Mexico State Hospital in Las Vegas. She moved to Albuquerque in 1978 to become Director of Outreach for the University of New Mexico’s new Children’s Psychiatric Center. In this capacity she traveled throughout New Mexico conducting workshops and training sessions for mental health professionals and others, including teachers, lawyers, and ministers working with emotionally disordered children and their families. Church activities were important to her throughout her life as was her deep Christian faith. She was a member of the Christ the King Anglican Church in Albuquerque, where she also served as a volunteer office receptionist until recently.
She was an avid motorcyclist for over 18 years and enjoyed touring and camping activities and was a member of the Retreads Motorcycle Association and the Christian Motorcycle Association. She is survived by nieces Kitty Jensen and Pat Hepburn of Chelsea Michigan and a nephew William Isbister of Eastport, Michigan. She lived with her best friend Alice Mitchell of Albuquerque from 1985 to 2009 and became part of the Mitchell family too and is survived by Jason Mitchell M.D. and family of Albuquerque, Don Mitchell and family of Todos Santos, Baja California, and Charlie Mitchell and family of Gilmanton, NH. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 4:00 pm at Christ the King Anglican Church at 529 Jefferson NE. In lieu of flowers, the family asks, and Betty would want, a donation to your church or favorite charity in her name. The family would like to thank the Presbyterian Hospice Care Team for the outstanding caring help they provided to Betty. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com