Stephen Allen Betts

Stephen Allen Betts, 56, of La Grande, died May 6. A service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church in La Grande.

Stephen was born Sept. 12, 1953, to Jerry N. and Ramona (Kreis) Betts in Portland. He grew up and was educated in the Portland area.

He joined the Navy and served from 1972 to 1975.

Stephen married Debra Alquist in 1980. The couple had two children: Ben, born in 1981, and Emily, born in 1984.

Those who knew Steve say he was gifted in electronics and dreamt of owning his own company. He established Trutech Electronics in Portland in the 1980s. He invented several things in the electronics field.

Steve had a knack for teaching and was an instructor at Blue Mountain Community College where he taught others in the field of his expertise.

Steve was very close to his family. Those who knew him say he had a wonderful sense of humor and was enjoyable to be around. He was lovingly known as Unk to all his nieces and nephews and was especially close to his sister, Rebecca.

Stephen is survived by his son, Ben and his wife; his daughter, Emily Betts; one grandchild; nieces and nephews; and a sister, Rebecca Ambrose.

He was preceded in death by his mother last July.

.