Betsyanne Tippette

Born Betsyanne Wright in New Haven, Connecticut to Walter and Betty Wright, she attended elementary school in Essex, Connecticut and Viewpoint boarding school in Amenia, New York, graduating in 1959. She then attended Mitchell College in Connecticut with a goal of ultimately being an executive assistant to a senior corporate officer. She worked for several years in the savings and loan industry in Massachusetts and then the television industry, where she managed filming and production sites in the Caribbean for a television series called "Salty." In 1973, Betsyanne achieved her goal and was hired by the William Morris agency in New York City as executive assistant to their senior literary agent, who represented authors such as James Michner, Gore Vidal and Giles Tippette, who wrote western novels and whom she married in 1981. The couple moved from Manhattan to Mason, Texas, population 2,500. Betsyanne adapted to the culture shock and accepted Gile's wanderlust, moving to several Texas and California towns over the next 10 years, finally settling in Tyler, Texas in 1992. They had 18 wonderful years together and, after his passing, she moved to Dallas in 2003. Betsyanne was very active in the Unity Church in Dallas, where she met her partner and future husband, Dennis Nienkerk. They fell in love on their first date and were together for 19 years, eventually marrying in January 2024. They traveled the world together, taking more than 100 cruises and visiting more than 100 countries, and were often referred to as the "fun couple" by both cruise and hometown friend groups. With an informed world view, Betsyanne was committed to helping others, regularly supporting over 30 charitable organizations. She also loved plants and gardening; for over 20 years, she was a Master Gardener in Tyler and Dallas, providing articles for the association’s newsletters and making many contributions to their causes and activities. Betsyanne is survived by her husband Dennis; her sister and brother-in-law Martha and Tom Potter; her niece Carolyn Bachrodt and her children Olive and Michael of Boca Raton, Florida; and Dennis' children Todd Nienkerk of Georgetown, Texas, Laura Massey of Austin, Texas, and Sara Betts of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Betsyanne Tippette

August 15, 1941 - April 12, 2024