With family beside her in her residence, Adelaide (Bette) Van Deventer Gibson peacefully passed away at midnight, as we began December 17, 2025. She was 89 years old and lived at The Pines in Davidson, North Carolina.
Born in 1936, Bette was the eldest daughter of William and Adelaide Van Deventer, and raised in Far Hills, N.J. She attended Ethel Walker School and Hollins College. She married Richard E. Johnson in 1957, and had three children, Rick, Adelaide (Di), and Wilhelmina. Their homes in the Hudson Valley included a former inn from the 1700s and another Bette personally designed and had built. Dick and Bette divorced in 1968.
In 1969, Bette married Donald H. Gibson, adding to the family step-daughters Pam, Meg and Kathryn. In 1971 they had a daughter, Laura.
In the 1980s, Don and Bette moved to a new home, also designed and built by Bette, on the shore of Newfound Lake in Hebron, N.H. After Don’s passing, Bette would live in Plymouth, Mass., before moving to Davidson to be closer to her youngest daughter and two grandchildren, Drew and Adelaide (Addie), who would remain close caregivers and supporters through Bette’s later years. In Davidson she attended St Alban’s Episcopal Church.
Bette loved to sing and sang in choirs and glee clubs for decades. Her last solo was with the Pinetones at Christmas just a year ago. She served as a dedicated volunteer leader, including as president of a PTA, a vestry of her church, and in other organizations such as the Girl Scouts. She had a lifelong love of travel, beginning with family journeys across the American West and her first school trips to Europe, and continuing through frequent visits to her far-flung children and many cherished days on the beaches of St. Thomas.
Bette was known for her spirited engagement in life. She could be feisty, had a delightful laugh, and a flair for bright colorful clothing. She enjoyed and appreciated good food. She was clear about the right way to prepare a leg of lamb. Over the years she enjoyed the various family dogs, and acquired her last pet, Eski, a cute little guy, who has become Laura’s family dog.
Bette is survived by Rick Johnson and Roberta Crockett of Boise, Idaho; Adelaide (Di) Johnson, Michael Hekkers and their son Aubrey Hekkers of Juneau, Alaska; Wilhelmina Bradley of Hebron and Kingston, New Hampshire, and Laura Adams, and her son and daughter, Drew Adams and Adelaide (Addie) Adams. She is also survived by step-daughters Pam Neely, Meg Severns, and Kathryn Goodyear and their families.
The family would like to extend their appreciation for the hospice team and to the staff of The Pines. Rick, Di and Wilhelmina also extend their appreciation to their youngest sister Laura, who with Drew and Addie, provided life-affirming love, support and advocacy for our mom in her later years. We are grateful for our time together at the end, and together we move forward.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Hampshire Audubon or St Alban’s Episcopal Church of Davidson.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville is proudly serving the Gibson family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.