John "JJ" J. Bettencourt

John J. "JJ" Bettencourt was born in Tranquility, Calif. (Fresno County) on October 20, 1924. When an infant, his family moved to Lincoln, Calif. (Placer County) after a nation-wide-epidemic of hoof and mouth disease wiped out his father's dairy cow herd. His father worked for the Gladding-McLean Tile Company and they raised their family of 6 girls and 2 boys there. JJ attended schools in Lincoln and also in Gustine (Merced County) where he spent part of his childhood with his uncle, "Papa John" Silva. Growing up in the Great Depression, times were difficult. John found work where he could, from working on a ranch near Susanville to working at the Southern Pacific Railroad roundhouse in Roseville. He joined the Navy when he was 17 years old in high school in Lincoln, exaggerating his age as many other young men did, and served in the U.S. Navy in World War II in the South Pacific and in Japan after the surrender. He later was Merced County Veteran's Service Officer until his retirement in 1973 when he started his own electrical contracting business on the Monterey Peninsula. He and Rosalie were married in 1975 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove. When he was still in the Navy, he joined the American Legion and was a diligent member from then on. He was a very amiable man and made many, many lifelong friends in his travels throughout the State, both with the American Legion and other organizations that he and Rosalie belonged to. He also was a golf aficionado and a fond memory was making a hole-in-one at the Old Navy Golf Course in Monterey (now Monterey Pines). They enjoyed a great social life, dancing, stage productions, trips, including gambling trips to Reno and Lake Tahoe, baseball games in San Francisco and Oakland, Salinas Rodeo, etc...John was very proud of his Portuguese heritage and enjoyed serving as president of the Monterey F.D.E.S. and being a member of other Portuguese organizations. John was a member of: American Legion Post #41 of Monterey; Department Commander of the American Legion of the State of California 1992-93; Alternate National Committeeman of the American Legion 1993-94; National Committeeman of the American Legion 1994-95; California American Legion Press Association; National American Legion Press Association; Life member Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8679 of Gustine; Locale 596 La Societe des 40 hinnes et 8 Chevaux 40/8 (of Merced) and past Departmental Sous Chef; Merced B.P.O.E. #1240 (Elks Club); Monterey Bay Hot Jazz Society; Cabrillo Club #28 of Monterey County; St. Mary's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church of Pacific Grove, past vestryman and junior warden; past president Rotary Club of Gustine; Portuguese societies A.S.D.E.S. of Lincoln CA, F.D.E.S. of Monterey (past president), U.P.E.C., S.E.S. and I.D.E.S. JJ is survived by his wife, Rosalie of Monterey. Daughters - Linda Gross of Aromas, Susan McCarter of Gustine. 3 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren. Stepson, Jerald Syme of Monterey. Sisters - Gloria Kelly of Carmichael CA and Nancy Davis of Elk Grove, CA. Many nieces and nephews in the Sacramento area. Contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.