Obituary of Betty Blomquist Matthews

Betty Blomquist Matthews

Burlington - Betty Blomquist Matthews, 85, died Friday, September 14, 2018. Betty was born on November 24, 1932, the daughter of the late Hugo Leander Blomquist and Margaret Lane Mordecai Blomquist in Durham, North Carolina. She was predeceased by Lonnie Turner (L.T.) Matthews, her husband of 59 years.

Betty graduated in 1955 from Duke University with a degree in Sociology and obtained a Master of Education in Exceptional Children from UNC Chapel Hill. Betty enjoyed a long career as an educator and Program Director for Handicapped and Gifted Children in Orange County.

Betty was a member of the Hillsborough Kiwanis Club and served as president of the Orange County Extension and Community Association. She was a volunteer with the Children’s Programs at the Duke Gardens for eighteen years.

Betty and L.T. enjoyed many years with their children on their cattle farm in Hillsborough, travel to Scotland, Puerto Rico, Italy and France, and spending time at their lake house on Hyco Lake. They were avid bird watchers and especially enjoyed birdwatching trips to Murrells Inlet, SC.  

Betty is survived by her children Nils Eric Matthews (Kalyn); Michael Turner Matthews (Sarah); and Margaret Lane Matthews Engelbrekt (Alan) and her grandchildren Cameron Thomas Matthews (Lauren and great granddaughter Austen Elizabeth Matthews), Nicola Rae Matthews, David Michael James Matthews, Grace Elizabeth Lane Matthews, Benjamin Alan Engelbrekt, Isabel Lane Engelbrekt, and Betty’s Dachshund, Frederick II.

Services were held at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 210 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough, NC on Friday, September 28 at 1:00.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Blomquist Garden of  Native Plants, PO Box 90341, Durham NC, 27708; to Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 210 St. Mary’s Rd., Hillsborough, NC 27278; or to Twin Lakes Resident Assistance Fund, 3701 Wade Coble Drive, Burlington, NC 27215.

Online guest registry at www.walkersfuneralservice.com

The family is under the care of Walker’s Funeral Home and Crematory of Mebane