Elizabeth Harrer "Betty" Tuttle

Betty Tuttle of Phoenix, Arizona, incredible mother to two children, Keith Tuttle and Ellen Young, and the greatest supporter of 11 grandchildren, passed away peacefully in Scottsdale of a stroke on August 13, 2026.

She was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1950 to Suzanne and Joseph Harrer. She grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois where she attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School until she graduated from high school. Betty began going to college, and then worked for Caterpillar to gain some life experience. She then decided it was time to leave the midwest and moved to Tempe to attend Arizona State University and received her degree in education. She received her first teaching assignment on the Navajo Reservation and met her husband, Ken Tuttle. They were married in 1979, and they raised their two children in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Betty was an educator on the reservation for over 35 years. She moved to Gallup, New Mexico in 1999, and then job opportunities took her to Roswell, New Mexico where she worked as a counselor in Dexter and later at New Mexico Military Institute. Betty and Ken moved to Phoenix in 2010 to be closer to their children.

Betty was a devoted mother to Keith Tuttle and grandmother to his children Victoria (29), Christian (26), Caleb (24), Ryne (18), Scarlett (15), Kaya (13), and Kyle (12); and to Ellen Young and her children Zach (21), Caleb (18), Levi (15), and Sammy (12). Between her children and grandchildren, Betty attended countless performances, sporting events, promotions, graduations, and life events. She even cancelled bridge games to attend the numerous activities that she prioritized in order to see her family doing amazing things. They always felt the love and support she provided.

Betty was an avid bridge player, and she was a part of numerous bridge groups where she played in many games that ranged from fun, friendly events that took so long because they were too busy laughing and talking to tournaments where she would earn points to rank her higher professionally with each win. She played online where she met people from all over the world and in person where she made incredible friends who all described her as generous with an infectious laugh that could be heard anywhere. Her schedule between her grandchildren’s events and bridge kept her busy constantly and kept her on the move for years.

Betty was preceded in death by her son, Keith Tuttle (2015); husband, Ken Tuttle (2020); and sister Lora Lavin (2024). She is survived by her sister, Nancy Baum; daughter, Ellen Young; and her 11 grandchildren, who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

Her memorial will be on Saturday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home at 4800 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85018. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please support PBS, St. Mary’s Foodbank, or KJZZ with a donation in her memory.