Betty Lela (Pittman) Luttrell

Former Hastings resident Betty Lela (Pittman) Luttrell, 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior and reunited with her loved ones after a brief battle with cancer on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at her home in Orleans, NE.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hastings with Pastor Dave Irwin officiating. 

Betty was born in Frankfort, KS to Jay and Pearl Pittman. She was born the youngest of nine children. She attended school in Frankfort until the age of nine, when the family moved up to Hastings, NE. She finished school and went on to attend the Hastings Beauty Academy.

She met the love of her life, Kenneth Luttrell and was joined in holy matrimony on August 29, 1946 lasting a blissful 60 years until he passed away at age 78 in 2006. To this union three children were born: Steve, Peggy, and Julie (who passed away as an infant).

Betty was a devout Christian and accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of 18. She became a member of the Orleans Presbyterian Church after moving to Orleans. She was a firm believer in the Prayer of Salvation and did not want anyone to miss out on eternal life. At the age of 80 she set out on a mission to offer people the free gift of salvation by handing out the prayer printed on items. She said if just one person accepts the gift and is saved her work was worth it. She did this for 10 years till Covid restricted her from spreading the word.

The couple made their home in Clay Center, NE until 1973 then they moved to Colorado where they managed numerous businesses together for 16 years. They returned to Nebraska in 1989 and managed the Arrow Lodge in Alma, NE before retiring in Orleans, NE.

Her favorite past time was swim aerobics which she faithfully attended for 19 years.

Betty was a thrill seeker, when she was 90 she skydived and at 95 she ziplined and did the sky coaster (noted as the scariest ride in the world) over the Royal Gorge in Colorado.

Betty was the definition of “love.” Everyone she met fell in love with her beautiful ways and love for adventure. Her best attribute was to not judge others but instead just pray for them.

She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother, a loving grandmother, great and great-great-grandmother.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; son, Steve; infant daughter, Julie; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.

SURVIVORS:
Daughter:
    Peggy
Grandchildren:
    Shon
    Angee
    Todd
    Steven Jr.
Great-Grandchildren:
    10
Great-Great-Grandchildren:
    8
Several Nieces and Nephews
Her church family and a special friend, Francis