John was born June 17, 1938, in Miltonvale, Kansas, to the late Melvin and Flora Betters. He married the love of his life, the late Yvonne L. Hunsinger on June 20, 1958. John went on to study at Miltonvale Wesleyan College and upon graduation became an ordained minister. He and Yvonne began a life of ministry in Kansas until they were called as missionaries to Alaska in the late 1960s. John was a founding father of the Far North Missionary Fellowship where he served as Director for nearly 50 years. He worked tirelessly as a pastor and friend to his Alaska Native “family” all around the interior of the state.

John furthered his education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he graduated with a master’s degree in education. John taught for more than 20 years at Lathrop High School and village schools across Alaska. His former students still share fond memories of school days with Mr. Betters. After retiring John started a pilot car business and made friends from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his loving wife, Yvonne L. Betters, on July 19, 2014, and brother Ted Lee Betters.

John is survived by his daughter, Rebecca, of Salcha; grandchildren Austen Traylor, Christian Traylor, Rhiannon Yvonne Traylor, all of North Pole; great-grandchildren Josiah Witcher, Euric Traylor, Saxon Traylor, all of North Pole; sister Ruthie Betters, of Clyde, Kansas; and numerous extended family and friends from around the world.

The family states, “our dad and grandpa was truly a man of the people. His humor, guidance, generosity and great loving spirit, and especially his bear hugs, will be forever remembered and greatly missed.”

May God bless the memory of John and Yvonne Betters and may that memory, and their tremendous legacy, continue to impact interior Alaska for God’s Kingdom.