Bettie Jane Erbele
May 12, 1936 - August 17, 2026
OBITUARY
Bettie Jane Erbele passed away peacefully at Lodi Memorial Hospital after a brief
illness on August 17 th , 2026. She was born in Lodi, May 12 th 1936 to John and Lydia
Fuller at Mason Hospital and lived her entire 90 years in Lodi. She attended Lodi
Academy and graduated with the class of 1954. After High School she spent a partial
year studying at Pacific Union College in Angwin California before being called home to
assist in the care of her older brother who had fallen ill. Once her brother had made a
full recovery, Bettie took a secretarial job with an Insurance Agency in Lodi where she
eventually met her future husband Melvin Erbele who was working across the street at a
gas station. They met over a cup of coffee and were married a year later on April 20 th
1958. They welcomed their son Brian the following year, and a daughter Shelley a year
later. They spent sixty-eight wonderful years together!
Once her children were in school, Bettie worked part-time jobs as a bookkeeper in the
Lodi area so she would be able to drop them off and pick them up from school every
day. In the 1970’s Bettie joined the volunteer women’s group Omega Nu (Alpha Delta
Chapter) and rose to the level of Grand President over all the Northern California
Chapters. When the children went off to college, Bettie started her own business
opening a Merle Norman Cosmetic studio in Stockton California. With the success of
the first studio, she was offered the opportunity for others. A second in Modesto
California and a third in Stockton’s Lincoln Center soon followed. After graduating from
college daughter Shelley would help Bettie manage these businesses. After Melvin
retired, they would operate these business’s together for twenty years before selling
them to new operators as they got closer to retirement. Bettie also operated a children’s
clothing store in Lincoln Center called Tutto Bella for six years before Bettie and Melvin
decided to sell that business and retire.
Upon retirement Bettie and Melvin enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and Europe and
spending time at their second home on the Monterey Peninsula where they held annual
passes to the Monterey Jazz Festival for many years. Bettie was also a fan of the San
Francisco Giants and would travel with Melvin to spring training in Scottsdale Arizona as
recently as 2025.
Bettie is survived by her husband Melvin Erbele, her son Brian Erbele and daughter-in-
law Laddie, her daughter Shelley and son-in-law Steve Bandoni, their children Brock
Bandoni and his wife Talia, Scott Bandoni, and great grandchildren Ava, Ari, and Mia
Bandoni, and her sister Shirley Blake. She is predeceased by her brother Dr. Leland
Fuller MD, and sister Dolores Vollmer.
A private family service is planned.
Please leave your condolences below.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Erbele family.