Elizabeth "Betty" (Hartze) Liles, 92, passed away peacefully at home on September 2, 2020 in Whittier, CA with her daughter, Rose, at her side.

Betty was born in Greenway, SD on October 19, 1927 in a two-room sod house to Mathias and Regina Hartze and was one of 20 children.  She attended school until the eighth grade when she had to stay home to help work the farm.  She later completed high school through a correspondence course.

As an adult she moved to Minnesota to work and there met her husband, James Thomas (Tommy) Liles, Jr. of Chattanooga TN.  They quickly fell in love and, after returning to his home in Chattanooga, he proposed by letter.  They were married on February 13, 1957 and ultimately made their home on a farm in Harrison where they raised chickens commercially.  Tommy predeceased Betty in June 1971.  She remained on the farm until moving to California in 2018.

After Tommy's death, Betty entered the food service business to support her three children.  She worked as a cook in a variety of industries – schools, assisted living facilities and restaurants.  She finally retired at the age of 90 (one month before turning 91) from Armando's Highway 58 restaurant, where she worked for 20 years.

She was a resident of Harrison for 60 years and a faithful parishioner of St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Chattanooga during that time.

Betty is survived by three daughters: Carol Hargis, Rose (Michael) Miller and Evelyn (Todd) McNiel, five grandchildren; Kenny Hargis, Tammy Hardin, Chrissy Orum, James Hargis and Amy Lindstrom and six great-grandchildren; Kimberly Mount, Julie Mount, Bobby Mount, Thomas Hargis, Taylor Hardin and Tanner Hardin.  She is also survived by five siblings: Mary ­­­­Renner, Helen Volk, Maggie Kramer, Evelyn Hartze and Peter Hartze and one very special "sister", Nancy Malone.

The family will receive friends at Turner Funeral Home on Highway 58 in Chattanooga on Thursday, September 17 from 2 pm until 6 pm.  The funeral service will also be at Turner Funeral Home on Friday, September 18 at 11 am.  Betty will be laid to rest next to her husband in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Salvation Army, the charity that assisted Betty and her children at the time of her husband's death.  Call Sue Finn at the Salvation Army (503) 794-3282 or pick up an info sheet at the service(s).

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