Bette Bachmann Tell

Bette Bachmann Tell passed away on July 6, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents Alma and Walter Bachmann, husband Cmdr. William M. Tell, and brother Walter Bachmann Jr.

Bette will be missed by her daughters Lee Ann Hughes (John) and Lisa Tell (Don Preisler), grandchildren Tiara Chelsea Wright and Kailee Hughes and Alexander and Nicholas Preisler, great grandchildren Lydia and August Wright, niece Deb McComas (Steven McComas), additional family members Mike McComas and Dawn Preisler and extended family Chrissy Berry, Sharen and Scott Fretwell, Kay and Chuck Hervey, and Arlene Billings.

Bette was born in Beach Haven, NJ on June 14, 1931. Her early childhood was spent in Philadelphia, PA at the family's restaurant The Oyster Saloon. She was often wheeled around the block in her baby carriage by her beloved and adored brother, Walter while he wore his roller skates and moved at great speed. The family purchased The Water Wheel Inn located in Doylestown, PA and moved there when Bette was still young. Bette was an excellent student and graduated from Doylestown High School. She dreamed of furthering her education studying psychology. Even though the cultural norms of her time did not make this an option, her interest and delight in people and their joys and sorrows would continue throughout her life and become a lifelong gift to those around her.

Bette married William (Bill) M. Tell on October 15,1949 in the Salem Reformed Church, Doylestown, PA. Bill’s career as a Naval Officer took them all around the world and enabled Bette to meet many people from all walks of life. In the 1940's and 1950's, the wives of Naval Officers attended career training of their own. Classes in dress, behavior, deportment and entertaining were held. Bette excelled in all her training. This education gave Bette confidence, as well as a vehicle for her kindness and thoughtfulness, to shine in every interaction.

Bette lived for and adored her family. While stationed in Seoul, Korea and Taipei, Taiwan, Bette and Bill adopted Lee Ann and Lisa. Thanks to Bette’s unparalleled loving involvement as a mother, Lee Ann and Lisa were bestowed with wonderful lives and families. When the grandchildren began to arrive, Bette proudly adopted the name “Tai Tai”, which means "woman of the house”. This name reflected her role as the wise and loving head-of-the-household at the heart of the family; it was a truly fitting title.

Bette had many other loves in her life. She loved dogs, food, moving/traveling, fashion, flowers, Asian art, and building/decorating her homes just to name a few. During her life she was rarely without one, two, or more dogs. The dogs slept near her bed and traveled on errands with her in the car. Bette was a voracious reader and continued to educate herself in many subjects throughout her lifetime. She had a subscription to The New York Times and read it faithfully. Bette also enjoyed novels and mysteries. Some of her favorite authors were Louise Penny, Agatha Christie and Janet Evanovich. Bette would recommend, “If you are having a bad day, read a Janet Evanovich novel and have a good laugh”.

For Bette, the use of good manners in daily life was a must!! She gently (and sometimes not so subtly) drilled into her children, grandchildren and niece the use of "Please" and "Thank You", "How do you do?", and other bits of polite behavior. Her family members believe that her insistence on good manners has afforded them intangible advantages as they move through their lives.

Bette's kindness, compassion and caring were apparent to everyone she encountered. She had a special talent for seeing people for who they are, recognizing their true selves and making them feel like they were the most important person in the world. An extended family member wrote “Thank you for being such an inspiring example of thoughtfulness, kindness, charity, optimism, love, energy, wisdom and strength. I hope you realize how much you’re loved and appreciated by everyone whose life you have touched”. True to those words, she treated everyone with kindness and genuine interest whether they were the grocery clerk or the President of the Republic of China. She was a huge support to her family and dear friends. She would cheer everyone’s successes, comfort losses, but above all she would unconditionally love her family and friends no matter what. Her family and friends would end phone conversation with the words "I love you" and she would respond "I love you more".

Bette’s family members are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Tai Tai but are grateful that she was able to pass quickly, peacefully, and with grace. A gathering to celebrate Bette's life will be held at The University Retirement Center (1515 Shasta Court, Davis, CA; parking in nearby neighborhoods may be necessary) on Monday, July 28, 2025 between 2:30 and 4:00 PM. All are welcome and the event will be casual dress attire with lots of cheerful color. In lieu of flowers, Bette would be delighted and extremely appreciative (and Kelsi extends her gratitude too) for any donations made to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, CA.