Betty Mae Tulip

White River Junction, VT – Betty Tulip, 92, died Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH from an unexpected accident in Hardwick, VT. She had lived a long, healthy life and continued to be an active, independent woman right up until her death.

Born on February 4th of 1934 in Eden, VT, Betty attended school in Wolcott, VT and graduated high school in 1953 at Peoples’ Academy in Morrisville, VT.

Betty married her high school sweetheart, Marvin Powers, in 1954 and they moved to White River Junction, VT and started a family. They spent a few years in California before moving back to White River Junction and settling in. They had three daughters before divorcing in 1969. She then met and married Lawrence Tulip in 1971. They had a long, successful marriage for 22 years before Larry passed away in 1992. Later she met her companion, Collins Hall, from Irasburg, VT and they spent 25 years together. They would spend time in each of their hometowns going to dances and enjoying one another’s company until Collins passed away in 2019.

Betty worked for several companies including The Vermont Hardware Store, Miller Auto Company, and AT&T where she spent 25 years being a loyal and dedicated telephone operator until retirement. She then worked part-time at the White River Junction Post Office and the Quechee Gorge Gift Shop. Along the way she made several lifetime friends. She was a dedicated, loyal, and hard-working woman.

Her final chapter was as a single, independent woman who would do anything for family and friends alike. She enjoyed flower gardening, reading books, bird watching, dancing, lunches, and bingo at the Bugbee Senior Center, lunches and quality time with her girlfriends, long drives “up north” to visit her cousins where they would go dancing to local bands or play cards. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her three daughters and family, never missing a single holiday or reason to get together. She will be deeply missed by everyone that knew and loved her!

Betty was a believer in God and a dedicated member of the Methodist Church in White River Junction. She volunteered peeling potatoes, working at their thrift store, and mailing greeting cards to all their parishioners. She hardly ever missed a sermon. We know she is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior now and for eternity!

She was preceded in death by her parents Thelma and Jules Ellsworth, two husbands Marvin Powers and Lawrence Tulip, her life partner Collins Hall, several aunts and uncles, cousins, and many other family members and friends.

She is survived by her three loving daughters Valleri Adams of Canaan, NH, Vanessa Powers of Sharon, VT, and Veronica DeFord of Enfield, NH; five loving grandchildren Benjamin Adams of Timnath, CO, Silas Henry of Hartland, VT, Jillian Miecielica and her husband Corey of Longmont, CO, Sonja Henry of White River Junction, and Amber DeFord and her partner Kip Melcher of New Bedford, MA; six great grandkids; her loving brother Gerald Ellsworth and his wife Jane of Timmonsville, SC; several nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends. She was truly blessed and a blessing to all.

Her services and celebration of life will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT on Sunday, July 12th with calling hours from 3 until 4 pm followed by a funeral service at 4 pm. Her burial will be on Monday, July 13th at the LaPorte Cemetery in Morristown, VT at 11 am where she will be laid to rest next to her loving parents as her eternal soul will reside in Heaven with Jesus Christ Our Savior.

Condolences to Betty’s family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, bugbeecenter.org and the United Methodist Church in White River Junction, wrjmethodists.org.