Betty Patterson Via, age 75 of Decherd, passed from this life on November 5, 2016 at her home. A native of Mt. Herman in Bedford County, she was raised in Shelbyville. She and her husband Ray had made her home in Decherd since 1978. Betty was a member of Winchester First United Methodist Church and was very active in the community. She worked with the Franklin County Election Commission in early voting and she headed election-day voting at Decherd Elementary School in Decherd. She was a former president of Cub Scout Pack 141 in Decherd, and was a den leader for many years. With her husband Ray, she coached boys youth soccer from 8 years through high school. Betty also supported her son’s beekeeping hobby, and tended to the bees herself for many years. Betty’s main hobby was genealogy which she worked on for over 50 years, connection to other lines and tracing some ancestors back over 1,000 years. She was very active in furthering local historical research, and wrote a book documenting the history of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church in southern Bedford County. She was also a member of the Bedford County Historical Commission. Betty was also a former president of the Highland Rim Garden Club, and had a life-long interest in flowers and gardening. Her other interest included playing the piano, playing bridge, church activities and many other community activities. Betty is preceded in death by her brother, Henry Patterson. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Ray Via of Decherd; Sons, Tony (Brandy) Via of Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Roc (Stephanie) Via of Franklin, TN; grandchildren, Autumn Brooke via and Ariana Renea Via. The family will receive friends at Watson-North Funeral Home Wednesday November 9, 2016 from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted from the Roy B. Watson chapel of Watson-North funeral Home at 11 a.m. Thursday November 10, 2016 with Rev. Blake Stephens officiating. Following the funeral ceremony the family will gather at Mt. Hermon Cemetery in Bedford County at 1:30 p.m. for the interment with friends and family serving as pallbearers. Online condolences may be sent to www.watsonnorth.com