In the early hours of March 15, 2017 Betty La Rue Cardoza was called from this earth.  Betty was born on November 25, 1925 in Long Beach, Ca. to Marion and Benjamin Irons.
Betty grew up in the Long Beach area and then later in Tracy, Ca.  She graduated from Tracy High School in 1943.  She went to work at Tracy Defense Depot as a secretary.  She met the love of her life, Anthony (Tony) Cardoza in 1944 and they were married on April 3, 1945 in Tracy, Ca.
Betty and Tony began married life in a home on Lowell St, where their three children were born, sons Wayne and Rick, and daughter Janis.  In 1956 the family moved to Lockeford, Ca. where they started a small dairy.  Betty and Tony celebrated fifty years of marriage in 1995, before Tony’s death in 1997.
Betty had many interests and was an excellent mother, homemaker, cook and seamstress.  She kept an immaculate house, and could be counted upon to provide a delicious cake or pie for any occasion, and to be a chauffeur for her children and any neighborhood children as well. Always with her beautiful smile, she helped and assisted her children and husband in all endeavors, including feeding and milking the cows on the dairy, to transporting Rick and his go-kart to the track to practice racing, even taking a turn on the go-kart herself.  She designed and created several beautiful formal gowns for daughter Janis’s high school proms, and was always the one who captured fun and important moments with her ever present camera.
Her life taught all of us the true meaning of what it is to be a wonderful wife, mother and friend.  Betty was an active member of the Lockeford Grange, Dakota Club, and the Italian Club of Lodi, as well as the Lockeford VFW Auxiliary.  She was a 4-H Club leader for many years, sharing her cooking, baking and sewing talents with many children.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Jack Eckman, son in law, Michael Hart and her beloved husband Tony.  She is survived by one sister, Barbara Lee of Modesto Ca., her three children, Wayne Cardoza of San Francisco, Rick Cardoza (Debbie), and Janis Hart both of Lodi, Ca., her grandchildren Marissa Stolarik (Dan), Ashley Hurles (Tim), Julia Murphy (Kevin), Aran Cardoza (Nicole), and Erika Tannyhill (Brady) and 8 great grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.  Betty’s family would like to thank the staff at River Fountains of Lodi for the loving care of their precious mother, as well as the Hospice staff.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lifeguard Hospice Care Inc. 5976 W. Los Positas Blvd #106 Pleasanton, Ca. 94588.   Visitation will be held on Thurs. March 23, 2:00-7:00 pm at Donahue Funeral Home 123 N. School St. Lodi Ca.  Her Celebration of Life will be held Friday March 24, 2017 at 10:00 am at St. Joachims Church 13392 E Lockeford Ranch Rd. Lockeford Ca. 95237