Bette Lou Bothun Cote – Wilmington, NC

Bette Lou Bothun Cote, 71, entered her heavenly home Sunday, October 26, 2025 at Novant Hospital, Wilmington, NC. Her Celebration of Life was at 2 p.m. Saturday November 8 at Noe-Brooks Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC. The service was live-streamed. Bette was born August 2, 1954 to Chester Ely Bothun and Eleanor Gertrude Benhardus Bothun at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, MN. She grew up on the Bothun Homestead Farm near Dalton, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Dalton. Bette attended Dalton Elementary School and graduated from Ashby High School in 1972. She attended Compassion Bible School in Minneapolis and School of the Associated Arts at St Paul. Bette was a member of the Narrow Road Rejoicers, singing and sharing the Gospel throughout the Midwest. She was employed at Security State Bank in Fergus Falls, MN. Bette attended Christian Retreat in Bradenton, FL, where she met the love of her life, William “Bill” Peter Cote. They married May 26, 1984. They became active in several ministries, traveling as Evangelists with the Gospel Crusade throughout Canada and United States. Bette and Bill eventually moved to Carteret County, NC. Their family became complete when their daughter, Celeste Ivory Cote was born November 6, 1991. Bette was a stay-at-home mom, making special memories with her little girl. They loved having picnics and searching for unique shells on the beach. Bette was gifted at home-decorating. She enjoyed ‘puttering’ around the house – making sure each unique knick-knack was placed exactly in the perfect spot with the right accent to make it look beautiful. In her homes, every item had an interesting story she enjoyed telling to anyone who noticed it! Bette worked at Knowledge of Christ Books & Gifts in Morehead City and retiring in 2017. She then volunteered at St. James Thrift Store in Newport. Bette loved people. She made new friends wherever she went, while keeping her old friends. She made sure to visit with Minnesota relatives and friends from her school years, when she went ‘home to MN’. She stayed active with her Glad Tidings Church friends, even though she became very involved with her dear church family at Franklin Memorial Meth-odist Church. Bette also always made a point of getting to know her neighbors, taking time to enjoy visiting with them. Bette loved the Lord and she loved sharing Him with others. Bette participated in several Bible Study groups and ladies’ groups from many different churches. She studied her Bible and she was a quiet but very active Prayer Warrior. Bette is survived by her dear daughter, Celeste Cote of Wilmington; her five sisters, Corrine Tobolt (Roger) of Big Lake, MN; Eunice Digre of Dalton, MN; Mavis Bolin (Kenneth) of Alexandria, MN; Donna Boren (Danny) of Goldsboro, NC; and Janet Nelson of Alexandria, MN; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, who passed to Heaven June 8, 2021; her parents, and her brothers-in-law, Tom Nelson and Roger Digre. Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net. Arrangements were by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home of Morehead City, NC.