Betty Lou Blixt

Betty Lou was born on May 16, 1941, in Jamestown, the daughter of the late William and Rosemary (Herkert) Boerst. She was the second of four children and spent her entire life in the community she loved so deeply. From a young age, Betty Lou was active and involved in Jamestown, a commitment she carried with her throughout her life.

She was a 1959 graduate of Jamestown High School, where she sang in the A Cappella Choir and proudly served as head majorette for the marching band. She later studied criminal justice at Jamestown Community College. Betty Lou was employed by the Jamestown Telephone Company and the YWCA before finding her true passion working for the Better Business Bureau as Head of the Dispute Settlement Center as mediator/arbitrator. After retiring, she became a beloved tour guide at the Lucy-Desi Museum alongside her sister Barb, making sure every tour bus was filled with Lucy trivia and laughs.

While working at the telephone company, Betty Lou met the love of her life, David Blixt, Sr. They quickly fell in love and were married on June 2, 1961. Their wedding song, Alley Oop, always brought a smile to her face and she couldn’t help but dance and sing along when it was played. Together, they shared a life full of love, laughter, and devotion. Her greatest pride and joy was her family. Betty Lou and David had five children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren on the way.

Betty Lou’s love for Jamestown was evident in her deep community involvement. She was a member of the Adelphian Ladies Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Viking Lodge, Allied Arts, Waterways Knitting Guild, Curves, Zonta Club of Jamestown, Marvin Community House, Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, Chautauqua County Youth Hockey Association, and the Falconer Moose Club, where she was a charter member. She also volunteered as an election inspector and served on the board of Sunset Hill Cemetery. Her list of memberships was long–she simply couldn’t say no when asked to help.

Her happiest moments were spent surrounded by family and friends. Betty Lou never met a stranger–only new people to talk to and get to know. She was one of the funniest people you could ever meet, never taking life too seriously and always willing to laugh at herself.

She loved spending winters at her condo in Venice, Florida, where she never missed Thursday night game night and was always the first to arrive for an intense game of “Hand and Foot.” Her colorful vocabulary while playing cards–even with her grandchildren–was legendary. An avid knitter, Betty Lou passed her love of knitting on to her daughters and granddaughters. She adored animals, especially her beloved dog, Arthur. Known affectionately as “Feema,” she was the loudest cheerleader at her grandchildren’s sporting events, dance recitals, graduations, and every important milestone–always front row, cowbell in hand. Becoming a great-grandmother filled her with immense joy. Betty Lou was the glue for her family and the place everyone always called home.

She is survived by her five children: David A. “Scrubby” Blixt Jr. of Frewsburg, NY; Amy Lou (Dan) Gustafson of Pinehurst, NC; Dan Blixt of Florida; Dage (Kim) Blixt of Dale City, VA; and Jody Lou (Joey) Blixt of Jamestown, NY; grandchildren: Paige (Alex) Bulko of Aberdeen, NC; Ryan (Megan) Gustafson of Hope Mills, NC; Abigail Blixt and Ellie Blixt of Pittsburgh, PA; three great-grandchildren: Lorelai Bulko and Hunter and Hayden Gustafson; two great-grandchildren on the way; her foreign exchange “son” from Finland, Jari (Katri) Lehto; and her brother, Robert (Jill) Boerst of The Villages, Florida.

In addition to her parents, Betty Lou was preceded in death by her husband, David Blixt Sr., who passed away on April 21, 2000, and her siblings, William Boerst and Barbara Ann Slumsky. We are certain it was a joyful reunion.

Betty Lou will be missed beyond imagination by all who knew and loved her. We will carry her with us each day, hearing her gentle reminder not to take life too seriously–and to laugh every day, even if it’s at yourself.

Friends will be received on Jan. 24, 2026, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Lind’s Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will follow at 2 p.m.

Memorials may be made in Betty Lou’s honor to Parkton Church of God (Mail checks to 22780 US-301, Parkton, NC 28371), Pearce’s Mill Fire Department, Station 3 (Mail checks to 168 Dedication Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306), Huntington’s Disease Association of America https://give.hdsa.org/campaign/740121/donate.

You may leave words of condolence at lindfuneralhome.com.