Obituaries
Bette Kent, Animal Rights Activist and Model, Dies at 89
After reading the works of Rachel Carson, Kent became involved with Earth Save and the Animal Humane Society
Edina resident Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kent, an animal rights activist and fashion model, died Aug. 11 at 91.
Born in St. Paul, she graduated from West High School in Minneapolis, where she met her husband, Richard, according to her Star Tribune obituary. She won an art scholarship out of high school but worked at Minneapolis Honeywell and The Minneapolis Federal Reserve during World War II.
She worked as a fashion model for stores including Dayton's and Donaldson's. She lived with her husband in Colorado and California before they moved to Edina.
After reading Rachel Carson, she became an environment and animal welfare advocate, working with Earth Save and the Animal Humane Society.
Kent was "a lifelong champion of animal rights and the environment—long before they were recognized by others to be worthy causes," Bert and Mary Britton Clouse wrote in a Star Tribune guest book.
She is survived by her husband, Richard, her "special friend," Frederick J. Souba, her sister, Alice Greer, and by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
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