Mrs. Tom (Bette) Despins, 68, of De Pere, died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon April 29, 2012 in Marshfield while visiting her sister. The daughter of the late Bradford and Blythe (Bair) Colbert was born May 30, 1943. She married Thomas "Tom" Despins on June 17, 1967 at St. Charles Church in Chippewa Falls. Bette graduated with honors from the Bachelors and Masters Programs at UW Madison with degrees in business education. She was a longtime teacher at Wrightstown Elementary School, and was active in the Wrightstown Retired Teachers Group. Bette served on Parish Council and volunteered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish in De Pere. Survivors include her husband, Tom, one son, T.J. (Krista) Despins, Rochester, MN, one daughter, Dee Dee (Peter) Korth, Cottage Grove, WI, two grandchildren, Nathan and Sydney Despins; one sister, Barbara Colbert, one brother, Bradford J. (Kay) Colbert, step-mother, Clarice Colbert. Family and friends may call at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday May 4, 2012. Visitation will continue after 9:00 am Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family, corner of Lourdes Avenue and Suburban Drive, De Pere. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Saturday at Church. Father Tim Shillcox, O. Praem., and Father Jay Poster will Concelebrate the Mass with burial to follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Despins family. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established to American Cancer Society.