Last updated on: January 27, 2025

Many of us see her as simply Ellen DeGeneres’s mother-a comedian and an all-around entertainers. This was not who Betty DeGeneres was: passionate activist and devoted mother Betty was a fierce woman who really did touch the life of many through her activism work and motherhood. Let’s begin to explore into this article closely at the life and career of this phenomenal woman of this world known as Betty DeGeneres.

Quick Facts About Betty DeGeneres

Full Name	Elizabeth Jane “Betty” DeGeneres (née Pfeffer)
Birthdate	May 20, 1930
Occupation	Speech Therapist, LGBTQ+ Rights Activist
Husband/Wife	Elliott DeGeneres (first husband), Roy Gruessendorf (second husband)
Education	Louisiana State University (LSU), Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology
Age	94 years and 8 months old
Parents	William Dick Pfeffer, Mildred Morrill
Siblings	Not Known
Children	Vance DeGeneres (son), Ellen DeGeneres (daughter)
Net Worth	Estimated at $1 million (due to her books and activism)

Early Life and Education

Betty DeGeneres was born as Elizabeth Jane Pfeffer on May 20, 1930, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Since the time had fallen into the Great Depression, life didn’t offer her many good things. Yet, she was convinced that only education would be able to overcome these odds against her. She joined Louisiana State University (LSU) and studied speech language pathology. She later qualified herself as a speech therapist and loved the work for which she deserved all praise.

Marriage and Family

Betty married an insurance agent named Elliott DeGeneres in 1952. Vance DeGeneres, born in 1954, and Ellen DeGeneres, born in 1958, were the children of Betty and Elliott. After 16 years of marriage, when Ellen was only 16 years old, they separated in 1974. Ellen was severely hurt by this, and the whole family suffered at that time.

In 1974, Betty married again to Roy Gruessendorf, a salesman. Their marriage lasted until the early 1990s when Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer. Another difficult time for Betty was in 1997 when Roy died.

Becoming an Activist

Betty’s journey as an activist started when Ellen came out as a lesbian in 1997. This was a huge deal, and Ellen was criticized a lot. However, Betty stood by her daughter. She wanted to help other people understand the struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who might be facing similar challenges.

Betty became a public speaker for the Human Rights Campaign’s National Coming Out Project. She was the first straight person to be chosen as a public speaker for this project. She also worked with an organization called PFLAG, which stands for Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. This group supports people who have LGBTQ+ family members or friends.

Writing and Memoirs

Betty wrote two books that tell of her personal journey and her experiences with Ellen. Her first book, Love, Ellen: A Mother-Daughter Journey, speaks about her relationship with Ellen and how it changed when Ellen came out. In this book, Betty talks about the struggles they both went through and how they became stronger together. Her second book, Just a Mother, tells more about Betty’s life and how she became a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Personal Struggles and Growth

Betty was open about how hard being a mother has been for her. One of the hardest things she had to deal with was when Ellen came and said that she had been sexually abused by her stepfather during her teenage years. Betty has shared that at first, she did not believe Ellen. Later on, she deeply regretted this and realized how important it is to believe and support her daughter.

The next years solidified her relationship with Ellen, helping Betty understand the issues people in the LGBTQ+ community have faced. She became an even louder advocate for the rights of such communities. Betty worked extra hard to ensure her daughter and other LGBTQ+ members felt supported and loved.

READ ALSO: Ellen DeGeneres Net worth, Age, Wife, Family, Facts & More

Later Life and Education

After her second marriage ended, Betty returned to LSU to finish her master’s degree in speech pathology at the age of 50. This was an inspiring decision, showing her dedication to learning and self-improvement. Betty didn’t let age or difficulties stop her from achieving her goals.

Legacy

Betty DeGeneres will be remembered as a loving mother, an aggressive LGBTQ+ rights advocate, and a source of inspiration for many. She was known not only for being Ellen’s mom but for helping people understand issues concerning the LGBTQ+. Her activism and support had made a lot of difference in many people’s lives.

Betty passed on back in 2017. It is still years later, but her story lives on. It is a story of love, growth, and change. She demonstrated to the world the importance of standing beside loved ones, no matter what.

 

Source: celebs.infoseemedia.com