A Sonoma man who died in a tractor accident was remembered as a hard-working, loving family member

James Bettiga Jr. always did things his way.

The grandson of Italian immigrants and a cement mason by trade, Bettiga had strong family values ​​and an even stronger work ethic that he held onto until his death April 29, said his granddaughter Crystal Edwards.

“Jim, the stubbornest man you could ever meet, did whatever he wanted,” Edwards said.

That day, Bettiga had driven from Sonoma to Santa Rosa to stop by his daughter’s ranch, as he did three or four times a week.

He chatted with his two children for about three hours, ate lunch and worked on his 1966 Chevrolet pickup before his daughter, Annamarie Say, left for a quick errand.

Bettiga had several back operations and had to rely on two canes to walk. However, his condition did not stop him from deciding to work on his Ford tractor on the property in Say’s absence and against her instructions.

When Say returned about 45 minutes later, she found her father unresponsive and trapped under the tractor.

Bettiga was pronounced dead shortly after medical staff responded. He was 83 years old.

Say and the California Highway Patrol later concluded that Bettiga tried to climb onto the tractor, couldn’t get his legs over the gear lever, threw the tractor into gear and then fell. The vehicle hit Bettiga and then drove about 1.5 meters into the barn. The engine continued to run until Say returned to the property.

A Sonoma County coroner later said Bettiga likely died of blunt force trauma, according to Edwards.

“My mom is still in shock,” Edwards said of Say. “We’re still at the point where we can’t get the image out of our heads.”

Edwards said the family has not been able to gather and grieve or look through old photos stored at Bettiga’s home in Sonoma. He grew up there and returned after his parents died.

But the memories of her grandfather remain vivid.

That’s when he gave her a 1995 Chevy Silverado for her high school graduation. How he bought her daughter Brianna Edwards her first horse – a Shire named Forest, “because it was what she wanted.” When he supported Edwards, after being diagnosed with a tumor in her twenties. She went fishing with her as a child. How he always bought her the best of the best, whatever she wanted, including a Walkman when they first came on the market and a four-wheeler when she wanted to bond with her now husband, who loved dirt biking.

Many of those memories included gifts because of how he chose to spend his money, Edwards said.

He always preached to his family about the importance of saving money. But whenever he could, he spent his savings on it.

“My grandfather wasn’t rich,” Edwards said. “He worked hard his whole life.”

Bettiga worked as a cement mason and foreman at Oak Grove Construction based in Petaluma and Devincenzi Concrete Construction in Santa Rosa. He was a member of the local workers’ union for more than 40 years.

Outside of work, he loved farming. He grew up on his parents’ dairy farm and helped on his grandfather’s ranch in Fulton. Eventually he moved to his own Fulton ranch.

Bettiga participated in the Sonoma County Fair, showed dairy cattle and eventually helped his children and grandchildren participate in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He also built the large grill used at events such as the 4-H Chicken Que and the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

Even though he was retired, he never stopped working.

“Jim was as stubborn as they come, he was absolutely grounded in the work ethic,” said Lenore Pimental, Bettiga’s former partner. “Either you loved him or you wanted to strangle him.”

She said Bettiga always made her laugh – but constantly frustrated her.

“We loved him and kept throwing him out,” she said with a laugh.

Bettiga had recently made great efforts to support his great-granddaughter Brianna Edwards and her riding.

“Ever since she started riding, he has been the one who has supported her financially and emotionally the entire time,” Edwards said. “He made sure she was at every show and cheered her on at every show.”

The last time Edwards spoke to her grandfather was the day before his death. He called and asked about her daughter’s next show.

The last things they said to each other were “I love you” and “Talk to you later.”

A celebration of life for Bettiga will be held at 11 a.m. June 1 at 3593 Piner Road in Santa Rosa. Anyone who knew Bettiga is encouraged to go there and share memories.

Reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.