Denette “Denny“ Bettencourt is honored to be the 2026 Motherlode Round Up Mother of the Year. She is a longtime resident of Tuolumne County and so thankful to call Sonora, California her home!
Her early years were spent in the Bay Area where she was born and raised until her family moved to Gustine, a small farming community, just in time to start her eighth grade year in school.
Her dream, for as long as she can remember, was to become a rancher.
She became active in her local 4-H club, showing sheep and learning about Vet science. She started a small registered Suffolk sheep flock and attended calls with her local Veterinarian, Dr. Kaufman.
After high school, she attended Modesto Junior College with the intention of pursuing a career with horses. It was at this time that she met and married her beloved husband of 51 years, Jack Bettencourt.
Jack and his family were cattle ranchers on the west side, Crows Landing area. Her dream came true! She became a rancher!
Jack’s father, Ed, passed away very unexpectedly only three years after their marriage and they gradually started making their way “up the hill”.
They continued ranching until Jack was called into the ministry, becoming the pastor of Country Cowboy Church in Sonora. (this year we celebrate 25 years!). Jack and Denny managed Red House Ranch in Calaveras County for 10 years. Yellow start thistle, a very invasive weed, was a real problem! Denny began using goats to control and even in some areas, eradicate the toxic weed. Soon, she began to contract the goats out to private and city municipalities for fuel reduction and weed management. She was involved with this for 20 years and recently retired. She currently assists her husband pastoring Country Cowboy
Church and keeps a small flock of sheep and goats (once a rancher always a rancher) enjoying them and her Border Collies which have been a lifelong passion.
Her priorities in life are God, family, and His great creation.
She has two beautiful children; Launa Valente, and her husband, Steven, and a son Ely, who is home with the Lord— 6 beautiful grandchildren; Kendra & Ben Ellsworth, Lena, Cara & Ryland Matyshock, Mia & Jay T. Hart, Justus, and Josie — 5 great grandchildren; Amelia, Nora, Mateo, Blayke, and one on the way.
Denny is humbled and honored to be called the 2026 MLRU Mother of the Year and thanks all those who work so hard and give up their time to keep this Tuolumne County traditional alive.