Betty Rierden

Betty Reirden’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes her extraordinary service, generosity, and love for the corps as a parent volunteer, cook, souvenir crew member, driver, treasurer, board member, and beloved “Mom” to generations of Crossmen.

Betty came to the Crossmen in 1982 as a parent volunteer. Even though rehearsals were nearly two hours from home, she made the drive faithfully and immediately became one of those people every corps hopes to find — someone willing to do whatever was needed, whenever it was needed. During weekend camps, Betty was there for the entire weekend, lending a hand, supporting the staff, and caring for the members.

When Betty first went on tour, she worked in the corps’ chuck wagon. Over time, she became head cook, taking on one of the most demanding and important jobs in drum corps. Feeding a corps is an act of endurance, organization, and love, and Betty did it with all her heart. She became famous for her shepherd’s pie, and when members of other corps heard what was being served, she often invited them to eat alongside the Crossmen. That was Betty — generous, welcoming, and always thinking about how to take care of the kids.

To the members, Betty became “Mom.” She looked after them, fed them, encouraged them, and made sure they were cared for on the road. Her kitchen was more than a place to get a meal; it was part of the home that followed the corps from city to city.

Betty later became part of the souvenir crew, traveling with the corps across the country even after her own children had aged out. She took her turns driving, and many times after driving through the night, she would still help in the kitchen the next day before selling souvenirs later in the evening. Her energy, commitment, and selflessness seemed endless.

During one of the most difficult periods in Crossmen history, when the corps nearly folded, Betty was one of the few people who stepped forward to help pay off debts so the organization could continue. When the corps needed a vehicle to pull the souvenir trailer, Betty used her own personal funds to purchase a van. Her generosity was not symbolic — it was practical, immediate, and essential to the corps’ survival.

In later years, Betty served as corps treasurer and as a member of the Board of Directors, continuing to give her time and leadership to the organization. Even while taking on those formal responsibilities, she remained active with the souvenir crew, toured with the corps, drove, and helped in the kitchen for the entire summer. No title ever stopped Betty from doing the hands-on work that needed to be done.

From 1982 through 1993, Betty gave endlessly to the Crossmen. She thought first of the members and rarely, if ever, of herself. Her service helped keep the corps fed, moving, funded, organized, and loved. She was part of the foundation that allowed the Crossmen to survive difficult years and continue shaping the lives of young people.

There are many people who helped make the Crossmen what they are today. Betty Reirden is unquestionably one of them. Her heart, her sacrifice, her generosity, and her love for the corps remain part of the Crossmen story.

For her years of tireless volunteer service, her work as head cook and souvenir crew member, her leadership as treasurer and board member, her financial generosity during critical times, and her enduring love for the members, we proudly honor Betty Reirden as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

If there was ever a person whose heart was in the shape of the Crossmen cross, it is Betty.