Have you seen Betty’s hat? The Vista washerwoman is missing it

Recent windstorms were not good for Betty, the beloved washerwoman who has sat on her perch at 1504 S. Vista Avenue on the Boise Bench for decades.

“That nasty windstorm did more than just blow up her skirt,” said Betty’s owner, Mary Jean Wegner.

The storm blew away Betty’s hat, her banner, and the plastic “bubbles” that filled her wash tub.

Wegner and her husband, Paul Wegner, own Cucina di Paolo. The Italian bistro occupies Betty’s former laundromat home. The Wegners offered free lasagna for anyone who found and returned Betty’s stuff, and the banner and plastic bubbles have been reunited with the washerwoman and the Wegners.

Betty’s chef-style hat, however, is still missing in action. So a friend is making another hat so that Betty can finish the month in style.

The Wegners and other fans of Betty change her costume each month to create a calendar that the Wegners sell as a fundraiser for The Idaho Foodbank. The Wegners have already given the food bank close to $27,000 from the sale of Betty calendars.

“We have another batch of money to give them another check real soon,” said Mary Jean Wegner. “I am extremely grateful that so many people are receiving benefit from what started as just a fun idea to dress up Boise’s biggest doll.”

Calendars for 2017 are still available at the restaurant for $20 with all proceeds benefiting the cause.

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Have you seen Betty’s hat? The Vista washerwoman is missing it."